Makarsankranti Snan Mahatmya.

- Sage Markandeya indicated to Yudhishthira that Prayag Tirtha is the best, the best for retirement from Moh Mohamaya.

Bathing in the Ganges on the day of Makar Sankranti at the confluence point in Prayag is of special significance. The spiritual significance of Magha month has been described in Puranic texts, it is written that even Lord Shri Krishna says that I am Magha in months! When Sun enters Capricorn. Then all the deities reside there in Prayag. Gauswami Tulsidasji also wrote in Ramcharit Manas. - Magh-Makar ravi gati jab hoi, tirath pati aa u sab koi? He also wrote.... the day the Sun enters Makar Sankranti. Bathing in rivers other than Ganga on that day is considered very auspicious. For this people go to bathe in the Ganga. Regarding the Ganges, it is said that all the pilgrims bathe in the Ganges once. Despite many hardships, people bathe in the Ganga Sagar, which has had religious significance.

King Sagar performed Ashvamegha Yajna. Indradev tricked the Yaksha horse he left behind and tied it in front of Kapilmuni's ashram. Hence Sagar sons suspected that Kapil Munishree has tied the horse. Sagar's sons came to Kapil Muni's ashram in anger. A dispute arose and as the dispute escalated, Kapil Muni cursed all his sons. They were burnt to death there. King Bhagirath invoked Ganga to descend on earth to bring salvation to his sons. Bhagirath brought Ganga to that place. Where the ashes of your fathers were buried. Bhagirath was walking ahead and the flow of Ganges was coming back. In this way he reached the confluence of the Gangesagar and the sons of Sagar who were burned to death. He immersed himself in the holy waters of the Ganges. Sagara's sons were burnt to death due to Brahmin's archery. That is why there was no remedy for it. Yet only by touching the body's ashes with the water of the Ganges, they reached heaven.

Mention is found in the 9th Skandha of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana. People go to bathe in the Ganges on the day of Makar Sankranti for the sake of attaining salvation. In this way, Tirtharaj Prayag, the foremost among the shrines, has the special importance of being at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Gupta Saraswati, the best of all shrines. And is leading. Sages have praised the sanctity of Prayag with his free voice. This is Prayagatirtha leading to knowledge, learning, enlightenment and liberation. Satsang, bhajan, charity bring human liberation in life. Here ignorance is removed. Tattva knowledge is seen. Mukti is achieved only by seeing Prayag. At the behest of Seshnag, Brahma ji weighed the scales and determined that Prayag is the most powerful shrine. Then Sheshnagji said that all other shrines originate from Prayag. And his mahatmaya knows only the Vedas.

On realizing the greatness of Prayag, Brahmaji instructed all the deities to reside here, if sins are not committed here, other sins committed are destroyed. By performing Yajna, Brahma created people here. Shivaji stayed here for the death of Tripurasur. Narayana, Indra and Urvashi etc took bath here. Bharadwaj Muni did penance here. As mentioned in the Matsyapurana, Sage Markandeya showed Yudhishthira that the Prayag Tirtha is the best, the best, for retirement from infatuation.

In Kali Yuga, only the remembrance of Harinam leads to liberation. But our scriptures as well as religious texts have called the pilgrimage as a means of salvation. Q means Enlightens the word vast and yaga. Yajna means the place where great Yajna is performed. Brahma performed Ashvamegha Yajna ten times on this land. That is why this sacred place is called Prayag. Magh Mela is the most important event in Prayag Parvo. The glory of Ganga-bathing in Maha month is described in the Puranas. Shuklapaksha Purnima is also celebrated with Pratipadath of Krishnapaksha of Maghamas in autumn season. Than bathing in the Ganges, it is called Kalpavas than charity and bhajan-kirtan.

- Laljibhai G.Manwar