Prayagraj: Preparations for much-awaited Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, are in full swing, with significant efforts being made to enhance the spiritual experience of the devotees.
One of the most notable additions to this year’s Kumbh is the installation of 84 unique pillars on the road leading to Prayagraj airport. These pillars, named ‘Aastha Ke Pillar,’ are part of an ambitious project by the Uttar Pradesh government and are set to serve as symbols of faith, spirituality and the profound teachings of Sanatan Dharma.
Details of ‘Aastha Ke Pillars’
The 84 pillars are being crafted from red sandstone, and each pillar features 108 names of Lord Shiva, which have been inscribed with great precision. The total cost of this project is approximately Rs 17 crore. These pillars are being created at Bansi Paharpur, Rajasthan, and the cost of constructing each pillar is around Rs 20 lakh. On top of each pillar, the symbol of Sanatan Dharma, the Kalash, has been placed as a mark of sanctity.
Amrit Abhijat, principal secretary of Urban Development Department, explained the deeper significance of these pillars. According to him, when a devotee, or ‘sadhak,’ completes the circumambulation (parikrama) of these 84 pillars, they will symbolically feel as if they have traversed the entire cycle of 84 lakh yonis, representing the journey of the soul through different lives and experiences.
This ritual will not only offer the experience of completing the cycle of life but will also impart knowledge about the essence of Sanatan Dharma and its philosophical teachings.
Four-part installation of pillars
The 84 pillars are strategically installed in four distinct parts along the road. Each part represents an important aspect of sanatan dharma. These parts symbolize:
- Four vedas
- Four ashrams (stages of life: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sannyasa)
- Four castes
- Four directions of the universe
The arrangement of the pillars is designed so that each section consists of 21 pillars, making up the 84 pillars in total. Each pillar represents one lakh yonis, which signifies the soul’s journey through 84 lakh lifetimes. By walking around all 84 pillars, devotees will symbolically complete the spiritual journey of 84 lakh yonis, offering them a sense of spiritual fulfillment.
Significance of pillars in spiritual journey
According to ancient beliefs, the soul is constantly in search of its true existence. To reach its ultimate goal, the soul must go through 84 lakh different incarnations. These incarnations are divided into four categories, with each category containing 21 lakh yonis. The pillars thus symbolize the soul’s journey through these incarnations.
Furthermore, the four ashrams (Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sannyasa) represent different stages of a person’s life, and the four purusharthas (Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha) represent the four goals of human life. The ‘Aastha Ke Pillars’ serve as a reminder that the soul must go through these stages and goals to eventually attain Moksha, the ultimate liberation.
