Allahabad is the second-oldest city in India, and plays a central role in Hindu scriptures. Allahabad’s original name – Prayaga, or “place of offerings” – comes from its position at the Sangam (union) of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati Rivers. The Mughal emperor Akbar renamed Prayag to Ilahabad, which the British changed to Allahabad.

Legend has it that during the Samudra Manthan, Lord Dhanvantari, the divine doctor, appeared carrying a pot of amrita (divine nectar). Once the amrita was out, the demons forcefully took it away. Two demons, Rahu and Ketu, disguised themselves as gods and drank the amrita. The sun and moon gods recognised it to be a trick and complained to Lord Vishnu, who in turn, severed their heads with his Sudarshan Chakra.

A great war between the gods and demons followed. Finally, Lord Vishnu disguised as the enchanting Mohini tricked the demons and recovered the nectar. While fleeing the clutches of the demons, Lord Vishnu gave the amrita to his winged charioteer, Garuda. But the demons caught up and a tussle followed. During this tussle few drops of the nectar fell at Ujjain, Nasik, Allahabad, and Haridwar. The drops are said to have purified the land and it is here that devotees come in large numbers to wash away their sins at the famous sangam.

At the sangam, the three rivers maintain their identity and are visibly different as they merge. While the Yamuna is deep but calm and greenish in colour, the Ganga is shallow, but forceful and clear. The Saraswati remains hidden, but the faithful believe that she makes her presence felt underwater.

Sangam symbolises dropping ones own limited and individual identity and merging into the supreme. The river Yamuna merges into the Ganges at this point and the Ganges continues on until it meets the sea at Ganga Sagar in the Bay of Bengal.

In the morning, Gurudev’s padukas were taken in a boat to the Triveni Sangam where paduka pooja was performed at the Sangam.

In the afternoon, the devotees from neighbouring towns of Reva and Satna visited Chinmaya Naveen Seva Ashram, Prayag to meet Pujya Gurudev and seek His blessings. Also present for the Satsang were Swami Prashantananda, Swami Mitrananda, Swami Raghavananda & Swami Keshavananda. The acharyas addressed the gathering and explained to them the vision behind the Chinmaya Jyoti Yatra and also gave a report of the journey thus far.

Swami Prashantananda wished the team of Escorts all the best before going to visit the Sandesh Vahini. Later, when Swamiji was offered a ride in one of the Escort vehicles, Swamiji, who is 86 years old, quipped ‘Ok, I’ll drive’. Swamiji took the pilot vehicle for a short spin around the ashram grounds. The smile on Swamiji’s face was priceless.