About Gangasagar Mela:
- It is known as the world’s second largest human congregation after Kumbh.
- It happens every year during Makar Sankranti.
- The mela is held at Sagar Island.
- It has been mentioned in Indian epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, putting its existence as early as 400 BCE.
- The pilgrims after taking a dip in Ganga also visit the temple of Kapil Muni.
Who is Kapil Muni:
- Kapila or Maharishi Kapila is a Vedic sage (rishi) traditionally considered to be the original proponent of the Samkhya system of Indian philosophy.
- He is said to have lived in the Indian subcontinent, around the sixth or seventh century C.E.
- Kapila is described within the Puranas as an incarnation of Vishnu.
- He is known for teaching a process of liberation known as bhakti yoga.
- Buddhist sources present Kapila as a well-known philosopher whose students built the city of Kapilavastu
- He is not only renowned in Hinduism, but also in Buddhism.
- Kapila shared many similarities with Buddha, including an emphasis on meditation as a technique for removing suffering, belief that the Vedic gods were subject to limitations and conditions, and dislike for ritual and Brahmanic doctrines.
Where is Sagar Island Located?
- Sagar Island, westernmost island of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta lies in West Bengal
- It lies at the mouth of the Hugli (Hooghly) River, an arm of which separates it from the mainland to the east.
