Decoding Symbols of Hinduism: Purna Kumbha

Purna Kumbha literally translates into a full pot or a full pitcher. It is a brass pot or vessel filled with water, who’s mouth is decorated with mango leaves, coconut and flower offerings, and the body of the vessel sometimes has a metal carving of a goddess’s face or the symbol of the sun god is drawn using the auspicious kumkum and turmeric. It is believed in Hinduism that the Purna Kumbha stands as a symbol of abundance, fertility, and has auspicious qualities to it. First said to be mentioned in the Rigveda around 1900 BCE, the Purna kumbha is related to the vedic rituals and mantras, associating with the concept of purnatva or completeness.

In the Hindu mythology, the Purna Kumbha also known as Purna kalasha emerged from the churning of the milk ocean as a celestial treasure alongside other symbols. Since the milk ocean was churned to obtain the elixir of life, the Purna kumbha is also believed to symbolize immortality. The Purna Kumbha is often filled with water in many of the Hindu rituals and ceremonies it is used in. This is because the water in the vessel represents the primordial waters of creation and according to Hindu belief; it is from the water that the universe emerged, serving as a womb of cosmic existence as all life originated from it. The water in the Purna kumbha is said to have qualities of fertility and overflowing life forces. The pot is a metaphorical representation of a womb by holding within it the primordial waters of creation. The Mango leaves placed around the mouth of the Purna kumbha symbolizes auspiciousness, prosperity, the granting of desires, simultaneously also representing the love deity Kama, directly representing the fertility of both the metaphorical and literal womb. The coconut placed in the middle of the vessel’s mouth represents god’s head and consciousness, and the source of all creation.

Due to its symbolic meanings of abundance, completeness of life forces, fertility and auspiciousness, the Purna kumbha is widely used in Hindu rituals and practices. During pujas, by chanting the mantras all of the gods, Vedas, and all pure beings are invoked to reside in the Purna kumbha, and the sprinkling of the water from the vessel with the mango leaves is considered to be of blessing for the devotees as all the deities reside in the Purna kumbha during the worship. The brass or copper vessel is also considered as an auspicious symbol among Hindus, during ceremonies like marriages, housewarming, and festivals. It is placed at the entrance of the temples as a symbol to welcome the devotees into the sacred space of the temples, and in many cultures, the brides carry the Purna Kumbha in their hands or the vessels are placed around the area of the fire where the saath pheras are taken by the couple, as a symbol to sanctify the ceremonial space and symbolize the union of the bride and the groom.

The Purna kumbha is also placed as an important symbol during the child naming as it represents the fullness of life forces and holds in its womb the primordial waters of creation and the beginning of all existence. Similarly, the vessel which embodies all of the divine beings in it, is used during the fire sacrifice—havan—in order to connect with the divine and to reach a state of spirituality. The Purna Kumbha is also seen as a symbol of higher importance during the ritual of Griha Pravesh or housewarming ceremonies and pujas. The brass vessel with mango leaves and coconut is believed to purify the new home and its water is sprinkled around the house to invoke blessings for prosperity and happiness.

In Hindu religion, many gods and deities are depicted holding the Purna Kumbha. The elephant headed god, Ganesha is often depicted holding a Purna Kumbha in his hand. He is said to be a god of clearing the path of any obstacles and prosperity. The vessel is also closely associated with Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, and his consort Goddess Lakshmi. In Vishnu’s manifestations the Purna kumbha is an integral part of their iconography and symbolizes abundance and divine grace. In Shaviate traditions, the Purna kumbha is associated with Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati. The vessel here symbolizes the divine union of Shiva and Shakti, which embodies the nurturing aspects of the cosmos. The Brahma is depicted holding or emerging from a Purna kumbha, and as a creator deity this symbolizes the genesis of the universe from the primordial waters of creation. During festivals like Navratri, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, images of Durga often depict her holding or standing beside the Purna Kumbha, signifying the Shakti and qualities of abundance and blessings she bestows upon her devotees.

During the Gupta period—4^th to 6^th century CE—Indian architecture witnessed a remarkable flourishing which was characterized by the newly emergence of temple structures, and sculpture making. One of the remains of the temple pillar found in Mathura from the period depicts the Purna Kumbha at the bottom and top of the column. Similarly, the incorporation of art, culture and religious philosophy can be seen in the carvings of the Kalasa temple built around 8^th century in Ellora, Maharashtra where the Purna Kumbha is a regular decorative carving across the temples columns. Because of the prevailing structures of the Indian architecture influenced by culture and religious philosophy, some of the prior themes were inculcated in the Mughal art and architecture of the Indian subcontinent. Elements of the Purna Kumbha are seen in the Mosque veranda of the Qutb complex constructed around 14^th century. This depiction of the symbol didn’t have a religious connotation to it within the Islamic faith, but was a continuation of the inclusion of Indian culture as well as the aesthetic qualities of the Indian art. The Purna Kumbha is also seen as a decorative and aesthetic motif in the mosques constructed during the reign of the Sultan Mahmood II. The Qutbuddin Mosque in Ahemdabad City, Gujarat built around 15^th century projects the amalgamation of Purna Kumbha and the arabesque art aesthetics from Persia.

The Purna Kumbha therefore serves as a symbol of purity, fertility, abundance, overflowing and completeness of life, as it stands as a representation of the primordial waters of creation. It links the devotee to the essence of their being and transcends the connection toward the divine and the cosmic forces of the universe. This philosophy becomes a significant part of all Hindu rituals and ceremonies, and is seen as a symbol of everything good. And just like any religious or cultural philosophy across the globe, the Purna Kumbha and its auspiciousness finds itself being represented and lived in through the art and architecture of the Indian temples since the earliest of times, becoming a major symbol of both aesthetic value and religious as well as cultural significance.