RIVER GANGA MAHATMIYAM

 GLORY-SIGNIFICANCE & MERITS OF THE DIVINE GANGA.

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> Pouranic reference to Ganga River....

Several sacred scripts including Nadi-Sooktha (Rig-Veda) have made reference to the holy Ganga. Sacred texts like Bhagavatha Purana, Ramayana, MahaBharatha, Bhagawadgeeta, Agni Purana, Padma Purana, Brahma Purana etc. have eulogized the significance and merits of Ganga River.

Epic Mahabharatha took a turning point with the entry of Goddess Ganga, who as a mortal woman married Kuru King Shantanu.

She gave birth to eight sons who were Ashta Vasus in their embodiment and the 8th child was hero of Maha Bharatha, Bheeshma Pithamaha. He was also known as Gaangeya or Ganga-Puthra. In Mahabharata Bheeshma lying on the bed of arrows explains the glory and significance of Ganga to Pandavas.

During Vedic times Sages used to have their hermitage on the banks of Ganga River. Even now many Sadhus live on the banks of Ganga River.

Sage Valmiki had his ashram on the banks of river Ganga that was known as Brahmavarta where Lord Brahma had performed Ashwamedha Yaga. Goddess Sita Devi during her exile lived in the Ashram of Sage Valmiki on the banks of river Ganga.

Sacred pilgrim centers like Badarinath, Kedarnath, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kashi, Prayaga, Bithoor etc. are all located on the banks of river Ganga.

Bindu–Sar near Gangothri is referred to as the spot where Bhagiratha is believed to have performed his penance for the descent of Ganga.

Famous temple of Badarinath is on the banks of river Alaknanda one of the six head streams of Ganga.

The place where Ganga meets Yamuna and Saraswathi has become a famous pilgrim center Prayaga the Theertharaj.

Gangasagar the island at the mouth of river Ganga is said to be the location of Sage Kapila Mahamuni’s hermitage which is associated with the penance of Bhagiratha and descent of river Ganga. Kapila Muni was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

> Symbolism of Goddess Ganga....

As per Dharma Sindhu, Goddess Ganga is depicted as Chaturbhuja (four hands) with Water Pot (Kalasha) in one hand and Lotus in the other. With the other two hands portrayed with Varada mudra and Abhaya mudra.

Mounted on a white Crocodile (Makara) as her pedestal, Ganga Devi is symbolized having three eyes (Trinethri) with Moon (Chandrakala) on the forehead, wearing white silk attire, with auspicious glimpse.

> Religious & Spiritual merits of Ganga....

People in Hindu religion will be longing to have darshan of Ganga and take bath in the Divine River Ganga (Ganges) at least once in their life time or even die on the banks of river Ganga which is considered as highly sacred.

To pour Ganga water in the mouth of a dying person is a custom among the Hindus. We find people in Hindu religion immersing ashes (mortal remains) of the deceased in Ganga River with a belief that the deceased soul will attain salvation.

It is said that the very touch of Ganga will sanctify seven generations on both sides.

Taking bath in Ganga River especially during parvakala like Uttarayana, Dakshinayana, Eclipse days, Pushkara is highly meritorious and helps in remission of sins.

Every day lakhs of people take bath in Ganga River at various places. Several millions of people recall Ganga during various religious ceremonies.

Devout Hindu families invariably keep Ganga water in their houses as an auspicious symbol. Ganga water is collected from places like Haridwar, Rishikesh and Kashi etc.and stored in copper pots sealed with lid.

Ganga water is attributed with the quality of purity and is considered to remain pure over a period of time. It is believed that Ganga water has medicinal properties that cure the ill.

Spiritually, taking a bath in the sacred Ganga River is soul cleansing that purify one from his sins. Ganga water is considered as extremely pious and said to contain properties of Amrutha (Divine Nectar).

Since time immemorial Hindus life is closely associated with the river Ganga in various ways. No religious and spiritual activity in Hindu religion from birth till death starts without Ganga.

Several civilizations, dynasties, epics, have originated on the banks of Ganga River. History of Ganga is as old as Hindu civilization.

Starting from its place of origin in Gangothri right up to its merging with the Sea at Gangasagar entire path of Ganga River is sacred to Hindus.

At holy places like Kasi, Haridwar and Rishikesh we find devotees offering Aarati to Goddess Ganga in the evening singing devotional songs, which is a sight not to be missed.

There is also a custom among Hindus that they bring Ganga water from Kasi and perform Abhisheka to Lord Shiva at Rameswaram and collect the sand from the sea (Indian Ocean) at Rameswaram and immerse it with Ganga water with a belief that it is a completion of the pilgrimage.

> Ganga worship is in seven ways viz.

by recalling Her name “Ganga”, 

having darshan of Ganga, 

by touching the water of Ganga river, 

by worshiping Ganga, 

by taking bath in Ganga, 

by standing in the waters of Ganga river and 

by carrying the clay (Mrittika) dug out of Ganga water.

Perhaps no other river has found so much reference as the holy Ganga in Puranas which is in existence since Vedic times.

In piousness Ganga water is compared with the sacred Thulasi. To count the merits of Ganga is like counting water drops in the ocean.

Ganga is not just a river alone it is much more than that; sacred, celestial and divine. It is the Queen of rivers, River Goddess. Mother Ganga is highly revered in Hindu religion.

That’s why even today we find people celebrating festivals relating to Ganga River viz. 

> Ganga Dasahara, 

> Ganga Pushkara, 

> Gangasagar Mela, 

> Kumbha Mela and 

> Gangotpatti (Jahnu Sapthami).

Every year on the day of Makara Sankranthi, Gangasagar Mela is held at Gangasagar.

These festival days are the best occasions to pay our reverence to Goddess Ganga the heritage of Hindu philosophy and the National river of India.

At the same time it is also our ardent duty and responsibility to protect this national heritage from getting polluted.

Originated from the foot of the Primordial Supreme God Sri ManNarayana, sanctified as sacred water in the Kamandalu of Lord Brahma, purified with a descent on the head (matted hair) of Lord Shiva, and came out of Sage Jahnu’s ear, Ganga is considered as the most sacred (Sreshta) and Divine river.

Lord Sri Krishna mentions in his famous preaching Bhagawadgita – Vibhuthi Yoga (sloka # 31) that He is Jaahnavi (Other name of Ganga) –“srotasamasmi jaahnavi" (Among the rivers I am the Ganga).

Perhaps we don’t need a better testimonial than this to confirm the significance, spirituality and sacredness of the holy Ganga River.

Vishnu^paAdaAbjasambhootaA ^gaNgaA^ sarvaAdhikaA mataA|

(Nadii Taaratamya stotra...)

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu

Hari SArvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama

Sri GuruRaajo Vijayate