Post by radha on Jul 30, 2012 8:33:18 GMT 5.5
SRI GURUPYO NAMAHA:,RESPECTFUL PRANAMS TO SRI KANCHI MAHA Swamigal.
THE GANGES RIVER
• The rhythm of life is dictated by water and Hindus hold the rivers in great reverence. India is a country that not only nurtures resources nature has bestowed upon her, but also worships them for the all-around prosperity they bring in their wake. The rivers are generally female divinities, food and life bestowing mothers. There are seven sacred rivers which are worships – Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri.
• The Ganges River is the most important of the sacred rivers. Its water used in pooja or worship if possible a sip is given to the dying. It is believed that those who bathed in Ganges and those who leave some part of themselves (hair, piece of bone, etc) on the bank will attain Swarga or the paradise of Indira.
• The river is referred to as a Goddess and is said to flow from the toe of Lord Vishnu to be spread in the world through the matted hair of Lord Siva. By holding that sacred stream touching it and bathing in its waters, one rescues oneʼs ancestors from seven generations. The merit that one earns by bathing in Ganga is such that it is incapable of being otherwise earned through the acquisition of sons or wealth for the performance of meritorious acts. The man of righteous conduct who thinks of Ganga at the time when his breath is about to leave his body succeeds in attaining to the highest end. She leads creatures very
quickly to heaven.
• According to Hindu religion a very famous king Bhagiratha did Tapasya (a self-discipline or austerity willingly expended both in restraining physical urges and in actively pursuing a higher purpose in life) for many years constantly to bring the river Ganga, then residing in the Heavens, down on the Earth to find salvation for his ancestors, who were cursed by a seer. Therefore, Ganga descended to the Earth through the lock of hair (Jata) of god Shiva to make whole earth pious, fertile and wash out the sins of humans. For Hindus in India,
the Ganga is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more.
• Indian Mythology states that Ganga, daughter of Himavan, King of the Mountains, had the power to purify anything that touched her. Ganga flowed from the heavens and purified the people of India, according to myths. The ancient scriptures mention that the water of Ganges carries the blessings of Lord Vishnu's feet; hence Mother Ganges is also known as Vishnupadi, which means "Emanating from the Lotus feet of Supreme Lord Sri Vishnu."
• It is not uncommon to see may Hindus who bathe or wash in the sacred river Ganges chanting the following mantra or mentally repeating it: Gange ca Yamune caiva / God_vari Sarasvati / Narmade Sindhu Kaver / Jale ʻsmin sannidhim kuru / Puskar_dy_ni tirthani / Gang_dy_h saritas tath_ / _gacchantu pavitr_ni / Sn_nak_le sad_ ...... Mama / Bless with thy presence / O holy rivers Ganges, Yamun_, God_vari, Sarasvati, Narmad_, Sindhu and K_veri / May Puskara, and all the holy waters and the rivers such as the Ganges, always come at the time of my bath.
• Some Hindus also believe life is incomplete without bathing in the Ganga at least once in one's lifetime. Many Hindu families keep a vial of water from the Ganga in their house. This is done because it is prestigious to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also so that if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink its water. Many Hindus believe that the water from the Ganga can cleanse a person's soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill.
• The major sacred places, located on the Ganga are Varanasi, Haridwar and Prayag and these places are treated as the holy places of India, as these are situated in the bank of the holy river.
• River Ganga holds great importance in the economic, social and cultural life of the Indian people in general, and Hindus in particular. People love to give the name of Ganga to their children. One can find millions of people in India with the name of Ganga and this signifies the love, affection and association of people
with river.
• The largest gathering of people in the world occurs at the Kumbh Mela which is a spiritual pilgrimage celebrated every three years in one of four sacred cities of India: Allahabad, Ujjain, Nasik and Haridwar. In Hindu mythology, it is said that a drop of immortal nectar was dropped at each of these locations as Gods and demons fought over the pot or kumbh that held the nectar. Millions of Hindus travel to the Mela to bathe in the Ganga, believing their sins will be washed away and they will achieve salvation. For other visitors, the festival is a fascinating spectacle of size and eccentricity.
Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam
THE GANGES RIVER
• The rhythm of life is dictated by water and Hindus hold the rivers in great reverence. India is a country that not only nurtures resources nature has bestowed upon her, but also worships them for the all-around prosperity they bring in their wake. The rivers are generally female divinities, food and life bestowing mothers. There are seven sacred rivers which are worships – Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri.
• The Ganges River is the most important of the sacred rivers. Its water used in pooja or worship if possible a sip is given to the dying. It is believed that those who bathed in Ganges and those who leave some part of themselves (hair, piece of bone, etc) on the bank will attain Swarga or the paradise of Indira.
• The river is referred to as a Goddess and is said to flow from the toe of Lord Vishnu to be spread in the world through the matted hair of Lord Siva. By holding that sacred stream touching it and bathing in its waters, one rescues oneʼs ancestors from seven generations. The merit that one earns by bathing in Ganga is such that it is incapable of being otherwise earned through the acquisition of sons or wealth for the performance of meritorious acts. The man of righteous conduct who thinks of Ganga at the time when his breath is about to leave his body succeeds in attaining to the highest end. She leads creatures very
quickly to heaven.
• According to Hindu religion a very famous king Bhagiratha did Tapasya (a self-discipline or austerity willingly expended both in restraining physical urges and in actively pursuing a higher purpose in life) for many years constantly to bring the river Ganga, then residing in the Heavens, down on the Earth to find salvation for his ancestors, who were cursed by a seer. Therefore, Ganga descended to the Earth through the lock of hair (Jata) of god Shiva to make whole earth pious, fertile and wash out the sins of humans. For Hindus in India,
the Ganga is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more.
• Indian Mythology states that Ganga, daughter of Himavan, King of the Mountains, had the power to purify anything that touched her. Ganga flowed from the heavens and purified the people of India, according to myths. The ancient scriptures mention that the water of Ganges carries the blessings of Lord Vishnu's feet; hence Mother Ganges is also known as Vishnupadi, which means "Emanating from the Lotus feet of Supreme Lord Sri Vishnu."
• It is not uncommon to see may Hindus who bathe or wash in the sacred river Ganges chanting the following mantra or mentally repeating it: Gange ca Yamune caiva / God_vari Sarasvati / Narmade Sindhu Kaver / Jale ʻsmin sannidhim kuru / Puskar_dy_ni tirthani / Gang_dy_h saritas tath_ / _gacchantu pavitr_ni / Sn_nak_le sad_ ...... Mama / Bless with thy presence / O holy rivers Ganges, Yamun_, God_vari, Sarasvati, Narmad_, Sindhu and K_veri / May Puskara, and all the holy waters and the rivers such as the Ganges, always come at the time of my bath.
• Some Hindus also believe life is incomplete without bathing in the Ganga at least once in one's lifetime. Many Hindu families keep a vial of water from the Ganga in their house. This is done because it is prestigious to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also so that if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink its water. Many Hindus believe that the water from the Ganga can cleanse a person's soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill.
• The major sacred places, located on the Ganga are Varanasi, Haridwar and Prayag and these places are treated as the holy places of India, as these are situated in the bank of the holy river.
• River Ganga holds great importance in the economic, social and cultural life of the Indian people in general, and Hindus in particular. People love to give the name of Ganga to their children. One can find millions of people in India with the name of Ganga and this signifies the love, affection and association of people
with river.
• The largest gathering of people in the world occurs at the Kumbh Mela which is a spiritual pilgrimage celebrated every three years in one of four sacred cities of India: Allahabad, Ujjain, Nasik and Haridwar. In Hindu mythology, it is said that a drop of immortal nectar was dropped at each of these locations as Gods and demons fought over the pot or kumbh that held the nectar. Millions of Hindus travel to the Mela to bathe in the Ganga, believing their sins will be washed away and they will achieve salvation. For other visitors, the festival is a fascinating spectacle of size and eccentricity.
Kanchi Maha Periva Thiruvadigal Saranam