Ganga is one of the major rivers of India which is approximately 1557 miles long. During the early Indo-Aryan ages, the Indus river was the main or the major river in India.However the pupils of India soon discovered the importance of the Ganga River through the three main Vedas of the Indian community.Vedas such as the Mahabrata, Ramayana, and Puranes mentioned the significance of the Ganga River and seemed giving more importance of the Ganga River.Even in the earliest Hindu scriptures that is the Rig-Veda, there was also mentioned of the sacred Ganga River.The most important city sacred to Hinduism are situated on the banks of the Ganga River where the city of Banaras or Varanasi is situated.Banaras has hundreds of temple along the banks of Ganga River.Banaras has also been a great center for learning ages.
The story of Ganga’s descent on earth appears slightly different forms in all the Hindu Vedas however the legend content are still the same.According to the legends, Ganga was considered as one of the two daughters of Meru or the Himalayas and the other daughter was Uma the consort of lord Shiva.Lord Indra than requested that Ganga was sent to the heaven to cool the lords with her heavenly cool water.The legend began with King Sagar who performed the Ashwamedha (horse ceremony) in which a horse is allowed to roam at its will and the warriors would try to rein the horse.The King’s 60 000 sons went about looking for the horse and ended up reaching the deep ocean and finally found the horse close to a saint Kapila who was in deep meditation.The sons blamed the saint Kapila had stolen the horse which than enraged the saint’s anger who then instantly burnt them to ashes with his fiery gaze.The souls of the young men wondered as ghosts as their final rites had not been done. However on the repeated repentance and request by the descendants of King Sagar, Saint Kapila finally relent that the men’s would only attain mukti or liberation if their remains are cleansed by the water of goddess Ganga.Generations of King Sagar did penance to appease Brahma but without success then finally after much praying, pleading and tapasya by Bhagirath the seventh generation of King Sagar managed to bring Goddess Ganga to earth.However to bear the impact of severity of the fall of Ganga River, Bhagirath prayed to lord Shiva to control the descent of Ganga on earth.Lord Shiva steps in the way and trapped Ganga in his hair. Shiva made the river fall gently through his long hair onto the Himalayas. As Ganga moved to the nether-worlds, she liberated the unfortunate souls of King Sagar's Sons. Since then Ganga is sanctifying the mankind with her divine waters.
According to Hindus the Ganga River is sacred. It is worshipped by Hindus and personified as a goddess, who holds an important place in the Hindu religion.Hindu belief holds that bathing in the river on certain occasions causes the forgiveness of sins and helps attain salvation.People travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of their family members in the waters of the Ganga, this immersion also is believed to send the ashes to heaven.It is believed that drinking water from the Ganga with ones last breath will take the soul to heaven. Hindus also believe life is incomplete without bathing in the Ganga at least once in their lifetime.In most Hindu families, a vial of water from the Ganga is kept in every house. This is done because it is auspicious to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also 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, which reduces their bad karma and it is also believed to cure the ill.
As for the conclusion, the Ganga River is still worshipped by billions of citizens in India.The history of the Ganga river is old as the Indian civilization. For the years Ganga has been the only spectator of all changes that have shaped the Indian history, culture and its people.It has seen the rise and fall of many empires. It has been the prime witness of all the religions especially Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and Jainism.Ganga River enriches the spiritual lives of millions and millions of Indians for whom the river is divine. Holy Ganga personifies Goddess Ganga who descends to the earth to rinse away the sins of the mankind. The river Ganga itself embodies all the characteristics India is known for mythical, serene, all pervading and assimilative.
No comments:
Post a Comment