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http://sivanandaonline.org/gangadussehra

Gangapujan Dashahara or Dussehra *

www.srimadbhagavatam.org

* The Descent of the River Ganges, Srimad Bhagavatam 5th Canto 17the Chapter Summary by HDG Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad.

Ganga Dussehra is the annual celebration of the most sacred of Hindu rivers, Ganga, or the Ganges. The celebration lasts for ten days from the new moon at the beginning of Jyaistha (amanta reckoning). The last day, 10 Jyaistha, is the holiest of them all (this normally occurs in June in the Gregorian calendar, or occasionally at the end of May). Devotees are expected to bathe in the Ganga. If they cannot reach the banks of the river, many devotees will use water drawn from the Ganga that is kept at home to bathe. Alternatively, the devotee will bathe in ordinary water whilst invoking Ganga by prayer. This bathing is considered to impart purity from sin.

Ganga Dussehra: Swami Sivananda’s „Hindu Fasts and Festivals“ and Swami Krishnananda’s „Spiritual Import of Religious Festivals“ have detailed descriptions of the festivals listed here. Click here for ordering details. This Spiritual Calendar is for worships held at the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India. Some of the dates may not necessarily hold true for other parts of the world. http://www.dlshq.org/calendar.htm

Sri Ganga Dussehara (Jayesht Shukl Dashmi) 21st June 2010 – This day is auspicious because on this day the sacred Ganges descended in the earth. It can be called birthday of Ganga. A dip in the Ganges or in any other river invoking Goddess Ganges, is beneficial and is said to be purified from ten sorts of sins. Worship of the river deity is done by incense, light, sandal wood, flowers, milk, etc.. Flour balls are fed to aquatic animals.

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There was a ruler named Sagar. He performed Ashua Medha Yageya. God Indra stole away the ashva (Horse). Sagar’s grandson Anshuman took over the responsibility of the search of the horse. After searching all over, he reached Netherlands with 60,000 followers, where he saw god personified as Kapil saint, was under meditation and the horse was grazing nearby.

The followers of Anshuman shouted, “thief-thief”. Thereupon Kapil rishi opened his eyes and by the blazing lighting of which all were reduced to ashes. For the final cremation ritual of those dead, Bhagirath undertook severe austerities. B’rhma when pleased and asked him to demand a boon. Bhagiratha requested for the descent of Ganges on land. B’rhma agreed but expressed his apprehension if the earth could shoulder the weight and flow of the Ganges, in that case of Bhagirath should invoke God Siva. When Siva agreed to hold the fall of Ganges, B’rhma let it loose from the heavens (swarga lok). The Ganges was then interlocked in the tufts of Siva and Bhagirath’s purpose, of washing the ashes of this ancestors in the water of the Ganges, remained still. There upon Bhagirath invoked Siva, who when please, released the Ganges as river Ganges on the land. The release of the sacred water of the Ganges and its flow through different cities of India is very fortunate, pious, and auspicious for the Hindus of India.

Ganges was not merely a river. She (Goddess Ganga) was devoted to the service of lord K’rsna in the heavens (Swarge-Baikunth). She was thus very near the lord, which made Radha jealous. later cursed her to go down to earth and flow as a river. Ganga, in retaliation, also cursed Radha that you will be close to K’rsna, yet you will always imagine him far away, tolerate separatism and never be peaceful. Thus since then Gange flows as a Ganges river, under the ancient curse of Radha and under the modern curse of city pollution. In the modern times of Kaliyuga, Ganges is of utmost and importance, as according to Narade Purana, all pilgrimages were of influence in Sateya yuga then Pushkar in Treta and Kurukshtra in Dwapar Yuga.

Article by Prof. Chitralekha Singh

Dean: Institute of Visual, Performing Arts & Research, Mangalayatan University, Beswan, Aligarh. Arts Visit at: www.artistchitralekha.com, e-mail: chitralekha@artlover.com,  mob . 91 9319103482