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Line 56: − By the touch of the dust of Thine, the sinner will be at once purified and he will dwell in the Devî-loka (Mani Dvîpa) for as many years as will be the dust there. All Hail to the Devî Bhuvanes'varî! He who will leave his body on Thy lap with full consciousness and remembering My name, will certainly go to My abode and will remain, as My chief attendant for an infinite period. He will see countless Prâkritik Layas (dissolutions of the Universe). Unless a man has collected hordes of religious merits, be cannot die in the Ganges; and if he dies on the Ganges he goes to Vaikuntha as long as the Sun rises in this world. I get many bodies for him where he can enjoy the fruits of his Karma and I then give him My Svârûpya (Form resembling Mine) and make him My attendant. If any ignorant man, void of any Jñânam, quits his body by touching merely Thy water, I give him Sâlokya (place in My region) and make him My attendant. Even if one quits one's body in a far off place, uttering Thy Name, I give him place in My region for one life time of Brahmâ. And if he remembers Thee with devotion, and quits his mortal coil at another place, I give him Sârûpya (Form resembling Mine) for a period of endless Prâkritik Layas. He instantly gets on an aerial car made of jewels and goes with My attendants to the region of Goloka and gets form like Me. Those that worship daily My Mantra, that pass their day eating the remnant of the food offered to Me, they need not have any distinction whether they die in Tîrath or not. They themselves can easily purify the three worlds. Getting on the excellent and best aerial car built of jewels, they go to the region of Goloka. O Chaste One! Even if the friends of My devotees, be born in animal births, they also will be purified by the devotion shown towards Me and getting on a jewelled aerial car will be able to go to Goloka, so diffcult of access. Wherever the Bhaktas may be, if they simply remember Me with devotion, they will become liberated while living by the power of My Bhakti. − Line 60:
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→गङ्गामाहात्म्यम् ॥ Ganga Mahatmya: Editing
Lord Narayana replied to this query of Devarshi Narada with a story. He said,
Lord Narayana replied to this query of Devarshi Narada with a story. He said,
Sagara, a very prosperous raja from the Solar dynasty had two beautiful wives viz. Vaidarbhi and Shaivya. Soon, Shaivya delivered a very lovely son named Asamanja. Then, Vaidarbhi, desirous of getting a son, worshipped Shankara, the Lord of Bhutas who became pleased and granted her request. Accordingly, Vaidarbhi became pregnant and after one hundred years of pregnancy, she gave birth to one mass of flesh. Seeing this, the queen became extremely sorrowful and taking refuge of Mahadeva began to cry out loud. Shankara, then, appeared there in the form of a Brahmana and cut that mass of flesh into thousand pieces. Those thousand pieces turned out into thousand very powerful sons with their bodies more brilliant than the mid-day sun.
Sagara, a very prosperous raja from the Solar dynasty had two beautiful wives viz. Vaidarbhi and Shaivya. Soon, Shaivya delivered a very lovely son named Asamanja. Then, Vaidarbhi, desirous of getting a son, worshipped Shankara, the Lord of Bhutas who became pleased and granted her request. Accordingly, Vaidarbhi became pregnant and after one hundred years of pregnancy, she gave birth to one mass of flesh. Seeing this, the queen became extremely sorrowful and taking refuge of Mahadeva began to cry out loud. Shankara, then, appeared there in the form of a Brahmana and cut that mass of flesh into thousand pieces. Those thousand pieces turned into thousand very powerful sons with their bodies more brilliant than the mid-day sun.
Once, the 1000 sons were all burnt to ashes by the curse of Kapila Muni. At this, Raja Sagara, lamenting bitterly, entered into the forest. His son and the brother of the 1000 princes, Asamanja practised tapasya for one lakh years to bring Ganga onto Bharata and in the process quit his mortal coil. This effort was then continued by Asamanja's son Amshuman who practised tapasya for one lakh more years. However, eventually his lifetime also came to an end. Then came the wise Bhagiratha, son of Amshuman and a great devotee of Vishnu. He also practised tapasya for one lakh years to bring Ganga on earth and at last was blessed with the sight of Sri Krshna. Bhagiratha having seen that unforeseen appearance and filled with ecstasy, bowed down to the Lord and requested for the deliverance of his family by the descent of Ganga on Bharata.<ref name=":1" />
Once, the 1000 sons were all burnt to ashes by the curse of Kapila Muni. At this, Raja Sagara, lamenting bitterly, entered into the forest. His son and the brother of the 1000 princes, Asamanja practised tapasya for one lakh years to bring Ganga onto Bharata and in the process quit his mortal coil. This effort was then continued by Asamanja's son Amshuman who practised tapasya for one lakh more years. However, eventually his lifetime also came to an end. Then came the wise Bhagiratha, son of Amshuman and a great devotee of Vishnu. He also practised tapasya for one lakh years to bring Ganga on earth and at last was blessed with the sight of Sri Krshna. Bhagiratha having seen that unforeseen appearance and filled with ecstasy, bowed down to the Lord and requested for the deliverance of his family by the descent of Ganga on Bharata.<ref name=":1" />
To this the lord replied that, whatever papas will be cast in her by thousand of papis bathing in her will be destroyed by the touch of the devotees of Prakrti Devi. Even if thousands and thousands of papis touch the dead bodies and bath in her, all those will be destroyed when Devi Bhaktas, the worshippers of Bhuvaneshvari and Maya Vija, will come and touch her.
To this the lord replied that, whatever papas will be cast in her by thousand of papis bathing in her will be destroyed by the touch of the devotees of Prakrti Devi. Even if thousands and thousands of papis touch the dead bodies and bath in her, all those will be destroyed when Devi Bhaktas, the worshippers of Bhuvaneshvari and Maya Vija, will come and touch her.
Sri Hari also enumerated that when Ganga would descend as a river, she will gain the salt ocean who is an amsha of Hari himself, as her husband as she is herself of the nature of Lakshmi. And in this way, Ganga would have to remain in Bharata for a period of five thousand years (due to the curse of Bharati).
Sri Hari also enumerated that when Ganga would descend as a river, she will gain the salt ocean who is an amsha of Hari himself, as her husband as she is herself of the nature of Lakshmi. And in this way, Ganga would have to remain in Bharata for a period of five thousand years.
Thus having enumerated the glory of Ganga, Sri Hari then instructed Bhagiratha to worship Ganga Devi with devotion and chant hymns in her praise. The pure Bhagiratha also meditated with devotion as per Kauthuma Shakha, worshipped the Devi and praised her repeatedly. Then Ganga and Bhagiratha bowed down to Sri Krshna as he disappeared at once from their sight.<ref name=":1">Swami Vijnananda, [https://archive.org/details/srimaddevibhagav26vijnuoft/page/846 The Srimad Devi Bhagavtam], The Sacred Books of the Hindus (Volume 26, Part 3), Edited by Major B.D.Basu, Third Edition, Allahabad.</ref>
Thus having enumerated the glory of Ganga, Sri Hari then instructed Bhagiratha to worship Ganga Devi with devotion and chant hymns in her praise. The pure Bhagiratha also meditated with devotion as per Kauthuma Shakha, worshipped the Devi and praised her repeatedly. Then Ganga and Bhagiratha bowed down to Sri Krshna as he disappeared at once from their sight.<ref name=":1">Swami Vijnananda, [https://archive.org/details/srimaddevibhagav26vijnuoft/page/846 The Srimad Devi Bhagavtam], The Sacred Books of the Hindus (Volume 26, Part 3), Edited by Major B.D.Basu, Third Edition, Allahabad.</ref>
== गङ्गामाहात्म्यम् ॥ Ganga Mahatmya ==
== गङ्गामाहात्म्यम् ॥ Ganga Mahatmya ==
In the 9th Skandha (Chapter 11) of the Devi Bhagavata, Lord Narayana describes the greatness of Ganga and her waters. It is stated therein that,
In the 9th Skandha (Chapter 11) of the Devi Bhagavata, Lord Narayana describes the greatness of Ganga and her waters. It is stated therein that,
* People taking birth in Bharata who have committed papa for millions and millions of births, their papa will be completely destroyed if they touch, once, the air in contact with and carrying the particles of the Ganges. While, the sight of the Ganges and the touch of the Ganges water give religious merits ten times more than the touch with the air in contact with the Ganges water. And if they bathe in the Ganges, people become freed of their papa then and there.
* Even if one utters 'Ganga', 'Ganga' though one is one hundred Yojanas away from the Ganges, one will be freed of all papas and go to Vishnuloka.
* By the mere touch of dust of the Ganges, the papi will be at once purified and he will dwell in the Deviloka (Mani Dvipa) for as many years as will be the dust there.
* While, he who will leave his body on the lap of the Ganges with full consciousness and remembering the name of Sri Hari, will certainly go to the lord's abode and will remain, as the lord's chief attendant for an infinite period and will see countless Prakrtika Layas (dissolutions of the Universe).
Elaborating on this, the lord says,
Unless a man has collected hordes of religious merits, he cannot die in the Ganges; and if he dies on the Ganges, he goes to Vaikuntha as long as the Sun rises in this world. I get many bodies for him where he can enjoy the fruits of his Karma and I then give him My Svarupa (Form resembling Mine) and make him My attendant. If any ignorant man, void of any Jnana, quits his body by touching merely water of the Ganges, I give him Salokya (place in My region) and make him My attendant. Even if one quits one's body in a far off place, uttering the name of the Ganges, I give him place in My region for one life time of Brahma. And if he remembers the Ganges with devotion, and quits his mortal coil at another place, I give him Sarupya (Form resembling Mine) for a period of endless Prakrtika Layas. He instantly gets on an aerial car made of jewels and goes with My attendants to the region of Goloka and gets form like Me.
=== गङ्गास्नानम् ॥ Ganga Snana ===
=== गङ्गास्नानम् ॥ Ganga Snana ===
It is heard in the shrutis that bathing in the Ganges, if done according to rules, destroys all the papa acquired over one thousand millions of births, done consciously or unconsciously. Speaking of the greatness of Ganga Snana, it is said that the merits that are acquired by bathing in the Ganges on a day of religious merit, cannot be described even by the Vedas. Whatever is mentioned in the Agamas is in fact, just the tip of the iceberg. Even Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha cannot describe fully the merits of bathing in the Ganges. Lord Narayana himself, in the Devi Bhagavata, describes the effect of the Ganges bath done with a Sankalpa (resolve). He says,
The Devi Bhagavata (Skandha 9, Adhyaya 11) states that people taking birth in Bharata who have committed papa for millions and millions of births, their papa will be completely destroyed if they touch, once, the air in contact with and carrying the particles of the Ganges. While, the sight of the Ganges and the touch of the Ganges water give religious merits ten times more than the touch with the air in contact with the Ganges water. And if they bathe in the Ganges, people become freed of their papa then and there.
It is heard in the shrutis that Ganga Snana (bathing in the Ganges), if done according to rules, destroys all the papa acquired over one thousand millions of births, done consciously or unconsciously. Speaking of the greatness of Ganga Snana, it is said that the merits that are acquired by bathing in the Ganges on a day of religious merit, cannot be described even by the Vedas. Whatever is mentioned in the Agamas is in fact, just the tip of the iceberg. Even Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha cannot describe fully the merits of bathing in the Ganges. Lord Narayana himself, in the Devi Bhagavata, describes the effect of the Ganges bath done with a Sankalpa (resolve). He says,
* Ten times more is the result obtained when the Ganges bath is done with a resolve (Sankalpa) than ordinarily. And if one bathes on the day when the sun passes from one sign to another (in the Zodiac), thirty times more religious merits accrue.
* Ten times more is the result obtained when the Ganges bath is done with a resolve (Sankalpa) than ordinarily. And if one bathes on the day when the sun passes from one sign to another (in the Zodiac), thirty times more religious merits accrue.
* On the new Moon (Amavasya) day, the Ganges bath gives the merits as above mentioned; but when the Sun is in his Southern course (Dakshinayana) double the merits are obtained and when the sun is in his Northern course, ten times more religious merits are obtained.
* On the new Moon (Amavasya) day, the Ganges bath gives the merits as above mentioned; but when the Sun is in his Southern course (Dakshinayana) double the merits are obtained and when the sun is in his Northern course, ten times more religious merits are obtained.
* Ten million times more religious merits accrue from the Ganges bath on Maha Maha Varuni day than ordinary bath.
* Ten million times more religious merits accrue from the Ganges bath on Maha Maha Varuni day than ordinary bath.
* The Ganges bath in the Solar eclipse yields ten times more religious merits than in the Lunar eclipse. Again the Snana in Ardhodaya Yoga yields hundred times more religious merits than that of the (solar) eclipse.<ref name=":1" />
* The Ganges bath in the Solar eclipse yields ten times more religious merits than in the Lunar eclipse. Again the Snana in Ardhodaya Yoga yields hundred times more religious merits than that of the (solar) eclipse.<ref name=":1" />
== Procedure of Ganga Stuti ==
== Procedure of Ganga Stuti ==
70. The Devarsi Nârada said :-- “O Thou the foremost of the Knowers of the Vedas! How, by what Kuthuma S’âkhâ, the noble King Bhagi- ratha meditated on the Devî Gangâ; what stotra did he recite and what was the method with which he worshipped the Ganges.
70. The Devarsi Nârada said :-- “O Thou the foremost of the Knowers of the Vedas! How, by what Kuthuma S’âkhâ, the noble King Bhagi- ratha meditated on the Devî Gangâ; what stotra did he recite and what was the method with which he worshipped the Ganges.
== Fruits of Ganga Stuti ==
== Fruits of Ganga Stuti ==
He will derive the fruit of one horse-sacrifice who will meditate on Thee as per Kânvas'âkhâ and worship, praise and bow down to Thee daily. Even if one utter “Gangâ,” “Gangâ,” though one is one hundred Yojanas away from the Ganges, one will be freed of all sins and go to Visnu-loka.
He will derive the fruit of one horse-sacrifice who will meditate on Thee as per Kânvas'âkhâ and worship, praise and bow down to Thee daily.
== References ==
== References ==