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=== विष्णुपदी ॥ Vishnupadi ===

=== विष्णुपदी ॥ Vishnupadi ===

Vishnupadi, the flowing water of which washes away the papa of the people in the universe is the same as Ganga. It was called so because for many yugas (eras), this river confined itself to the heights of the sky, otherwise called Vishnupada. This particular spot is known as Dhruva mandala as it is here that Dhruva, son of Raja Uttanapada, did his penance. The Saptarshis (seven sages) who constantly go round and round the Dhruva mandala take their bath in this sacred river.<ref name=":0" />

Vishnupadi, the flowing water of which washes away the papa of the people in the universe is the same as Ganga. It was called so because for many yugas (eras), this river confined itself to the heights of the sky, otherwise called Vishnupada. This particular spot is known as Dhruva mandala as it is here that Dhruva, son of Raja Uttanapada, did his penance. The Saptarshis (seven sages) who constantly go round and round the Dhruva mandala take their bath in this sacred river.<ref name=":0" />

== गङ्गायाः पथः ॥ Course of the River Ganga ==

== गङ्गायाः पथः ॥ Course of the River Ganga ==

Ganga, originating from Vishnupada, falls on devayana glittering with crores of vimanas and therefrom it descends on Chandra mandala which it submerges. It follows its course again from there dividing itself into four tributaries called Sita, Chakshus, Alakananda and Bhadra and then falls in Brahmaloka wherefrom it flows in all directions. [[File:Course of Ganga.PNG|thumb|765x765px|Course of Ganga<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/276 Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref>|left]]Of the four tributaries, Sita falls on the head of Mount Meru, flows down to Gandhamadana, then circling through Bhadrashva varsha falls into the eastern sea. Chakshus falls on the peaks of mount Malyavan, flows through Ketumala and falls into the western sea. Alakananda falls on mount Hemakuta, flows through Bharatavarsha and falls into the southern sea. And Bhadra falls on the head of mount Shrngavan flows through uttarakuru and falls into the northern sea. Alakananda that flows through Bharatavarsha is regarded as the most sacred of the four tributaries.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Tributaries of Ganga.PNG|center|thumb|824x824px|Flow of the four main tributaries of Ganga<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/276 Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref>]]

Ganga, originating from Vishnupada, falls on devayana glittering with crores of vimanas and therefrom it descends on Chandra mandala which it submerges. It follows its course again from there dividing itself into four tributaries called Sita, Chakshus, Alakananda and Bhadra and then falls in Brahmaloka wherefrom it flows in all directions. [[File:Course of Ganga.PNG|thumb|765x765px|Course of Ganga<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/276 Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref>|left]]Of the four tributaries, Sita falls on the head of Mount Meru, flows down to Gandhamadana, then circling through Bhadrashva varsha falls into the eastern sea. Chakshus falls on the peaks of mount Malyavan, flows through Ketumala and falls into the western sea. Alakananda falls on mount Hemakuta, flows through Bharatavarsha and falls into the southern sea. And Bhadra falls on the head of mount Shrngavan flows through uttarakuru and falls into the northern sea. Alakananda that flows through Bharatavarsha is regarded as the most sacred of the four tributaries.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Tributaries of Ganga.PNG|center|thumb|824x824px|Flow of the four main tributaries of Ganga<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/276 Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref>]]

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.

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.

 

As Bhagiratha praised Ganga Devi with the stotra enumerated below (See [https://dharmawiki.org/index.php/Ganga_(%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE)#.E0.A4.97.E0.A4.99.E0.A5.8D.E0.A4.97.E0.A4.BE.E0.A4.B8.E0.A5.8D.E0.A4.A4.E0.A5.8B.E0.A4.A4.E0.A5.8D.E0.A4.B0.E0.A4.AE.E0.A5.8D_.E0.A5.A5_Ganga_Stotra Ganga Stotra]), she went with him to the spot where the Sagara's sons were burnt to ashes by the curse of Rshi Kapila. And by the contact of the wind in touch with the particles of water of the Ganges, those sons of Sagara were instantly freed of their curses and they all repaired to Vaikuntha.<ref name=":1" />  

== गङ्गामाहात्म्यम् ॥ Ganga Mahatmya ==

== गङ्गामाहात्म्यम् ॥ Ganga Mahatmya ==

* 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.  

* 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).<ref name=":1" />   

* 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).<ref name=":1" />   

Elaborating on this, the lord says,<blockquote>मृतस्य बहुपुण्येन तच्छवं त्वयि विन्यसेत् ।। ५७ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>प्रयाति स च वैकुण्ठं यावदह्नः स्थितिस्त्वयि ।। कायव्यूहं ततः कृत्वा भोजयित्वा स्वकर्मकम् ।। ५८ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>तस्मै ददामि सारूप्यं करोमि तं च पार्षदम् ।। अज्ञानी त्वज्जलस्पर्शाद्यदि प्राणान्समुत्सृजेत् ।। ५९ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>तस्मै ददामि सालोक्यं करोमि तं च पार्षदम् ।। अन्यत्र वा त्यजेत्प्राणांस्त्वन्नामस्मृतिपूर्वकम्।। ६० ।। </blockquote><blockquote>तस्मै ददामि सालोक्यं यावद्वै ब्रह्मणो वयः ।। अन्यत्र वा त्यजेत्प्राणांस्त्वन्नामस्मृतिपूर्वकम् ।। ६१ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>तस्मै ददामि सारूप्यमसंख्यं प्राकृतं लयम् ।। रत्नेंद्रसार निर्माणयानेन सह पार्षदैः ।।६२।। </blockquote><blockquote>सद्यः प्रयाति गोलोकं मम तुल्यो भवेद् धुवम् ।।<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>''prayāti sa ca vaikuṇṭhaṁ yāvadahnaḥ sthitistvayi ।। kāyavyūhaṁ tataḥ kr̥tvā bhojayitvā svakarmakam ।। 58 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmai dadāmi sārūpyaṁ karomi taṁ ca pārṣadam ।। ajñānī tvajjalasparśādyadi prāṇānsamutsr̥jet ।। 59 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmai dadāmi sālokyaṁ karomi taṁ ca pārṣadam ।। anyatra vā tyajetprāṇāṁstvannāmasmr̥tipūrvakam।। 60 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmai dadāmi sālokyaṁ yāvadvai brahmaṇo vayaḥ ।। anyatra vā tyajetprāṇāṁstvannāmasmr̥tipūrvakam ।। 61 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmai dadāmi sārūpyamasaṁkhyaṁ prākr̥taṁ layam ।। ratneṁdrasāra nirmāṇayānena saha pārṣadaiḥ ।।62।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''sadyaḥ prayāti golokaṁ mama tulyo bhaved dhuvam ।।''</blockquote>Meaning: 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.<ref name=":1" />   

Elaborating on this, the lord says,<blockquote>मृतस्य बहुपुण्येन तच्छवं त्वयि विन्यसेत् ।। ५७ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>प्रयाति स च वैकुण्ठं यावदह्नः स्थितिस्त्वयि । कायव्यूहं ततः कृत्वा भोजयित्वा स्वकर्मकम् ।। ५८ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>तस्मै ददामि सारूप्यं करोमि तं च पार्षदम् । अज्ञानी त्वज्जलस्पर्शाद्यदि प्राणान्समुत्सृजेत् ।। ५९ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>तस्मै ददामि सालोक्यं करोमि तं च पार्षदम् । अन्यत्र वा त्यजेत्प्राणांस्त्वन्नामस्मृतिपूर्वकम्।। ६० ।। </blockquote><blockquote>तस्मै ददामि सालोक्यं यावद्वै ब्रह्मणो वयः । अन्यत्र वा त्यजेत्प्राणांस्त्वन्नामस्मृतिपूर्वकम् ।। ६१ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>तस्मै ददामि सारूप्यमसंख्यं प्राकृतं लयम् । रत्नेंद्रसार निर्माणयानेन सह पार्षदैः ।।६२।। </blockquote><blockquote>सद्यः प्रयाति गोलोकं मम तुल्यो भवेद् धुवम् ।।<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>''prayāti sa ca vaikuṇṭhaṁ yāvadahnaḥ sthitistvayi । kāyavyūhaṁ tataḥ kr̥tvā bhojayitvā svakarmakam ।। 58 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmai dadāmi sārūpyaṁ karomi taṁ ca pārṣadam । ajñānī tvajjalasparśādyadi prāṇānsamutsr̥jet ।। 59 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmai dadāmi sālokyaṁ karomi taṁ ca pārṣadam । anyatra vā tyajetprāṇāṁstvannāmasmr̥tipūrvakam।। 60 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmai dadāmi sālokyaṁ yāvadvai brahmaṇo vayaḥ । anyatra vā tyajetprāṇāṁstvannāmasmr̥tipūrvakam ।। 61 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmai dadāmi sārūpyamasaṁkhyaṁ prākr̥taṁ layam । ratneṁdrasāra nirmāṇayānena saha pārṣadaiḥ ।।62।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''sadyaḥ prayāti golokaṁ mama tulyo bhaved dhuvam ।''</blockquote>Meaning: 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.<ref name=":1" />   

=== गङ्गास्नानम् ॥ Ganga Snana ===

=== गङ्गास्नानम् ॥ Ganga Snana ===

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.  

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.  

* 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 ==

== गङ्गापूजाविधिः ॥ Ganga Puja Vidhi ==

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.

The vidhi (method) followed in the worship of Ganga is enumerated in the 9th Skandha (Chapter 11) of the Devi Bhagavata. It is said that,

* Then one should control oneself and with devotion worship the six Devatas - Ganesha, Surya, Agni, Vishnu, Shiva and Shivani. 

* First worship is to be given to Ganesha for the destruction of obstacles; the Sun is to be next worshipped for health; Fire, for purification; Vishnu is then worshipped for getting wealth and power; Shiva is worshipped for knowledge and Shivani is worshipped for Mukti. 

* When these Devatas are worshipped, one is entitled to worship the Deity. Otherwise, contrary become the effects.

 

* The Purana also elaborates on the Dhyana practised by Bhagiratha towards Devi Ganga as per the Kanva Shakha that is said destroy all the papas.<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>ध्यानं च कण्व शाखोक्तं सर्वं पापप्रणाशनम् ।<ref name=":3">Devi Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 9, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AF/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 12].</ref> ''dhyānaṁ ca kaṇva śākhoktaṁ sarvaṁ pāpapraṇāśanam ।''</blockquote>

* Thus, having meditated on Devi Ganga (as did Bhagiratha), one should offer to the Devi sixteen things viz. Asana, Padya, Arghya, water for bathing, anulepana (ointment), Dhupa (scents), Dipa (lights), Naivedya (offerings of food), betel, cool water, clothings, ornaments, garlands, sandal-paste, achamaniya (water for sipping), and beautiful beddings and worship Her with these.

 

The Devi Bhagavata (Skandha 9, Adhyaya 11) states that the one who will meditate on Ganga as per Kanvashakha and worship, praise and bow down to her daily, he will derive the fruit of one Ashvamedha Yajna.<ref name=":1" />  <blockquote>कण्वशाखोक्त ध्यानेन ध्यात्वा त्वां पूजयिष्यति । यः स्तौति प्रणयेन्नित्यं सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।। ४९ ।।<ref name=":2" /> </blockquote><blockquote>''kaṇvaśākhokta dhyānena dhyātvā tvāṁ pūjayiṣyati । yaḥ stauti praṇayennityaṁ so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet ।। 49 ।।''</blockquote>

 

The stotra of Devi Ganga with which Bhagiratha praised her, is enumerated by Lord Narayana at the request of Maharshi Narada in the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Navama Skandha (Adhyaya 12) as follows:<ref name=":1" /><blockquote>शिवसंगीतसंमुग्ध श्रीकृष्णांगसमुद्भवाम् । राधांगद्रवसंयुक्तां तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। १८ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>यज्जन्म सृष्टेरादौ च गोलोके रासमंडले । सन्निधाने शंकरस्य तां गङ्गां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। १९ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>गोपैर्गोपीभिराकीर्णे शुभे राधामहोत्सवे । कार्त्तिकी पूर्णिमायां च तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २० ।। </blockquote><blockquote>कोटियोजन विस्तीर्णा दैर्घ्ये लक्षगुणा ततः । समावृता या गोलोके तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २१ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>षष्टिलक्षयोजना या ततो दैर्घ्ये चतुर्गुणा । समावृता या वैकुण्ठे तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २२ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>त्रिंशल्लक्षयोजना या दैर्घ्ये पंचगुणा ततः । आवृता ब्रह्मलोके या तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २३ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>त्रिंशल्लक्षयोजना या दैर्घ्ये चतुर्गुणा ततः । आवृता शिवलोके या तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २४ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>लक्षयोजनविस्तीर्णा दैर्घ्ये सप्तगुणा ततः । आवृता ध्रुवलोके या तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २५ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>लक्षयोजनविस्तीर्णा दैर्घ्ये पंचगुणा ततः । आवृता चंद्रलोके या तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २६ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>षष्टिसहस्रयोजना या दैर्घ्ये दशगुणा ततः । आवृता सूर्यलोके या तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २७ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>लक्षयोजनविस्तीर्णा दैर्घ्ये पंचगुणा ततः । आवृता या तपोलोके तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २८ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>सहस्र योजनायामा दैर्घ्ये दशगुणा ततः । आवृता जनलोके या तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। २९ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>दशलक्षयोजना या दैर्घ्ये पंचगुणा ततः । आवृता या महर्लोके तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। ३० ।। </blockquote><blockquote>सहस्रयोजनायामा दैर्घ्ये शतगुणा ततः । आवृता या च कैलासे तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। ३१ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>शतयोजनविस्तीर्णा दैर्घ्ये दशगुणा ततः । मंदाकिनी येंद्रलोके तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। ३२ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>पाताले भोगवती चैव विस्तीर्णा दशयोजना । ततो दशगुणा दैर्घ्ये तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। ३३ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>क्रोशैकमात्रविस्तीर्णा ततः क्षीणा च कुत्रचित् । क्षितौ चालकनन्दा या तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। ३४ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>सत्ये या क्षीरवर्णा च त्रेतायामिंदुसन्निभा । द्वापरे चन्दनाभा या तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। ३५ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>जलप्रभा कलौ या च नाऽन्यत्र पृथिवीतले । स्वर्गे च नित्यं क्षीराभा तां गंगां प्रणमाम्यहम् ।। ३६ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>यत्तोयकणिकास्पर्शे पापिनां ज्ञानसंभवः । ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापं कोटिजन्मार्जितं दहेत् ।। ३७ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>इत्येवं कथिता ब्रह्मन्गंगापद्यैकविशतिः । स्तोत्ररूपं च परमं पापघ्नं पुण्यजीवनम् ।। ३८ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>नित्यं यो हि पठेद्भक्त्या संपूज्य च सुरेश्वरीम् । सोऽश्वमेधफलं नित्यं लभते नात्र संशयः ।। ३९ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं भार्याहीनो लभेत्स्त्रियम् । रोगात्प्रमुच्यते रोगी बंधान्मुक्तो भवेद् ध्रुवम् ।। ४० ।। </blockquote><blockquote>अस्पष्टकीर्तिः सुयशा मूर्खो भवति पंडितः । यः पठेत्प्रातरुत्थाय गंगास्तोत्रमिदं शुभम् ।। ४१ ।। </blockquote><blockquote>शुभं भवेच्च दुःस्वप्ने गगास्नानफलं लभेत् ।<ref name=":3" /></blockquote><blockquote>''śivasaṁgītasaṁmugdha śrīkr̥ṣṇāṁgasamudbhavām । rādhāṁgadravasaṁyuktāṁ tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 18 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''yajjanma sr̥ṣṭerādau ca goloke rāsamaṁḍale । sannidhāne śaṁkarasya tāṁ gaṅgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 19 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''gopairgopībhirākīrṇe śubhe rādhāmahotsave । kārttikī pūrṇimāyāṁ ca tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 20 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''koṭiyojana vistīrṇā dairghye lakṣaguṇā tataḥ । samāvr̥tā yā goloke tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 21 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''ṣaṣṭilakṣayojanā yā tato dairghye caturguṇā । samāvr̥tā yā vaikuṇṭhe tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 22 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''triṁśallakṣayojanā yā dairghye paṁcaguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā brahmaloke yā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 23 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''triṁśallakṣayojanā yā dairghye caturguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā śivaloke yā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 24 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''lakṣayojanavistīrṇā dairghye saptaguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā dhruvaloke yā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 25 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''lakṣayojanavistīrṇā dairghye paṁcaguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā caṁdraloke yā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 26 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''ṣaṣṭisahasrayojanā yā dairghye daśaguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā sūryaloke yā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 27 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''lakṣayojanavistīrṇā dairghye paṁcaguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā yā tapoloke tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 28 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''sahasra yojanāyāmā dairghye daśaguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā janaloke yā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 29 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''daśalakṣayojanā yā dairghye paṁcaguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā yā maharloke tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 30 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''sahasrayojanāyāmā dairghye śataguṇā tataḥ । āvr̥tā yā ca kailāse tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 31 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''śatayojanavistīrṇā dairghye daśaguṇā tataḥ । maṁdākinī yeṁdraloke tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 32 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''pātāle bhogavatī caiva vistīrṇā daśayojanā । tato daśaguṇā dairghye tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 33 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''krośaikamātravistīrṇā tataḥ kṣīṇā ca kutracit । kṣitau cālakanandā yā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 34 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''satye yā kṣīravarṇā ca tretāyāmiṁdusannibhā । dvāpare candanābhā yā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 35 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''jalaprabhā kalau yā ca nā'nyatra pr̥thivītale । svarge ca nityaṁ kṣīrābhā tāṁ gaṁgāṁ praṇamāmyaham ।। 36 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''yattoyakaṇikāsparśe pāpināṁ jñānasaṁbhavaḥ । brahmahatyādikaṁ pāpaṁ koṭijanmārjitaṁ dahet ।। 37 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''ityevaṁ kathitā brahmangaṁgāpadyaikaviśatiḥ । stotrarūpaṁ ca paramaṁ pāpaghnaṁ puṇyajīvanam ।। 38 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''nityaṁ yo hi paṭhedbhaktyā saṁpūjya ca sureśvarīm । so'śvamedhaphalaṁ nityaṁ labhate nātra saṁśayaḥ ।। 39 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''aputro labhate putraṁ bhāryāhīno labhetstriyam । rogātpramucyate rogī baṁdhānmukto bhaved dhruvam ।। 40 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''aspaṣṭakīrtiḥ suyaśā mūrkho bhavati paṁḍitaḥ । yaḥ paṭhetprātarutthāya gaṁgāstotramidaṁ śubham ।। 41 ।।''</blockquote><blockquote>''śubhaṁ bhavecca duḥsvapne gagāsnānaphalaṁ labhet ।''</blockquote>The Stotras begins as,

 

"I bow down to the Ganges who appeared from the body of Sri Krshna, enchanted by the music of Shiva, and, who was bathed with the perspiration (water coming out of the body) of Sri Radha. I bow down to Ganga Devi who first appeared in the Rasa Mandala in the region of Goloka and who always remains with Shankara. My obeisance to the Devi Ganga who remains in the auspicious grand utsav of Radha (Rasa Mandala), crowded with Gopas and Gopis, in the Full Moon night of the month of Kartika..."(Verses 18-20)

 

 

"By the mere touch of one molecule of the water of the Ganges, all the horrible papas incurred in ten million births, even the killing of a Brahmana and so forth, are burnt to ashes."(Verse 37)<ref name=":1" />

71-75. Nârâyana said :-- O Nârada! One should first take one's bath, and putting on a clean washed clothing should perform one's daily duties. Then one should control oneself and with devotion worship the six Devatâs Ganes’a, Sun, Fire, Visnu, S’iva and S'ivânî. Thus one becomes entitled to worship. First worship is to be given to Ganes'a for the destruction of obstacles; the Sun is to be next worshipped for health; Fire, for purification; Visnu is then worshipped for getting wealth and power; S’iva is worshipped for knowledge and S'ivânî is worshipped for Mukti. When these Devatâs are worshipped, one is entitled to worship the Deity. Otherwise contrary become the effects. Now I am saying what Dhyânam (meditation) did Bhagîratha practise towards the Devî Gangâ .

The stotra further enumerates the dimensions of Ganga as she flows through various lokas (regions). The details of her dimensions as mentioned in the stotra (Verses 21-34) are as follows:

|+Dimensions of Ganga<ref name=":1" />

|-

|-

|60,000 yojanas

|5 times the width

|10 times the width

|5 times the width

|100 times the width

|10 times the width

|Patala (known as Bhogavati)

|5 times the width

Here ends the Eleventh Chapter of the Ninth Book on the origin of the Ganges in the Mahâpurânam S’rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.

The stotra (Verses 35-36) also describes the form of the river Ganga in the four yugas.

|+Form of the Ganga<ref name=":1" />

As Milk in the heaven

== Fruits of Ganga Stuti ==

=== फलश्रुतिः ॥ Fruits of Reciting the Stotra ===

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.

* The one who daily sings this praise of Ganga after worshipping her with devotion reaps the fruit of the Ashvamedha yajna.

* Those without any sons get sons and those who have no wives get wives. The diseased get themselves free from their diseases, and the one who is under bondage, is liberated from that bondage.

* The one who, getting up early in the morning reads this stotra of Ganga, becomes widely known even if he is not known at all and he becomes illumined with wisdom even if he be quite ignorant. Even if one sees a bad dream, (by reciting this stotra) he acquires the merit of bathing in the Ganges and of seeing good dreams.<ref name=":1" /> (Reading of Devi Bhagavata Chapter 12 to be continued...)

== References ==

== References ==