India is the land of festivals & these festivals are not just religious in nature, but they are linked to spiritual, science & history of Hinduism. Hinduism is the only religion which teaches the way of living. This deep-rooted religion is the richest of all the religion. It is not just a religion; it is a life style, life style of living & way more than that. But, to understand its depth, we need to first understand the surface i.e., its basic fundamentals. As you have read in the earlier articles about the ritual ceremonies & its connection to the science likewise, all the festivals are deep-rooted too with our religion, nature & also with our history. Among the numerous festivals celebrated in this country, Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) holds a lot of significance.
Just as we have seen in the earlier articles that Hinduism is intensely connected to the nature & so we worship nature. Just as there are days connected to worship particular Deity in the same way this is another festival worshipping river. As you have read the previous article about Ganga Saptami (गंगा सप्तमी), this is yet another festival worshipping river Ganga. Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) is celebrated widely in India. As Ganga Saptami (गंगा सप्तमी) is the celebration of rebirth of river Ganga, Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) is the festival of the birth celebration of river Ganga on the Earth.
Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) is also known as Ganga avataran (गंगा-अवतरणम्), which means the ‘descent of Ganga’. It is a celebration of the origin of the river Ganga from the Heaven to the Earth. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the bright fortnight of the Jyeshtha month (ज्येष्ठः शुक्लपक्षे दशहरा), a day before Nirjala Ekadashi. But sometimes Ganga Dashahara & Nirjala Ekadashi fall on the same day due to the merger of two dates (Tithis) (तिथिः). It has been celebrated for 10 days in the few states of India. A ten-day celebration begins from the 1st day of the bright fortnight of the Jyeshtha month (ज्येष्ठः शुक्लपक्षे प्रतिपदा) till the 10th day of the bright fortnight of the Jyeshtha month (ज्येष्ठः शुक्लपक्षे दशहरा).
Significance of Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) –
The 2510 km long river Ganga is worshipped as the Goddess in Hinduism. The Ganga River is not just a sacred place or sacred river, but it is also a sacred entity. The river is respected as a Goddess whose purity cleanses the sins & reliefs the dead on their path toward heaven. Gang River is not only a holy river, but also it is a heart of India. Devotees worship the Ganga River for a better fortune. Goddess Ganga is the daughter of Himavan & Mena. She is the elder sister of Goddess Parvati.
People worship Goddess Ganga & take a bath in it to get rid from the cycle of birth & death & also to remove their sins. This mighty river passes through many famous cities of India like Pataliputra, Varanasi, Uttarakhand, West Bengal etc. Varanasi & Haridwar are the two cities considered holiest in India because it is situated on the banks of the river Ganga. These two cities & Allahabad are famous for religious worshipping, as every 12 years alternatively, Kumbh Mela (the largest religious fair in the world) is organized in these cities, allowing everyone to wash away their sins in river Ganga. A huge celebration takes place for the ten days. Morning to evening Bhajans & Stotras are performed on a large scale to please Goddess Ganga & to celebrate her birthday.
An importance of Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) is stated in the Scriptures. Explaining the about the perfect Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) day, it is stated in the scriptures that;
ज्येष्ठशुक्लदशम्यां तु भवेत्सौम्यदिनं यदि।
ज्ञेया हस्तर्क्षसंयुक्ता सर्वपापहरा तिथिः।।
Meaning – On the 10th day of the bright fortnight of the Jyeshtha month (ज्येष्ठः शुक्लपक्षे दशहरा), if it’s Monday & if it’s Hasta Nakshatra then, this day is supposed to remove all kinds of the sins & considered as the most auspicious day.
In Sanskrit, Dasha (दश) means ten & Hara (हरा) means destroy; thus, bathing in the river Ganga during these ten days a person gets rid of the ten sins or, alternatively, the ten lifetimes of sins. Explaining the importance of bathing in the Ganga River the Brahma Purana explains;
ज्येष्ठ मासि सिते पक्षे दशमी हस्तसंयुता।
हरते दश पापानि तस्माद् दशहरा स्मृता।।
Meaning – On the 10th day of the bright fortnight of the Jyeshtha month (ज्येष्ठः शुक्लपक्षे दशहरा) during Hasta Nakshatra, ten types of sins [3 physical sins (कायिक), 4 verbal sins (वाचिक) & 3 mental sins (मानसिक)] are destroyed by bathing in the river Ganga & worshiping the Goddess Ganga. So, it is known as Dashahara.
The offering of prayer allows one to attain salvation. It is a favourable day for purchasing valuable items, new vehicles, or new property. Reciting Ganga Stotra on this day while standing in the Ganga River can remove all the sins. Taking a dip in the river on this day can bring the devotee to a state of purification & also heal any physical ailments he may have. Each & every one of us have always wondered that why Ganga River is considered pure & sacred also, how can the water heals the diseases? So, here is the answer that;
The River Ganga is a major river in the Indian subcontinent. The Ganga originates from the western Himalayas & flows through various states of northern India. Throughout its journey, it is joined by various tributaries like Gomti, Kosi & Yamuna. Indian scientists have confirmed the scientific basis of the mysterious ‘special power’ of the water of Ganga, which Hindus consider as “Brahm Dravya” (ब्रह्म द्रव्यम्) which means divine elixir.
The mysterious healing power of the Ganges water has been proven to have the healing touch & self-purifying properties. Ganga water contains Bacteriophages (viruses which kill bacteria) due to which Ganga water has antimicrobial attributes. These viruses can be used in phage therapy (i.e., to easily destroy the diseases), a natural alternative to antibiotics. Bacteriophages have been used as an alternative to antibiotics against infectious diseases for over 90 years which is already found in the Ganga water by the scientists.
One of the earliest studies on the waters of Ganga was done by E Hanbury Hankin, a British physician. He reported that cholera microbes died within three hours in the Ganga water, while they survived in distilled water even after 48 hours. These bacteriophages are active against certain clinical isolates, or viral strains & can be used against multi-drug resistant or MDR infections. More than 20 types of bacteriophages are found in water of Ganga River which can be used for treatment of tuberculosis, typhoid, pneumonia, cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, meningitis, urinary tract infection, etc.
The waters of Ganga have also shown to retain high amounts of dissolved oxygen, despite the pollution. After numerous researches, this factor remains a mystery that what gives the water of Ganga to retain unusual content of oxygen. It is noteworthy that the Ganga water contains Oxygen levels 25 times higher than any other river in the world. This is one of the reasons of self-purifying attributes of River Ganga & high levels of oxygen in the waters of Ganga gives the unique ability to remain fresh over a prolonged period of time. Even Britishers used to carry Ganga water during their sea voyages back to England because the Ganga water remains fresh over a prolonged period of time.
Recently, new research reveals that despite of pollution, the water of the Ganga still possesses medicinal qualities. Some microbiologist working on to develop new 'anti-microbial compound' with the help of Ganga water. This is the reason that even the polluted Ganga waters is still being considered holy.
Historical account of Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) –
According to the Puranas, once the king named Sagara who performed almost ninety-nine ashwamedha yagna (अश्वमेध-यज्ञः) for forming his supremacy & showing his might. He was looking forward to perform the hundredth yagna (यज्ञः) to maintain his winning streak. Knowing his successful record, Lord Indira got scared as he thought that Sagara will be more powerful than him & unconquerable. Therefore, Lord Indira stole the horse & hid it in the ashram of Sage Kapila to stop Sagara from succeeding.
King Sagara ordered his sixty thousand sons to search for the horse, however, none of them was able to succeed. Finally, they reach the ashram of sage Kapila where sage Kapila was meditating unaware of the presence of a horse in his ashram. The sons of King Sagara accused Sage Kapila of stealing the horse. This false accusation angered the sage Kapila a lot, hence, he cursed the sons. He burnt them into ashes & said their souls will never get departed & roam around in this world.
Years later, the prince of Sagara Dynasty named Bhagirath came to know about the curse of sage Kapila & decided to take the responsibility to release the souls of his ancestors. On the advice of his guru Trithala, he performed penance for years to please Lord Brahma. Later Lord Brahma appeared in front of him & suggested that he will need to take Goddess Ganga on the earth as only her water has the power to release the souls of 60,000 ancestors from the curse of saint Kapila. So, he went to Goddess Ganga & requested her to flow on the Earth but to this, Ganga told Bhagirath that if she were to descend from the Heaven to the Earth, the force of her water would be difficult to sustain. She asked him to obtain the favour of the Lord Shiva, as no one except him would be able to sustain her force. Bhagirath then performed a severe penance to please Lord Shiva & asked him to sustain the force of Ganga when she flows to the earth, Lord Shiva granted the boon by agreeing to sustain Ganga’s force.
Later, the force of Ganga reduced after passing through the matted locks of the Lord Shiva & she took birth on the Earth on the 10th day of the bright fortnight of the Jyeshtha month (ज्येष्ठः शुक्लपक्षे दशहरा) which is known as Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) & she got known by the name Bhagirathi, as Bhagirath is the one who brought Goddess Ganga to the Earth. While taking Ganga to the place where the souls of the ancestors of Bhagirath was, in the way due to Ganga’s force, the hermitage of sage Jhannu wiped off & the water of Ganga touched the right thigh of sage Jhannu while he was meditating. Out of anger sage Jhannu dug his right thigh & took all the water of river Ganga into his body to punish her.
After which, Bhagirath requested sage Jhannu to release Ganga & explained why he brought her to the Earth so, sage Jhannu dug his left thigh & released river Ganga on the 7th day of the bright fortnight of the Vaishakha month (वैशाखः शुक्लपक्षे सप्तमी) which is known as Ganga Saptami (गंगा सप्तमी). This was the rebirth of river Ganga on the Earth & as she was born again through the body of sage Jhannu, she is known as Jhanvi- a daughter of sage Jhannu. After her rebirth, the river Ganga liberated the souls of sixty thousand sons of king Sagar & the ancestors of Bhagirath.
As on this day the Goddess Ganga descended on the Earth, on the occasion of Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) this day is celebrated with great enthusiasm & devotion.
Ritual ceremony of Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) –
In India, worshipping river is common. Likewise, worshipping river Ganga is also widespread. Even when devotees’ visits river Ganga, they perform a ritual to worship Ganga. But, during special days like Ganga Saptami (गंगा सप्तमी) & Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) special rituals are organised by the devotees. The celebrations & rituals performed on Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा) are very well-known in the places where river Ganga & its tributaries flow.
On the day of Ganga Dashahara (गंगा दशहरा), devotees wake up before sunrise & take a dip in the river Ganga. Flowers & garland are offered to the river. The preparation for ‘Ganga Aarti’ is made at Ghats & thousands of devotees participate in this grand event. Aarti of Ganga is performed with multiple lamps at the bank of Ganga in the evening with devotion & enthusiasm. On Ganga Dashahara, the ceremony of Deepadaan (दीपः दानम्) (the donation of the lamps) holds significant place near the Ghats & it is considered to be the most fortunate just like Ganga Saptami (गंगा सप्तमी). Huge fairs are also organized near the banks of the holy river on this day. Devotees also recite Ganga Stotras & Ganga Sahasranama Stotra on the banks of the river Ganga to please her. Devotees & priests perform the aarti at the bank of the river Ganga during twilight with leaf boats laden with flames & flowers.
Those who are unable to visit the banks of the river Ganga on this day, they arrange a ritual ceremony at home or at the temple where in a pot full of Ganga water is honoured with 16 worshipping practices (षोडश उपचारः) & a ritual lasting 2-3 hours is held on this day with great enthusiasm & devotion. Sacrificial ritual (यज्ञः) is also performed on this day to invoke Goddess Ganga & to seek her blessings. King Bhagirath is also worshipped on this day to honour him as he is the one who was capable of bringing a pure heavenly river to the Earth.
There is a special ritual of offering 10 different flowers, 10 extruded incense (धूपः), 10 lamps (दीपम्), offering 10 different foods (नैवेद्यम्) & 10 different fruits to Goddess Ganga on this day. Also, Dakshina (दक्षिणा) (cash as a gift) should be offered to the 10 Brahmins on this day. As Goddess Ganga is the destroyer of the sins of every human so, for the removal of ten types of sins, all things are offered in the amount of ten only. On this day, having bathed in the river Ganga, 10 dips are taken on this day. On this day barley is offered in charity to the Brahmins & to the needy. There is also a ritual of reading or listening to the story of Ganga’s descend on the Earth.
Thus, Hindus not only worship Gods & Goddesses but also worships the nature & consider the nature as Gods & Goddesses itself. As nature nurtures the crops as well as humans, Hindus always believe in protecting & preserving the nature. In the same way, Ganga is considered as the Goddess in Hindu religion as it has a healing properties, it contains high amount of oxygen because of which Ganga River is considered as sacred & pure. So it’s not because river Ganga descended on the Earth from the Heaven but, due to its medicinal qualities, devotees worship her with dedication & devotion. We hope that like a true Hindu you too come forward & worship Goddess Ganga & let’s take an oath to keep our mother nature clean, keep our rivers clean & chemical free.
माघः कृष्णपक्षे ०५, २०७८