Why is the Ganges so important and sacred in Hinduism? In our vast history, countless rivers have nourished mankind, and some of the greatest ancient civilizations were born on the banks of the river. For example, the Yellow River in China, and Nile in Egypt, they gave birth to multiple civilizations.
The lifeblood of India
The Ganges stretches for 2,510 kilometers in India, from in the Himalayas to in the Bay of Bengal in the ocean. During this journey, the river served approximately 400 million people. It flows through more than one hundred large and small cities. The Ganges River is like a blood vessel, carrying the lifeblood of India across the subcontinent, feeding and nurturing its people.
In addition, the Ganges Basin serves nearly one third of India's population. It is the river of life and the river of faith for hundreds of millions of people. From the earliest era in human history, one of the oldest civilizations has flourished on its shores and continues to the modern age.
Nevertheless, all this is common in many big rivers. So, how did one of the most polluted waterways in the world become the holiest river in human history? Why are festivals held on its shores, including some of the largest religious gatherings in the world?
The sacred flow of Hinduism
In Hinduism, even water is considered sacred. Hold water in your hands while praying. Water is considered extraordinary, and it is believed to have spiritual and natural purification capabilities that can remove the sins of the body. Therefore, Indians believe that the water from the Ganges is the most sacred water, and it is also the purest gift of nature to Hindus.
Women pray in the Ganges water
The Ganges water is one of the essential offerings in festivals and prayers.It is used in some sacrificial activities in India, or in adult ceremonies, such as 16 samskaras, and on many other occasions. It all occupies a sacred place, as a sacred gift and offered to God.
Millions of people who have come to the Ganges firmly believe that bathing in this river, or even just seeing the scenery of the Ganges, will cleanse their sins and help them on the road to "liberation" or redemption. They believe that drinking the Ganges water in the last breath will take their souls to heaven. If the Ganges water is not used, no "worship" or ritual is complete. There are many traditions related to the Ganges water and its purification characteristics.
Ganges, incarnate as the goddess of Ganges, occupies an important position in the Hindu pantheon. The description of Ganges goddess varies, but she is usually portrayed as a beautiful woman wearing a white crown. Her "mount" is a fantasy creature with a crocodile head and a dolphin tail.
She is depicted as having two or four arms, holding a variety of objects, including water lilies, Indian prayer beads, small jars, or holding "_1span" with both hands. span3span ", this is a fearless gesture. The Ganges goddess is usually regarded as the image of the supplier and mother, and is called "mother" by Hindus. As the incarnation of Ganges, she accepts everything and forgives everything.
The source of the Ganges
To understand the Ganges, we should start from where it is: Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas, more specifically Uttarakhand North Arkhand Khand State, adjacent to Tibet. The glacier is one of the longest glaciers in the Himalayas, about 31 kilometers long and 3.2 kilometers wide. In some places, it is even wider, up to 4 kilometers.
Gangotri Glacier is the main source of Gangotri. It is called Gomukh, derived from Sanskrit . Gow means "cow" and Mukh means "face". The nose of the glacier is thought to resemble a cow, so it is named after it. About 19 kilometers from the glacier is the nearest religious town Gangotri, which can be reached on foot.
Gaumukh Glacier, the source of the Ganges (Manhar Sharma)
Although Gaumukh is the true origin of the Ganges, initially glacier water flows into the Bhagirathi River. This is why the Ganges River is also called Bhagirathi in many places in India and historically in ancient scriptures. The Bagirati River is one of the two rivers that became the sacred Ganges and is considered a major tributary.
Bhagirathi started its journey from Gaumukh, and then merged with different tributaries to become a larger river. It quickly merged with the Arkananda, the second major river that formed the Ganges. This river originates from the confluence of Satopanth Glacier and Bhagirathi Kharak Glacier.
The Holy City of Ganges
Today, true followers of Hinduism believe that the Ganges is not just a river, but a true goddess. Bathing in the sacred Ganges can wash away all sins, and every Hindus wants to bathe in these waters. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit Haridwar, Rishikesh, Varanasi, Patna, Calcutta, Ganga Sagar and other religious centers on the banks of the Ganges. .
Millions of Hindus also carried water from the Ganges River home in tanks to continue purification. These values are the key to the unification of beliefs of Hindus, regardless of the sectarian differences between different sects.
In addition, it is believed that wherever the Ganges goes, it will be purified. Multiple pilgrimage routes follow the entire route of the river. Gangotri is considered the most outstanding pilgrimage site. The next downstream is Haridwar, which is the "gateway to Vishnu" through which the river enters the plains of India. Prayagraj is the third major city, where the Ganges and the other two fabulous rivers , the Yamuna river and the Saraswati river merge.
Varanasi, the spiritual center of India
Varanasi, also known as Banaras, is the main holy city of Hindus and is considered the soul of India. People came here to get "Moksha", where they can freely ascend to heaven, this is the first time the Ganges granted Sagara's sixty thousand sons. There are many famous Ghats (crematoriums) in this city, which broke the circle of rebirth. The cremation fires from the Ghats continue to burn throughout the year.
In this city, you can often hear the echoes of prayers, temple bells and conch horns. Some people believe that life and death are adjacent, and whoever is born in this world will die one day.
The last important pilgrimage site is the Ganges River where the Ganges flows into the sea. People came from afar and scattered the ashes of their loved ones in the Ganges River, believing that this kind of immersion can send the dead to Moksha and end the cycle of rebirth. These are ancient traditions, and some of these sites, such as Patliputra or Kasi, are among the oldest surviving cities on the planet.
The Living River
All the sacred scriptures and ancient stories talk about the Ganges.The goddess of the Ganges can be found in Ramayana, Mahabharata, Pharaohs and even the Veda. This Ganges has been visited by many Hindu gods, such as Rama, Krsna , Buddha, and many other ancient prophets and gods in Indian mythology.
In ancient and modern Hinduism, the Ganges is considered the most sacred river on earth. The Ganges river descends from the sky to the earth, so it can also be the gate for Hindus to return to heaven from the earth. In addition, the Ganges is the only river considered by Hindus to come from three worlds: Heaven (Swarga), Earth (Prithvi) and Hell (Patala).
Many festivals are held on the banks of the Ganges every year, during which millions of Hindus bathe in this sacred river. One of the religious gatherings is Maha Kumbh Mela, which is the largest religious gathering in one place in the world. Prayagraj and Haridwar are two cities famous for big pot festival .
Conclusion
Ganges is an "unbelievable" place for people at home and abroad. People can watch countless crowds at Banaras Ghat in Varanasi as they pour into the sacred river to purify their souls, or at aarti, offer flames to the goddess.
Similarly, it is rare to see countless Aghori, saints and yogis from the Himalayas at the Kumba Festival. This festival will bring everyone in groups to pray to the Ganges goddess.
Hindus also believe that life is incomplete if you bathe in the Ganges at least once in your life. These are truly memorable and life-changing experiences, and everyone can benefit from visiting the Ganges at some time in their lives.
So some people will be thrown into the Ganges River after death,They believe that this can wash away the sins of the deceased during his lifetime and ascend to heaven.
.
