Questions tagged [ganga]

In Hinduism, the river Ganga is the most holy river, also revered in her form as a goddess. The Ganga flows through svarloka, Bhuvarloka, and the northern region of Bharatakhanda.

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Do ganga water only clean sins of human or also of animals, plants and micro -organisms?

Do ganga water only clean sins of human or also of animals, plants and micro -organisms? Please also explain in answer that sins are only cleared for one birth or previous births also.
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What is the best day in the year to take a bath in Ganga river?

Bathing in Ganga is considered as extremely auspicious. I want to know What is the best time to take Ganga-Snan ( bath in the Ganga river) ?
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How is Ganga related to Lord Shiva?

I came across 2 books one of which said that Ganga is married to Shiva while the other one said she is married to a Gandharva. So what is the correct relation between Ganga and Lord Shiva?
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Actual origin of Ganga was from Lord Vishnu's Lotus feet?

I heard this fact that actual origin was Ganga is Lord Vishnu's lotus feet, and it held on shiva's head by the brahma? please share me the actual source from scriptures. Thanks
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What is the significance of seeing Maa Ganga in dream? [closed]

I had a dream of Maa Ganga. The thing is, I don't worship Maa Ganga or never have worshiped her before. Nor, I was thinking about Maa Ganga recently at any level i.e. in form of river, in form of ...
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Since Bhageeratha who brought Ganga down was Rama's ancestor, how does Tulsidas say Ganga came out of Rama's feet?

Was King Bhagirath an ancestor of King Dasharath? But Tulsidas says the Ganga came out of Rama's feet: https://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15544 ram charan sukhadayi - tulsidas bhajan jin ...
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Devi ganga journey

Hey guys I'm looking for information on devi ganga whole journey from her creation in Goloka and breakdown of the journey to earth. What purana or scriptures will be good. And even better if there is ...
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Is there any mention of Shiva agrees to take Ganga into his hair in Shiva Purana?

Is there any mention of Shiva agrees to take Ganga into his hair so as to prevent her mighty flow from destroying the Earth in shiva purana.
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Who is the husband of Ganga?

Some sources say that Vishnu is the husband of Ganga, and some say that it is Shiva. Also, in the Mahabharata, Ganga married Shanatanu. How can she have three husbands? Did she die each time, then ...
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Is Devika river mentioned in any Hindu scripture?

Devika river located in Udhumpur (J&K). There are many folk stories about it being Ganga's bigger sister and about getting a curse and boon. In the burial place of Devak river, even bones of ...
2 votes
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How important is Yatra in TIrthayatra

This week Supreme Court of India and government of India didn't permit kanwariyas to bring "Ganga jal" from Haridwar. Instead they asked state governments to develop mechanism to make the ...
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1 answer
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Is Ganga a wife of Vishnu according to Vishnu Purana?

We all know that Ganga is the wife of Shantanu according to Mahabharata. But I heard somewhere that Ganga is the wife of Vishnu. Is it true? Pls give proof from Vishnu Purana.
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Why is Ganga called Sursari?

http://www.hindi2dictionary.com/paryayvachi/sursari.html the Hindi dictionary gives शब्द पर्यायवाची सुरसरि त्रिपथगा, जाह्नवी, सुरसरिता, सुरधुनी, गंगा, देवनदी, मंदाकनी, भगीरथी, विश्नुपगा, देवपगा, ...
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What is the story and significance of the Dashashwamedh Ghat?

Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the famous Ghats of river Ganga in Varanasi (Kashi). It is mentioned on the official site of Varanasi that Lord Brahma has performed ten horse sacrifices their. This is ...
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Was Ganga mentioned in Rig Veda VI.45.31 the river Ganga?

Rig Veda VI.45.31 says adhi bṛbuḥ paṇīnāṃ varṣiṣṭhe mūrdhannasthāt | uruḥ kakṣo na ghāṅghyaḥ || Brbu hath set himself above the Paṇis, o’er their highest head, Like the wide bush on Gangā'...
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What are the details of Bhishma's birth?

Grandsire Bhishma was one of the Central characters of the Mahabharata epic. Bhishma was the son of king Shantanu and Ganga. What are the details of Bhishma's birth ?
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Why did Muni Jahnu drank entire water of holy river Ganga?

Recently at a vedic discourse I heard about this saint Jahnu who drank the entire river Ganga, so my question is: Why did he drink the entire river? What is the origin of this story? Please cite ...
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How did Sagara have 60,000 children?

The story of the descent of Ganga is very well known. King Sagara's 60,000 sons were burnt to ashes by their own sin of insulting Lord Kapila, and to offer redemption to them, their nephew's grandson ...
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1 answer
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Is washing clothes in Ganga not allowed?

I was reading a newspaper article about river Ganga and it said that in ancient scriptures it was mentioned that Ganga must not be polluted and clothes must be washed at a distance from her. No one ...
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Why do we perform this ritual at someone's death bed?

When a person is about to die and leave his mortal body it is said that we must put gangajal i.e. water of holy river Ganga and tulsipatra i.e. leaves of sacred Tulsi plant in the person's mouth. What ...
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Why do Hindus bathe in river Ganges (Ganga)?

I've seen at many of the devotees bathe in river Ganges at sacred places. This is often seen when people are celebrating Kumbh Mela as well, so why do they bathe in river Ganges (Ganga)? Image ...
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Why doesn't the holiness of Ganga spread to all the cities on its bank?

Ganga is a holy river. All the cities which are on the banks of the river Ganga should be sacred but this is not the case. For example Varanasi is a sacred city but Kanpur is not, even though both are ...
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Why people worship Goddess Ganga during Makar Sankranti?

Is there any reason or story behind people worshipping Goddess during Makar Sankranti?
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Which rules are not applicable for Ganga river?

Somewhere in Mahabharata Pandavas tell to Gandharvas that Ganga river can get served at any time and there are no rules for Ganga to get service like other rivers. Please give those reference and the ...
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Have any acharyas commented on taking a dip in sacred but infected rivers?

Background According to this article, an Australian woman became very ill after she took a dip in the sacred Ganges river at Varanasi. My love affair with Varanasi continued and I studied yoga at ...
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Why is Gangotri so far from mount Kailash?

As I discuss in this question, Vishnu's incarnation sage Kapila burnt the sons of the Rama's ancestor Sagara to ashes. And at the time there was no sacred body of water in the area to put the ashes ...
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Does taking a dip in the Ganges River actually wash away your sins?

River Ganga is considered sacred in Santana Dharma. Padma Purana declares that mānyeyaṃsarvadālokepavitrāpāpanāśinī [Pdm. Pu. - 6.22.9] She is pure, destroyer of sins and always honored in the ...
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What is the origin of Ganga?

I have heard that Brahma washed Vamana's feet with water he kept in a pot and that ultimately became Ganga. Are there other stories how Ganga originated?
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Why did Ganga kill seven sons immediately after birth? What is the reason behind this?

Shantanu, the King of Hastinapur, fell in love with Ganga- the river Goddess. Ganga agreed to be his wife on one condition-that he does not question her for her acts. Shantanu agreed. Ganga gave ...
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What is the story of Devakulya who was transformed into Ganga?

Kashyapa and Purnima are the sons of Sage Marichi. Purnima had three children, one of them is Devakulya. Here is verse from Srimad Bhagavatham 4.1.14, My dear Vidura, of the two sons, Kaśyapa and ...
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Clarification about Ikshvaku lineage

As per story, Raja Harishchandra was 33rd descendant of Ikshvaku family. Bhagiratha was 44th and Rama 63rd. Raja Harishchandra worked on ghats of Benares cremation grounds on banks of Ganga but Ganga ...
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Is taking Ganga's name at the time of death another way to attain liberation from rebirth?

From "India and Its Faiths: A Traveler's Record": Page 36: He who calls, O Ganga! Ganga! While life is flickering in the throat, goes when dead to the City of Vishnu and is not born again on earth....
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What is the benefit of attending Kumbh Mela?

I learned at university that the Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of people ever and that it occurs once every 12 years. I know it rotates between four cities meaning there is a Kumbh Mela ...
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Why did Shiva marry Ganga?

Many people believe that Ganga married Shiva. Shiva married Parvati because she meditated him. He had a union with Mohini so as to ensure that Ayyappa is born. What is the story of why Shiva married ...
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Why is Ganga considered sacred? Why do so many devotees worship this river?

What is river Ganga considered sacred? Why do so many devotees worship her? Note: This is not a dup. of Historically, when (and why) did Ganga become a holy river? Is it after Sarasvati dried up? as ...
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Are there references to sharks or dolphins in hindu mythology?

Both sharks and dolphins have been known to live in and around India. The Irrawaddy dolphin and the Ganges shark are species that actually live in seas or swim up rivers. It seems like there should be ...
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Why Ganga-snan(bath in Ganga) remove all sin that you have done? [duplicate]

I know that there is very well known ritual called Ganga-snan in north-east Indian states and Bangladesh. It is said that If you bath in river Ganga, then all sin that you have done, are removed. But ...
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Did Ramakrishna Paramahamsa say that bathing in the Ganga does not wash away sins?

Everyday, innumerable people are found to take bath in the Holy Ganges in the hope of all their sins getting washed away. However, I have heard from my Mom many times that dips in the Ganges do not ...
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What is Ganga Devi's marital status?

Was Ganga Devi married to someone? Is she a wife of Lord Shiva, because he adorns Ganga Devi on his head which could mean that she is Shiva's wife? I've also heard that Bhishma Pitamaha from ...
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what does Gangavataranam show regarding what Vaishnavas call "Vishnu paratvam"?

It seems to be a huge deal for vaishnava luminaries that Siva received the Ganga in his locks and it is supposed to have originated from Vishnu's feet. See for example Vedanta Desika's http://...
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Why Ganga River is also called "Bhagirathi"?

I don't know that why River Ganga is also called "Bhagirathi River"?
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Story of origin of the Godavari river?

I heard that the Godavari river is believed to be "river Ganga of South India" and has some story behind the origin of it. Can someone please explain the origin of Godavari river as per scriptures?
3 votes
1 answer
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Why do Indians or Hindus celebrate Dev Deepavali? [duplicate]

After Deepavali, Hindus or Indians celebrate Dev Deepavali. What is the reason for celebrating Dev Deepavali? Does this festival or tradition find mention in the Puranas?
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In which parva of Mahabharata was Ganga's curse to Amba is mentioned?

I got to know about a tale, of Ganga's curse to Amba to become a river without water or something similar to that because of her attempt to kill Bhishma. What was that exact curse and in which parva ...
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What is the symbolism behind Ganga flowing from Lord Shiva's head?

Images depict Ganga flowing out from Lord Shiva's head. What is the symbolism behind this? Images:
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Indus river and Hinduism

What do ancient scriptures, texts and traditions tell us about the river Indus (Sindhu)? Are there references to the Indus River Civilisation in the Mahabharata? Has there been a significance of ...
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Who are the wives/consorts of Lord Shiva? [closed]

Lord Shiva has been associated with Parvati/Durga, Ganga and Mohini. Can you please elaborate on these associations? Also, in the Mahabharata, didn't Ganga marry Shantanu and Mohini marry Aravan (...
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The story of Sri Krishna, Yudhishtira and the bitter gourd

Is there any scriptural basis to this story of Sri Krishna, Yudhishtira and the bitter gourd? The story goes like this: After the Mahabharata war, King Yudhishtira and his brothers decide to go on a ...