The Ninth Book. Chapter 12
The Ninth Book
Chapter Xii
On The Origin Of Gang
p. 850
1-15. Nryana said :-- O Nrada! Now about the meditation (Dhyn) of the Dev Gang as per Knva S'kh, which destroys all the sins, O Gange! Of white colour like white lotuses! Thou destroyest all the sins of men. Thou hast appeared from the body of Sr Krisna. Thou art powerful like Him. Thou art very chaste and pure. Thou hast worn the raiment, uninflammable and decorated all over with ornaments made of jewels. Thou art more brilliant than one hundred autumnal Moons. Thou art also well pleased with a smile on Thy lips. And Thou art always of steady youthful beauty (that never wanes). Thou art dear to Nryana, calm and of peaceful temper, and proud of being His with His fortune. Thou bearest the braid of hair, decked with garlands of Mlat flowers; Thy cheeks are anointed with sandal dots, with Sindra bindu (dots of red powder, vermilion) and well adorned with various artistic lines made of musk. Thy garment and Thy beautiful lips are more red than the ripe Bimba fruit (the red fruit of a cucurbitaceous plant); Thy teeth vie as it were, with the rows of pearls. How lovely are Thy eyes! How delightsome is Thy side-long glance! How close are Thy breasts like Bel fruits! Thy loins are thicker and more solid then the plantain trees. How do Thy feet look beautiful, defying the beauty of the Sthalapadma (ground Lotus)!
How do the red sandals look lovely with Kunkuma and alaktak (red powder)! What a red tinge Thy feet have shewn with the honey of
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Prijta flower that is seen on the head of Indra. The Devas, the Siddhas, the Munis, offer always Arghyas (offerings of rice with Durba grass) at Thy feet; the ascetics bow down at Thy feet, and it seems as though so many lines of bees are on Thy lotus feet. O Mother! Thy lotus feet give liberation to those that want Mukti and enjoyment to those that want Bhukti (enjoyments). O Mother! Thou art the boon; Thou art the chief excellent; Thou grantest boons and Thou showest Thy favour to Thy devotees; Thou bestowest the Visnupadam (the place of Visnu); but Thou hast come from the feet of Visnu. Thus meditating on the Dev Gang flowing by three routes (in Heaven, earth and infernal regions), the bestower of good things one should offer to the Dev sixteen things :-- sana, Pdya, Arghya, water for bathing, ointment (anlepana), Dhpa (scents), Dpa (lights), Naivedya (offerings of food), betel, cool water, clothings, ornaments garlands, sandal-paste, chamanya (water for sipping), and beautiful beddings and worship Her with these. Then, with folded hands, one should perform stotra to Her and bow down to Her with devotion. Thus the worshipper gets the fruits of A'svamedha sacrifice.
16. Nrada said :-- O Lord of the Devas! At present I am desirous to hear the sin-destroying and virtue-bestowing stotra (hymn) of Gang Dev, the Purifier of all those that are fallen from virtue, originated from the feet of Visnu, the Lord of world and the husband of Laksm. Kindly narrate all these in detail.
17-41. Nryana said :-- O Nrada! Now I am narrating the stotra of Gang Dev, that destroys all sins and bestows all religious merit. Hear. I bow down to the Ganges who appeared from the body of Sr Krisna, enchanted by the music of S'iva, and, who was bathed with the perspiration (water coming out of the body) of Sr Rdh. I bow down to Gang Dev who first appeared in the circular dance (Rsa Mndalam) in the region of Goloka and who always remains with S'ankara. My obeisance to the Dev Gang who remains in the auspicious grand utsab of Rdh (Rsa Mndalam), crowded with Gopas and Gops, in the Full Moon night of the month of Krtik. She is one koti yojanas wide and one lakh times one koti yojanas long in the region of Goloka. My Obeisance to Her! In Vaikuntha, Gang is sixty lakh yojanas in width and four times that in length. My Obeisance to Her! In Brahm-loka, Gang is thirty lakh yojanas wide and five times as long. I bow down to Her. In S'iva-loka, She is thirty lakh yojanas wide and four times that in length. I bow down to Her. In Dhruva-loka, She is one lakh yojanas wide and seven times as long. I bow down to Her. In Chandra-
p. 852
loka She is one lakh yojanas wide and five times as long. My obeisance to Sr Gang Dev. I bow down to the Ganges who is sixty thousand yojanas wide in the Srya loka and ten times that in length. I bow down to Gang in Tapo-loka who is one lakh yojanas wide and five times that in length. My obeisance to Gang Dev in Janar-loka, who is one thousand yojanas wide and ten times that as long. I bow down to Gang in Mahar-loka who is ten lakh yojanas wide and five times that in length. My obeisance to Gang Dev in Kails'a who is one thousand yojanas wide and one hundred times as long. I bow down to Gang Dev who is known as Mandkin in Indra-loka, and who is one hundred yojanas wide and ten times than that in length. My obeisance to Gang Dev, known as Bhogavati in Ptla who is ten yojanas wide and five times as long. I bow down to Gang Dev, known as Alakanand in this earth, who is two miles wide, in some places more wide and in some places less wide. I bow down to Gang Dev who was of the colour of milk in Satya yuga, of the colour of Moon in Tret Yuga, of the colour of white sandal-paste in Dvpara yuga. I bow down to Sr Gang Dev who is as water in Kali yuga in this earth and as milk in Kali yuga in Heaven. O Child! By the touch of one molecule of the water of the Ganges, all the horrible sins incurred in ten million births, the murder of a Brhmin and so forth, are burnt to ashes. Thus I have described in twenty-one verses the great stotra (human) of the sin-destroying and the virtue-increasing merits of Gang. He reaps the fruit of the A'svamedha sacrifice (Horse sacrifice), who daily sings this praise of Gang after worshipping Her with devotion. There is no doubt in this. The persons that are without any sons get sons hereby and those who have no wives get wives. The diseased get themselves free from their diseases, and the man who is under bondage, is liberated from that bondage. He who getting up early in the morning reads this stotra of Gang, becomes widely known even if he be not known at all and he becomes illumined with wisdom even if he be quite ignorant. Even if he sees a bad dream, he acquires the merit of bathing in the Ganges and of seeing good dreams.
42-44. Sr Nryana spoke :-- O Nrada! With this stotra (hymn) did Bhagratha praise the Gang Dev. Who then went with him to the spot where the Sagara's sons were burnt to ashes by the curse of Kapila. 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. She is named Bhgirath, because Bhagratha brought Her to this earth. Thus I have described to you the story of the Ganges.
This anecdote is highly meritorious and the great step to liberation. What more do you now want to hear? Say.
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45-46. Nrada said :-- O Lord! How did Gang come to flow through the three worlds by three routes, and thus purify them? How was she carried and to which places? How did the people of those localities accord respect to Her? Kindly describe all these in detail.
47-79. Nryana said :-- O Nrada! On the Full Moon night of the month of Krtik in the Rsa mndalam, at the great festivity in honour of Rdh, Sr Krisna worshipped Rdh and remained there. Next Rdh, worshipped by Sr Krisna, was worshipped by Brahm and the other Devas, by Saunaka and the other Risis, who also stopped there with much gladness. At this moment the Dev Sarasvat, the Presiding Deity of the Science of Music began to sing lovely songs regarding Krisna, in tune with vocal and instrumental music. Brahm became glad and presented to Sarasvat a necklace of jewels; Mah Deva gave her gems and jewels rare in this universe; Krisna presented the best Kaustubha jewel; Rdhik offered excellent invaluable necklace of jewels; Nryana presented to her the best and most excellent garland of jewels; Laksm gave her invaluable golden earrings decked with gems; Visnu-My Mla Prakriti, Bhagvat Durg, who is Nryan, s'var, s'n, presented Her devotion to Brahm, so very rare; Dharma gave her devotion to Dharma and high fame; Agni (fire) gave her excellent raiments purified by fire and Vyu gave Her Npura (toe ornaments) made of gems and jewels. At this time, Mahes'vara, the Lord of Bhtas (elements) began to sing, at the suggestion of Brahm, songs relating to Sr Krisna's grand Rsa festival. Hearing this, the Devas became very much enchanted and remained motionless like statues. With great difficulty, they regained their consciousness. Then they saw that there was no Rdh nor Krisna in this Rsa mndala; everything was deluged with water. The Gopas, Gops, Devas and Brhmanas began to cry loudly. Brahm in his meditation then came to know that Rdh and Krisna both have assumed this liquid appearance for the deliverance of the people of the world. Brahm and others, all began to praise Sr Krisna and said :-- "O All prevading One! Now be pleased to show us Thy form and grant us our desired boons." At that instant a sweet incorporeal voice was clearly heard by all, as coming from air above, that, "I am the Self of all, pervading all; and this my Sakti, Rdh, is also the Self of all, prevades all; so there is no separation of us from you all even for a moment. It is only to show our favour to the devotees that we assume special forms. For this reason only there is separation of us from you as regards this body! There is nothing else. Besides you have no necessity with our bodies. O Devas! Now if my Manus, men, Munis, Vaisnavas and you all, purified by Mantras desire very much to see My Form clearly, then I tell you to request Mahes'vara to carry out My word. O Brahm! O Creator! Better ask
p. 854
Mahdeva, the World Teacher, that He would better compose the beautiful Tantra S'stra, in accordance with the limbs of the Vedas. And that the above S'stra be full of Mantras, capable to yield desired fruits, Stotras (hymns) and Kavachas (protection mantras) and rules of due worship in proper order. And that also My Mantra, My Stotra, and My Kavacha be also given there in a hidden form. So that those people that are sinners might not understand their real meanings and thus turn out against Me. It may be that one in a thousand or in a hundred may worship My Mantra. And My Mantra worshippers, the saints, become purified and come to My Abode. If My S'stra be not well made (i. e., if everyone be able to understand its meaning) and if everyone be able to go from Bhrloka to Goloka, then Thy labour in this creation of the world will all be in vain. Therefore dost Thou better create different worlds according to the differences of Sttvik, Rjasik, and Tamo Gunas; then some will be the inhabitants of this Bhrloka, some will be the inhabitants of Dyuloka according to their Karmas. O Brhman! If Mah Deva promises earnestly in this assembly of the Devas, I will then exhibit My True Form." O Nrada! Thus speaking, the Eternal Purusa Sr Krisna remained silent (i. e., the aerial incorporeal voice stopped). Hearing this, Brahm, the Creator of the world, gladly informed Siva of this. When the Lord of Knowledge, the Foremost of the Jnins, Bhtantha heard the words of the Creator, He took the Ganges water in His hands and swore that "I will complete the Tantra S'astra, full of Rdh mantras and not opposed to the Vedas. If one touches the Ganges water and speaks lies, one remains in the terrible Klasutra hell for a period of one Brahm's life time." O Dvija! When Bhagavn S'ankara said this before the assembly of the Devas in the region of Goloka, Sr Krisna appeared there with Rdh. The Devas became exceedingly glad to see Him. They praised Him, the Best Purusa and they were all filled with rapture and again engaged themselves in the grand Rsa Festival. Some time after, Mh Deva lighted the Torch of Mukti, i.e., the Tantra S'stra was published by Him, as promised. O Child! Thus I have disclosed to you this anecdote, so very secret, and hard to be attained. Thus Sr Krisna Himself, is verily the liquid Gang sprung in the region of Goloka. This holy Gang, born of the bodies of Krisna and Rdh inseparable from each other, grants enjoyment, lordship and liberation. Sr Krisna, the Highest Self, has placed Her in various places; so Gang is of the nature of Sr Krisna and is everywhere, equally honoured everywhere in the Brahmnda (universe).
Here ends the Twelfth Chapter in the Ninth Book on the origin of Gang in the Mahpurnam Srmad Dev Bhgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vysa.
Chapter Xii
On The Origin Of Gang
p. 850
1-15. Nryana said :-- O Nrada! Now about the meditation (Dhyn) of the Dev Gang as per Knva S'kh, which destroys all the sins, O Gange! Of white colour like white lotuses! Thou destroyest all the sins of men. Thou hast appeared from the body of Sr Krisna. Thou art powerful like Him. Thou art very chaste and pure. Thou hast worn the raiment, uninflammable and decorated all over with ornaments made of jewels. Thou art more brilliant than one hundred autumnal Moons. Thou art also well pleased with a smile on Thy lips. And Thou art always of steady youthful beauty (that never wanes). Thou art dear to Nryana, calm and of peaceful temper, and proud of being His with His fortune. Thou bearest the braid of hair, decked with garlands of Mlat flowers; Thy cheeks are anointed with sandal dots, with Sindra bindu (dots of red powder, vermilion) and well adorned with various artistic lines made of musk. Thy garment and Thy beautiful lips are more red than the ripe Bimba fruit (the red fruit of a cucurbitaceous plant); Thy teeth vie as it were, with the rows of pearls. How lovely are Thy eyes! How delightsome is Thy side-long glance! How close are Thy breasts like Bel fruits! Thy loins are thicker and more solid then the plantain trees. How do Thy feet look beautiful, defying the beauty of the Sthalapadma (ground Lotus)!
How do the red sandals look lovely with Kunkuma and alaktak (red powder)! What a red tinge Thy feet have shewn with the honey of
p. 851
Prijta flower that is seen on the head of Indra. The Devas, the Siddhas, the Munis, offer always Arghyas (offerings of rice with Durba grass) at Thy feet; the ascetics bow down at Thy feet, and it seems as though so many lines of bees are on Thy lotus feet. O Mother! Thy lotus feet give liberation to those that want Mukti and enjoyment to those that want Bhukti (enjoyments). O Mother! Thou art the boon; Thou art the chief excellent; Thou grantest boons and Thou showest Thy favour to Thy devotees; Thou bestowest the Visnupadam (the place of Visnu); but Thou hast come from the feet of Visnu. Thus meditating on the Dev Gang flowing by three routes (in Heaven, earth and infernal regions), the bestower of good things one should offer to the Dev sixteen things :-- sana, Pdya, Arghya, water for bathing, ointment (anlepana), Dhpa (scents), Dpa (lights), Naivedya (offerings of food), betel, cool water, clothings, ornaments garlands, sandal-paste, chamanya (water for sipping), and beautiful beddings and worship Her with these. Then, with folded hands, one should perform stotra to Her and bow down to Her with devotion. Thus the worshipper gets the fruits of A'svamedha sacrifice.
16. Nrada said :-- O Lord of the Devas! At present I am desirous to hear the sin-destroying and virtue-bestowing stotra (hymn) of Gang Dev, the Purifier of all those that are fallen from virtue, originated from the feet of Visnu, the Lord of world and the husband of Laksm. Kindly narrate all these in detail.
17-41. Nryana said :-- O Nrada! Now I am narrating the stotra of Gang Dev, that destroys all sins and bestows all religious merit. Hear. I bow down to the Ganges who appeared from the body of Sr Krisna, enchanted by the music of S'iva, and, who was bathed with the perspiration (water coming out of the body) of Sr Rdh. I bow down to Gang Dev who first appeared in the circular dance (Rsa Mndalam) in the region of Goloka and who always remains with S'ankara. My obeisance to the Dev Gang who remains in the auspicious grand utsab of Rdh (Rsa Mndalam), crowded with Gopas and Gops, in the Full Moon night of the month of Krtik. She is one koti yojanas wide and one lakh times one koti yojanas long in the region of Goloka. My Obeisance to Her! In Vaikuntha, Gang is sixty lakh yojanas in width and four times that in length. My Obeisance to Her! In Brahm-loka, Gang is thirty lakh yojanas wide and five times as long. I bow down to Her. In S'iva-loka, She is thirty lakh yojanas wide and four times that in length. I bow down to Her. In Dhruva-loka, She is one lakh yojanas wide and seven times as long. I bow down to Her. In Chandra-
p. 852
loka She is one lakh yojanas wide and five times as long. My obeisance to Sr Gang Dev. I bow down to the Ganges who is sixty thousand yojanas wide in the Srya loka and ten times that in length. I bow down to Gang in Tapo-loka who is one lakh yojanas wide and five times that in length. My obeisance to Gang Dev in Janar-loka, who is one thousand yojanas wide and ten times that as long. I bow down to Gang in Mahar-loka who is ten lakh yojanas wide and five times that in length. My obeisance to Gang Dev in Kails'a who is one thousand yojanas wide and one hundred times as long. I bow down to Gang Dev who is known as Mandkin in Indra-loka, and who is one hundred yojanas wide and ten times than that in length. My obeisance to Gang Dev, known as Bhogavati in Ptla who is ten yojanas wide and five times as long. I bow down to Gang Dev, known as Alakanand in this earth, who is two miles wide, in some places more wide and in some places less wide. I bow down to Gang Dev who was of the colour of milk in Satya yuga, of the colour of Moon in Tret Yuga, of the colour of white sandal-paste in Dvpara yuga. I bow down to Sr Gang Dev who is as water in Kali yuga in this earth and as milk in Kali yuga in Heaven. O Child! By the touch of one molecule of the water of the Ganges, all the horrible sins incurred in ten million births, the murder of a Brhmin and so forth, are burnt to ashes. Thus I have described in twenty-one verses the great stotra (human) of the sin-destroying and the virtue-increasing merits of Gang. He reaps the fruit of the A'svamedha sacrifice (Horse sacrifice), who daily sings this praise of Gang after worshipping Her with devotion. There is no doubt in this. The persons that are without any sons get sons hereby and those who have no wives get wives. The diseased get themselves free from their diseases, and the man who is under bondage, is liberated from that bondage. He who getting up early in the morning reads this stotra of Gang, becomes widely known even if he be not known at all and he becomes illumined with wisdom even if he be quite ignorant. Even if he sees a bad dream, he acquires the merit of bathing in the Ganges and of seeing good dreams.
42-44. Sr Nryana spoke :-- O Nrada! With this stotra (hymn) did Bhagratha praise the Gang Dev. Who then went with him to the spot where the Sagara's sons were burnt to ashes by the curse of Kapila. 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. She is named Bhgirath, because Bhagratha brought Her to this earth. Thus I have described to you the story of the Ganges.
This anecdote is highly meritorious and the great step to liberation. What more do you now want to hear? Say.
p. 853
45-46. Nrada said :-- O Lord! How did Gang come to flow through the three worlds by three routes, and thus purify them? How was she carried and to which places? How did the people of those localities accord respect to Her? Kindly describe all these in detail.
47-79. Nryana said :-- O Nrada! On the Full Moon night of the month of Krtik in the Rsa mndalam, at the great festivity in honour of Rdh, Sr Krisna worshipped Rdh and remained there. Next Rdh, worshipped by Sr Krisna, was worshipped by Brahm and the other Devas, by Saunaka and the other Risis, who also stopped there with much gladness. At this moment the Dev Sarasvat, the Presiding Deity of the Science of Music began to sing lovely songs regarding Krisna, in tune with vocal and instrumental music. Brahm became glad and presented to Sarasvat a necklace of jewels; Mah Deva gave her gems and jewels rare in this universe; Krisna presented the best Kaustubha jewel; Rdhik offered excellent invaluable necklace of jewels; Nryana presented to her the best and most excellent garland of jewels; Laksm gave her invaluable golden earrings decked with gems; Visnu-My Mla Prakriti, Bhagvat Durg, who is Nryan, s'var, s'n, presented Her devotion to Brahm, so very rare; Dharma gave her devotion to Dharma and high fame; Agni (fire) gave her excellent raiments purified by fire and Vyu gave Her Npura (toe ornaments) made of gems and jewels. At this time, Mahes'vara, the Lord of Bhtas (elements) began to sing, at the suggestion of Brahm, songs relating to Sr Krisna's grand Rsa festival. Hearing this, the Devas became very much enchanted and remained motionless like statues. With great difficulty, they regained their consciousness. Then they saw that there was no Rdh nor Krisna in this Rsa mndala; everything was deluged with water. The Gopas, Gops, Devas and Brhmanas began to cry loudly. Brahm in his meditation then came to know that Rdh and Krisna both have assumed this liquid appearance for the deliverance of the people of the world. Brahm and others, all began to praise Sr Krisna and said :-- "O All prevading One! Now be pleased to show us Thy form and grant us our desired boons." At that instant a sweet incorporeal voice was clearly heard by all, as coming from air above, that, "I am the Self of all, pervading all; and this my Sakti, Rdh, is also the Self of all, prevades all; so there is no separation of us from you all even for a moment. It is only to show our favour to the devotees that we assume special forms. For this reason only there is separation of us from you as regards this body! There is nothing else. Besides you have no necessity with our bodies. O Devas! Now if my Manus, men, Munis, Vaisnavas and you all, purified by Mantras desire very much to see My Form clearly, then I tell you to request Mahes'vara to carry out My word. O Brahm! O Creator! Better ask
p. 854
Mahdeva, the World Teacher, that He would better compose the beautiful Tantra S'stra, in accordance with the limbs of the Vedas. And that the above S'stra be full of Mantras, capable to yield desired fruits, Stotras (hymns) and Kavachas (protection mantras) and rules of due worship in proper order. And that also My Mantra, My Stotra, and My Kavacha be also given there in a hidden form. So that those people that are sinners might not understand their real meanings and thus turn out against Me. It may be that one in a thousand or in a hundred may worship My Mantra. And My Mantra worshippers, the saints, become purified and come to My Abode. If My S'stra be not well made (i. e., if everyone be able to understand its meaning) and if everyone be able to go from Bhrloka to Goloka, then Thy labour in this creation of the world will all be in vain. Therefore dost Thou better create different worlds according to the differences of Sttvik, Rjasik, and Tamo Gunas; then some will be the inhabitants of this Bhrloka, some will be the inhabitants of Dyuloka according to their Karmas. O Brhman! If Mah Deva promises earnestly in this assembly of the Devas, I will then exhibit My True Form." O Nrada! Thus speaking, the Eternal Purusa Sr Krisna remained silent (i. e., the aerial incorporeal voice stopped). Hearing this, Brahm, the Creator of the world, gladly informed Siva of this. When the Lord of Knowledge, the Foremost of the Jnins, Bhtantha heard the words of the Creator, He took the Ganges water in His hands and swore that "I will complete the Tantra S'astra, full of Rdh mantras and not opposed to the Vedas. If one touches the Ganges water and speaks lies, one remains in the terrible Klasutra hell for a period of one Brahm's life time." O Dvija! When Bhagavn S'ankara said this before the assembly of the Devas in the region of Goloka, Sr Krisna appeared there with Rdh. The Devas became exceedingly glad to see Him. They praised Him, the Best Purusa and they were all filled with rapture and again engaged themselves in the grand Rsa Festival. Some time after, Mh Deva lighted the Torch of Mukti, i.e., the Tantra S'stra was published by Him, as promised. O Child! Thus I have disclosed to you this anecdote, so very secret, and hard to be attained. Thus Sr Krisna Himself, is verily the liquid Gang sprung in the region of Goloka. This holy Gang, born of the bodies of Krisna and Rdh inseparable from each other, grants enjoyment, lordship and liberation. Sr Krisna, the Highest Self, has placed Her in various places; so Gang is of the nature of Sr Krisna and is everywhere, equally honoured everywhere in the Brahmnda (universe).
Here ends the Twelfth Chapter in the Ninth Book on the origin of Gang in the Mahpurnam Srmad Dev Bhgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vysa.
