The Ganga is considered a tirtha, which means a crossing point between heaven and earth. At a tirtha, prayers and offerings are thought most likely to reach the gods and their blessings descend readily from heaven.

The Ganga is worshipped because she is considered the body of the Goddess Ganga, a deity who descended to earth to purify the souls and release them from samsaras, the endless cycles of death and rebirth.

In Hinduism the belief was that crossing the ocean entailed the end of the incarnation cycle, as the traveler was cut off from the regenerating waters of the Ganges. Hindus also believed that the ocean was the resting place for gods, and they should not be disturbed.

When Kings and queens travelled from India, they carried Ganges water with them to bathe. A bathing with Ganga water purified one’s soul. The Ganga is the only river that flows from all three worlds – Heaven/Swarga, Earth/Prithvi, Hell/Patala. It is believed that the Ganga is the holy river that flows down to the earth straight from heaven, giving the mortal humans a chance and place to wash away their sins.

The river Ganga descended from the heavens onto earth through the efforts and prayers of Bhagirath, who wanted her to come down and purify the land and ashes of his ancestors. However, River Ganga flowed from Shiva’s hair as he agreed to channelize her flow.

The Ganga washes away the sins of millions of people and therefore it is revered all over the world. Sitting on the Ghats, one can feel a sense of being one with the divinity.

Aim Hrim Klim

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