Witnessing the holiness of the River Ganga

You don’t plan and get to visit the places that have spiritual significance, instead they say, that the places call you to them.

Rishikesh in Uttarakand was one such unplanned coincidence this year. Experiencing the holiness of river Ganga in the year 2022. Not knowing much about the significance, and its holiness reached to bow down to the ganga ma. There is so much to write about the place and so first thing first. Will start with my experience with witnessing the holiness of river ganga.

I had some bits and pieces of information about the cremation ceremony that in hindusim is very significance. They believe that depositing the loved ones ashes in ganga helps the deceased reach moksha. That is freeing the soul from the cycle of reincarnation. It is believed that taking bath in river ganga washes away the deeds. With the holiness of river Ganga. Knowingly and unknowingly which opens the gate to heaven. And that it has all the power to wash off your bad deeds and release you from it.

And the story of river ganga according to hindu mythology is Bhagiratha was a legendary king of the Ikshvaku dynasty. Who brought the River Ganga to Earth from the heavens because only she could bestow nirvana to Bhagiratha’s ancestors who were cursed by Sage Kapila. After years of great penance, River Ganga descended on Earth and Lord Shiva agreed to channelise her flow. Therefore, River Ganga flowed from Lord Shiva’s hair.

Ganga is the connecting factor and is every where in Rishikesh. From Ram Jhula, Laxman Jhula, Triveni Ghat to all the ganga beaches in the city. During my early days in Rishikesh, after all the hustle of being a tourist, eating meal, not knowing much went to the ghat near Parmanath Niketan ashram to just relax a bit. It was not a plan to take bath in ganga or even to be in it. After alot of walk around the city we reached this place where alot of people where taking bath. Observing them and the river ganga, I started collecting some stones from the river which carriers ganga vibration to keep them with me when back home. Something motivated me to step in the water and experience the holiness as they say.

That is when i put my feet in the thunder cold water and then slowly as the time passed felt the warmth of the river ganga. To not just understanding but feeling why this river has so much significance of a mother. The nurturing, the care, the warmth, the bliss and that feeling of nothingness was in the moment. It was so peaceful at that very moment, such thing I have never experience in entire life.

When I closed eyes to feel one with the river and its purity, the universal sound of OM was all around, from the trees and the surrounding, echoing till i could listen and listen. Firstly I thought the place itself carriers that vibration and that everyone witnesses the same. But when i curiously asked my friends if they could hear the sound of OM. That is when i knew this is only my personal experience.

What i could feel, give and get with my first experience in the ganga river is so so special and will always close to my heart. All the First experiences are always special. Being there, in that one moment, all struggles, the long pauses, complaints, loosing some very very important people who meant the world to me, unfelt griefs of my grandfather and father, everything dissolved. I just didn’t wanted to come out of the water, wanted to be like river ganga and flow exactly like how it flows not resisting but witnessing everything. I am so grateful to this experience and for calling me to you, just exactly when i needed. And since that day, everyday, ma ganga is the part of my life.

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5 Comments

  1. You have penned in such a a way that as a honest fan of your blog I really went into the state of mesmerising feeling(even after reading 3 times ) ,where I could connect the cold and warmth of Ma Ganga river into my feet even not physically there currently.
    I belong to the place of Bengal where Ganga submerged her finally in last course of ride so for me it’s much more easy to connect as I have been grew up swiming into vast arms of Ganga maa.

    An interesting fact is Ganga river contains 25 times more oxygen than any river bodies and thus I can relate why your “every struggle dissolve completely ” being there!!
    Take us through more of these as you travell across…

  2. Beautifully penned. You are dead drop right in saying – you don’t plan to visit these places, they call you!!! Experienced the same in October this year and what you’ve written, is absolute.

    1. Thank You Ronak for taking time out and reading the blog. I hope your visit to Rishikesh got your closer to yourself.

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