7 - Glory of the Holy River

 Nārada said: 

1. After leading the Ganga from the matted hair of Mahesvara and coming to the holy mountain Brahmāgiri, what did Gautama do?

Brahmā said: 

2-3. The pure Gautama of wholly controlled mind, led Ganga. He was honoured by Devas and Gandharvas, the residents of the mountains. He placed his matted hair on the top of the mountain. Remembering the three-eyed lord, that excellent brahmin said to Gangā with palms joined in reverence. 

Gautama said: 

4. O mother born of the matted hair of the three-eyed lord, O goddess bestowing all desired things, forgive. You are calm. Go happily, carry out what is conducive to the welfare of all.

 Brahmä said: 

5. On being spoken to thus by Gautama, the Ganga who assumed a divine form and wore a divine garland and unguent, said to Gautama.

Gangă said: 

6. Where shall I go? To the abode of Devas, or to the water-jar or to the nether worlds? It is known that you are truthful of speech. Gautama said: 

7. O goddess, you have been requested by me for helping the three worlds. You have been given to me by Samblu. O goddess, let it not be otherwise.

 Brahmā said: 

8-9. On hearing the words of Gautama, Ganga accepted the suggestion offered by the brahmin. It divided itself into three for flowing in heaven, Earth and the nether worlds. In heaven it flowed in four channels, in the mortal world it flowed in seven channels and in the nether worlds it flowed in four channels. Thus it had fifteen different channels. 

10. Everywhere it has the power of everyone of the channels. It destroys all sins. It bestows all desired things always. It is thus alone that she is sung about in the Vedas. 

11. Human beings see only the part of Ganga that flows over the mortal world and not that which flows over the nether worlds. Nor do the human beings of ignorant intellect see Gangā  flowing in heaven. 

12. Till Gangā reaches the Sea, it is one of divine nature. On being bid farewell by Gautama, it went towards the Eastern Sea. 

13. Then Gautama the great among the sages circumambulated Gangă, the splendid mother of the Universe frequented by Devas and Sages. 

14-16. At the outset Gautama worshipped the three-eyed lord of Devas and then determined in his mind, "I shall take bath near the banks" Immediately after being remembered, the lord who is an ocean of mercy appeared in front of him. With palms joined in reverence and being humble due to devotion he asked the three-eyed lord Siva how the holy ablution should be performed.

Gautama said: 

17. O Mahesana, lord of Devas, with a desire for the welfare of the worlds tell me about the rules and injunctions regarding ablution in the holy centres.

 Siva said: 

18-20. O great sage, listen to all injunctions regarding Godåvarī. At the outset, Nandi (a holy rite) and other rites should be performed after cleaning the body. The brahmins should be fed and their permission obtained. Maintaining celibacy they should go to the river, avoiding conversation with fallen persons. 

He whose hands and feet and mind are well controlled, he who has learning, penance and renown enjoys the benefit of holy centre (and ablution therein). 

21. The devotee should abandon vicious nature. He should closely abide by his own duty. He should massage the limbs of the tired people. He should give them food in the proper manner. 

22-23. He should give garments and blankets to good people who may happen to be poor. He should be listening to divine stories of Hari as well as those connected with Ganga. A person who goes on pilgrimage abiding by these injunctions, will obtain the benefit of holy centre duly. 

The three-eyed lord said another thing to Gautama surrounded by the sages. 

24. The holy centres are within distances of two hands of one another. O Gautama, I am present everywhere and I am the bestower of all desired things. 

25. Gangå is the bestower of merits and salvation of men at Gangadvära, the place where Gangā rises, Prayaga and at the place where it falls into the ocean. 

26-29. Narmadā, the excellent river, is in the mountain Amarakanțaka. Yamuna joins Gangå at Prayaga and Sarasvati joins it at Prabhāsa. 

O Nārada, the following holy centre is the bestower of salvation. It is the place of meeting of three rivers viz., Krişhņā, Bhimarathi and Tungabhadra. 

The river is the bestower of liberation at the place where Payosni joins it. But this Gautami, o dear one, is the bestower of liberation everywhere at my bidding. It will give salvation to all men always through the holy ablution. 

Some holy centres are extremely meritorious on certain occasions when there is the advent of Devas. But Gautami is a holy centre unto everyone on every occasion. 

30. Plunging into and performing ablution in the Gangā for sixty thousand years is on a par with taking bath once when Bruhaspati (Jupiter) is in the Leo (zodiac). 

31. It is rare that men are able to take bath in Gautami when the Jupiter is in the zodiac Leo (i.e. it is highly meritorious then). (It is holy because) Rāma stopped into it and particularly so because he resorted to this holy centre. 

32. When the sun is in the Leo zodiac the rivers Gangă, Narmada, Yamunā, Sarasvati, Bhīmarathi and others come (to the river Gautami) for taking bath. 

33. When the sun is in the Leo zodiac  if  foolish persons avoid Gautami Ganga and go to other rivers for ablution they are sure to fall into hell. 

34-36. Within a distance of two hundred Yojanas, o most venerable among sages, there will be three and a half crores of holy centres. O Gautama, this Gangā belonging to Maheshvara, is called Gautami, Vaişhņavī, Brāhmi, Godavari, Nanda and Sunanda. It is the bestower of desired objects. It is brought by the force of splendour of a brahmin. By mere remembrance it destroys all sins. It is always dear to me. Of all the five elements it is the water that has attained most excellence. 

37-38. The water in the holy centres are said to be the holiest. Among those holy rivers Bhagirathi is the most excellent. Among different channels of Bhagirathi, Gautami Ganga accompanied by matted hair which was brought by you is the most excellent. There is no holy centre which is more auspicious than this either in heaven or on Earth or in the nether worlds. O sage, this holy centre is the bestower of all riches.

Brahmā said: 

39-40. O dear son, what has been recounted thus to the noble Gautama, by the delighted lord himself has been narrated to you. 

Thus that Gautami Ganga is considered greater than the other rivers. The form of that river has been mentioned to you. Have you any desire to hear about anything else?