On the day of Ganga Dussehra, a huge crowd of devotees gathered at Har Ki Paidi Ghat in Haridwar to take a bath in the Ganga. Devotees had started coming to Har Ki Paidi since early morning. Today, on the day of Ganga Dussehra, it is believed that by taking bath in Ganga, 10 sins of a person are destroyed and the belief of Ganga Dussehra further increases in the month of Purushottam.
The results obtained by taking a holy dip of faith in Ganga during Ganga Dussehra increases manifold. Therefore, today on the day of Ganga Dussehra, a huge crowd of devotees is being seen in Haridwar. Apart from Har Ki Pauri of Haridwar, there is a gathering of devotees at Subhash Ghat, Kusha Ghat, Chandi Ghat, Rajghat in Kankhal, Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple Ghat, Shitala Mata Temple Ghat.
Why is this day special?
The festival of Ganga Dussehra is celebrated on the day of the descent of Mother Ganga from heaven to earth. Mother Ganga had descended on the earth from the hair of Lord Shiva, passing through the Kamandal of Lord Brahma and touching the feet of Lord Vishnu, on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month and this holy day is celebrated as Ganga Dussehra, which is considered to be the most auspicious day.
On this day, by taking bath in river Ganga and doing charity, all the known and unknown sins of the seeker are washed away and he attains salvation. Nirvana Peethadhishwar and Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Vishokanand Bharti Maharaj of Shri Mahanirvani Panchayati Akhara says that according to our religious beliefs, by taking a dip in the Ganga on the day of Ganga Dussehra, 10 types of sins of a person are destroyed from the sins committed by our ten senses i.e. five action senses and five knowledge senses and the person attains salvation.
He told that bathing on this day provides relief from 28 types of tortures of hell. These 3 types of sins committed by man’s body, 4 by speech and 3 by mind are destroyed.
Special significance of number 10
The number 10 has special significance in Ganga Dussehra. Mother Ganga was born on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami. A coincidence of 10 specific auspicious yogas is also considered on this date. This is why bathing, meditation, fasting and charity all give 10 times the results on this day.
Due to the penance of King Bhagiratha, Mother Ganga came from heaven to earth and became the cause of public welfare as well as salvation of the people. According to religious texts, Vedas and Puranas, King Bhagiratha had brought Mother Ganga to earth by performing rigorous penance for the salvation of his ancestors. When Ganga descended on the day of Ganga Dussehra, the entire creation benefited.
importance of charity
On the day of Ganga Dussehra, the results of charity increase 10 times. On this day, donating food, clothes, water, pitcher and seasonal fruits like melon, mango etc. to the needy and Brahmins is considered very virtuous. From this one gets renewable results i.e. never-ending virtue.
On the day of Ganga Dussehra, lakhs of devotees take a dip of faith on the banks of holy rivers, especially in Haridwar, Rishikesh, Devprayag, Prayagraj and Varanasi. On this day, participating in Ganga Aarti and chanting the mantra “Om Namo Gange Vishwaroopinya” provides spiritual peace.
Importance of Ganga Dussehra in Purushottam month
The importance of Ganga Dussehra increases even more in Purushottam month because Ganga descends on earth touching the feet of Lord Vishnu and Purushottam month is considered to be the month of Lord Shri Narayan Hari. That is why by taking bath in Ganga on the day of Ganga Dussehra in Purushottam month, a person gets many times the virtuous benefits.
According to the beliefs of various religious texts, if Purushottam month is falling in Jyeshtha month, then celebrating Ganga Dussehra on the tenth day of Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month is very auspicious and fruitful.
Sun in Taurus
For Ganga Dussehra, it is necessary for Sun to be in Taurus. On June 15, Purushottam month i.e. Adhik month will be completed at 8:24 am, while Sun God will enter Gemini at 12:53 pm. Therefore, Ganga Dussehra in Gemini Sun is not as per the scriptures. That is why it is according to the scriptures to celebrate Ganga Dussehra on 25th May, the tenth day of Jyeshtha Shukla Paksha. Whereas Nirjala Ekadashi, after the end of Adhik month, Ekadashi of Shuddha Jyeshtha Shukla Paksha will be celebrated on 25th June and only then Nirjala fast will be observed and charity will be done.
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