Chapter 52 - On the sanctity of Ganga (continued, 4)

Sraddha performed on the banks of Ganga is very pleasing to the spirits of departed ancestors. If a man performs the first annual Sraddha of his deceased father on the banks of Ganga, he need not go to Gaya to be released from the debt^[1] he owes to his father in this, matter..

The offering of Pindas^[2] is as efficacious on the banks of Ganga as in Gya [Gaya?]—nay, in Kali Yuga the former is more pleasing to the manes of departed forefathers. Even those who have died, an unnatural death are released from hell and allowed to go to heaven if Pindas are offered for them in Ganga.

In ancient times the Rishis once went to Brahma add asked him to give them an account of the virtues and merits of Ganga.

Brahma said,

“I am quite unable to do so, but Mahesvara and Vishnu can do it to a certain extent. Go and ask them.”

The Rishis expressed their inability to approach those gods, and requested Brahma to go to them himself. Brahma agreed to do so and proceeded forthwith on his errand.

He went to Kailasa first where he found Mahadeva deeply engaged in pleasing Ganga. Not considering it fit to disturb him he proceeded to Vaikuntha.

On his way he was overtaken by a violent gust of wind and carried away to a new universe which was quite unknown to him. He met an eight-faced Brahma there and asked him who he was.

He said,

“Formerly I was a mouse on the earth, and lived in the house of a householder. One day I was pursued by a cat, and, trying to escape from it, I fell down into Ganga, and died. I owe my present form and the kingdom of this universe to that death. If you wish to know the virtues of Ganga go to Vaikuntha soon.”

On Brahma’s representing that he had lost his way, the eight-faced Brahma, after treating him with due respect, showed him the shortest route to Vaikuntha.

Brahma was overtaken by a storm a second time, and was carried away to another universe where he met a Brahma with sixteen faces.

On being asked who he was, he said,

“Formerly I was a dog on earth and ate human flesh. One day, while eating it, a bone stuck into my throat, and I died on the banks of Ganga with the result that I am here to rule this universe.”

Brahma was shown the way to Vaikuntha by his new acquaintance, and he arrived there safely this time. There he saw four beings who had four faces each and resembled Vishnu Himself in form.

They were clothed in yellow garments, and shone like the sun. Brahma accosted them and said,

“Who are you all who look like Vishnu Himself. I knew that there was only one Vishnu, but how is it that I find more than one in Vaikuntha?”

The beings who were Vaishnavas^[3] said,

“We are not Vishnu but his servants. There was a corpse once floating in Ganga which was tenanted by a number of maggots. A strong current of water caused the death of four of those maggots, and we are those four.”

Brahma had by this time obtained sufficient information as to the virtues and merits of the goddess, Ganga, and, therefore, came back to his place and told the Rishis what he had seen and heard.

“Truly,” added he, “the glory and majesty of Ganga is infinite. Not only men, but gods also, like Indra and others, are insignificant before her whom the Lord Siva holds on his head and is lost in the contemplation of. I myself am like a gnat before her. She makes Brahmas, and is worthy to be adored by the inhabitants of all the three worlds.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

It is an obligatory duty for a son to perform his deceased father’s Sraddha at Gaya as soon after the death as he can.

[2]:

Balls of cooked rice mixed with some other things offered to the spirits of the deceased ancestors.

[3]:

Worshippers of Vishnu.