Ganges
Ganges is the largest river in India and one of the world most watery rivers. It originates in the Himalayas, flows through northern India and then into the Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal). The river Ganges is 2,510 km long, its river basin area is 1,120,000 sq. km and it runs about 43,000 cubic meters of water per second.
The Ganges valley is densely populated, the river serves to the rapidly growing population, agriculture and industry as a source of drinking and potable water, sewer and thoroughfare. The problem is its enormous pollution that is causing an ongoing deterioration of water quality.
In India the river Ganges is revered as sacred and belongs to the Vedic deities. Every day, thousands of people wash in its waters in belief that these ritual baths cleanse their body and soul. People also strew into the river the dust of their deceased ones in a hope that by doing so they will be liberated from the wheel of samsara.
Origin of Ganges
According to ancient Vedic texts, there are three planetary systems existing in this Universe: heavenly planets, medium planets, including Earth, and lower or hellish planets. The entire Universe is enclosed in a massive cover, million miles thick. Behind this cover is the spiritual world. The oldest traditions say that Ganges originates from the area beyond the cover of the material world and it has come to our world when the deity Vamanadeva made a hole by his thumb into the space cover and then a few drops of water from the Great Ocean Karana broke into space and became the river Ganges.
Initially Ganges flowed only on the heavenly planets. But then a famous king named Bhagiratha, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, wished that Ganges would clean the Earth too, and prayed to the river to descend. A personified Ganges appeared to the king Bhagiratha and agreed to fulfil his desire, but under the condition that he would be able to find someone willing and able to retain its immense power that could destroy the Earth.
To satisfy Ganges, king Bhagiratha began to pray to the mighty Lord Shiva and begged him to catch the falling Ganges on his head. Lord Shiva agreed and since then he holds the Ganges on his head and the sacred water flows down to Earth.
Vedic literature states that anyone who will bathe in the Ganges is freed from all material contamination and is worthy of liberation in this life. Then he can return to the eternal spiritual world, where Ganges comes from as well.
