Maa Ganga – Our Divine Mother

Not History, but Our Mother

For us, Maa Ganga is not a chapter of history, and she is not only a river. She is a living Devi, the Mother who flows. The Puranas praise her as Vishnupadi, who flows from the feet of Bhagavan Vishnu, and as the one whom Mahadev holds in his matted locks. In Kashi we do not study her; we bow to her.

She is Prakriti in her fullness: water, life, purity and peace. She has never asked anything of anyone. The king and the poor, the saint and the sinner, the living and the departed – she receives them all and gives to them all, without measure and without pause. Her grace is alaukik, beyond this world, and ananta, without end.

She Came Down for the Welfare of All

The Valmiki Ramayana and the Bhagavata Purana tell how Maa Ganga came to the earth. The sixty thousand sons of King Sagara had been reduced to ashes before Sage Kapila, and only the touch of Ganga could free them. Generation after generation of their family prayed for her, and at last King Bhagiratha gave his whole life to tapasya (penance).

Moved by his devotion, Maa Ganga resolved to descend – not for one family alone, but for the welfare of all beings. Her force from the heavens was so great that the earth could not have borne it. Bhagiratha then prayed to Mahadev, and Shiva received her upon his head and held her in his jata. From that day he is Gangadhara, the bearer of Ganga, and she adorns him forever.

Released gently from his locks, she followed Bhagiratha across the land. On the way Sage Jahnu took her in and, at Bhagiratha's prayer, let her flow again – so she is also Jahnavi, the daughter of Jahnu. Her waters reached the ashes of Sagara's sons and gave them liberation, and for Bhagiratha's devotion she is lovingly called Bhagirathi.

देवि सुरेश्वरि भगवति गङ्गे त्रिभुवनतारिणि तरलतरङ्गे ।
शङ्करमौलिविहारिणि विमले मम मतिरास्तां तव पदकमले ॥

“O Devi, Queen of the gods, Bhagavati Ganga, who carries the three worlds across with your flowing waves; who dwells upon the head of Shankara, O pure one – may my mind rest at your lotus feet.” – Ganga Stotram of Adi Shankaracharya

A Mother Who Only Gives

A mother does not keep accounts. Maa Ganga gives, and keeps on giving:

• She gives water to drink and water to the fields, and through the fields she gives food.
• She gives purity. Our scriptures say that a dip taken in her with faith (shraddha) washes the heart clean.
• She carries the prayers of the living and the ashes of the departed with the same love.
• She gives peace to everyone who sits quietly on her banks.

And she asks for nothing in return.

Why We Offer Aarti

When a mother gives without end, a child can only be grateful. The Aarti is that gratitude. With lamps and flowers, the sound of the shankh and the bells, and the chanting of mantras, we place our shraddha at her feet – not to ask, but to thank.

This is why ShivBodh Trust offers the Ganga Aarti every day at Shivala Ghat, at sunrise and at sunset. And this is why this website was made: to tell you about the Aarti at Shivala Ghat, about the ghats of Varanasi, and about Maa Ganga herself – so that wherever you are, you too can join in this gratitude.

Maa Ganga in Kashi

Kashi is the city of Mahadev, and here Maa Ganga turns to flow towards the north. This north-flowing Ganga, Uttaravahini, is held especially sacred. Between the Assi in the south and the Varuna in the north – the two streams that give Varanasi its name – the ghats rise along her western bank, and every one of their steps leads down to her. Shivala Ghat, where our Aarti is offered, is one of them.

Ghats of Varanasi

Sacred Days of Maa Ganga

Ganga Saptami

On Vaishakha Shukla Saptami devotees remember the day Maa Ganga came forth again from Sage Jahnu. It is also called Ganga Jayanti.

Ganga Dussehra

Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami is the day of Gangavataran, her descent to the earth. Devotees take a holy dip and offer worship and lamps to her.

Kartik Maas and Dev Deepawali

Through the month of Kartik, lamps are offered to Maa Ganga every evening. On Kartik Purnima the ghats of Kashi glow with diyas for Dev Deepawali. Offer a Deep Daan and your diya, too, can float on her waters.

Makar Sankranti

When the sun enters Makara, devotees take a holy dip in Maa Ganga and give daan (charity).

Honour Maa at the Ghat

Come to her as you would come to your own mother:

• Come with folded hands and a calm mind.
• Offer only flowers, leaves and diyas in leaf bowls – never plastic, polythene or soap.
• Leave nothing on the steps of the ghat; take your waste back with you.
• Sit in silence during the Aarti and let the mantras fill your heart.

Join the Aarti at Shivala Ghat

The morning Aarti is offered from 5:30 AM to 6:30 AM, and the evening Aarti at sunset (about 6:30 PM in summer and 5:45 PM in winter), at Shivala Ghat, Varanasi 221001.