The river Ganges was in heavens and it came to earth because of penance of Bhagirath. This is the reason, Ganga is also called as Bhagirathi. Ganga Dusshera celebrates this event of Maa Ganga coming to Earth from Heavens.
Ganga Dussehra takes place on Dashami (10th day) of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu calendar month Jyeshtha. The festival celebration lasts ten days, including the nine days preceding this holy day.
Ganga Dusshera is celebrated on the banks of this river, where devotees worship and offer aarti to Goddess Ganga. Haridwar, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Rishikesh, Prayagraj, and Patna are the main locations of the celebrations of this festival.
Goddess Ganga
Popular as the mother of Bhishma Pitamah, Ganga is the personification of the river Ganga and is worshiped by Hindus as the goddess of purification and forgiveness. Known by many names, Ganga is often depicted as a beautiful woman, riding a divine creature called Makara. Some of the earliest mentions of Ganga are found in the Rigveda, where she is mentioned as the holiest of the rivers. Her stories mainly appear in the post Vedic texts like Ramayana and Mahabharata.
How Ganga came to earth
King Sagara of the Ikshvaku dynasty performed a Ashwamedha yajna to prove his supremacy. Lord Indra became fearful over the results of the yajna, so he decided to steal the horse. He left the horse at the ashram of Sage Kapila, who was in deep meditation. King Sagar’s 60,000 sons (born of Queen Sumati), and his son Asamanja (born of Queen Keshini) were then sent to find the horse. When the 60,000 sons found the horse at Kapiladeva’s ashram, they thought he (Kapila) had stolen it. When they prepared to attack the meditating rishi (sage), Kapila opened his eyes. Because the sons of King Sagara had disrespected such a great personality, consequently, fire emanated from their own bodies, and they were immediately burned to ashes.
One of the grandchildren of King Sagar, hearing about the plight of his father and uncles, came in search of Kapila Muni and asked him for a solution to the problem, and was advised that the waters of the river Ganga would miraculously bring back the dead princes to life.
His descendant Bhagiratha, continued his efforts to bring the Ganga to the earth from the heavens to purify the ashes of his ancestors and bring them back to life
On knowing that his ancestors will reach swarga only if the pure waters of Ganga flow through their ashes, from his mother, Bhagiratha immediately left to Himalayas to do tapas for Lord Brahma.
After 1000 years of penance, Brahma appeared before him and blessed him with children and Ganga. However, Brahma suggested that none except Shiva can take the force when Ganga falls onto earth, and if not with that force earth will be washed away.
Bhagiratha began worshiping Shiva. A whole year passed. Pleased with Bhagiratha’s devotion Shiva took the force of Ganga and controlled her in his matted hair. For Bhagiratha it was another difficulty He again prayed to Lord Shiva to release Ganga down to earth. Ganga followed Bhagiratha shyly and slowly, like his daughter (Bhaagirathi
Ganga as Bhagirathi
Note:
· Bhagiratha brought Ganga to earth. That’s why she is also known as Bhagirathi.
· Bhagiratha ruled Ayodhya, long before the birth of Rama, the hero of the Ramayana.
· In pictures, we see Ganga’s face in Shiva’s hair. This is connected to the story you’ve just read.
· Ganga flowed out of Sage Jahnu’s ear. Therefore, she is also known as Jaahnavi.
According to Hindu mythology each day of the week represents a planet and are named after it.
monday
moon/ som
somvar
white
tuesday
Mars / mangal
mangalwar
red
wednesday
Mercury / budh
budhwar
green
thursday
jupiter/ brihaspati
brihaspatiwar
yellow
friday
Venus / shukra
shukrawar
white
saturday
Saturn / shani
shaniwar
black
sunday
Sun / ravi
raviwar
red
Day
Planet
Monday
Moon/ Som
Tuesday
Mars/ Mangal
Wednesday
Mercury/ Budh
Thursday
Jupiter/ Brihaspati
Friday
Venus/ Shukra
Saturday
Saturn/ Shani
Sunday
Sun/ Ravi
Days and planets associated with them
Each day is dedicated to a God. It is believed that offering prayer to a particular deity on their special day will please them and get their blessings in abundance. Here follows the story of Monday. Monday is considered auspicious day for the worship of Lord Shiva. It is believed that if one observes upwas / fast on monday all his desires will be blessed wisdom.
Types of Monday Fast
Simple every monday fast / Somvar vrat
Monday fast begins at sunrise and ends at sunset. Food is taken only after evening. Jalabhishek of Lord Shiva is done.
Pradosh Vrata
Pradosh Vrat is observed on 13th day of each lunar fortnight. This Vrata can be performed on all days of a week. Evening period is called as Pradosh kala. It is believed that during this time, Lord Shiva dances on Kailash, so observing this vrata on Monday has special value. When Pradosh occurs on Monday it is known as Som Pradosh. It is done to get desired results and for acquiring positivity.
16 Somvar Vrat
This Vrata is performed for 16 mondays and it is believed to give all kind of happiness to the person doing it. There are many interesting stories associated with the Somvar vrat . The stories vary from region to region and community to community.
16 somvar vrat is usually observed by unmarried girls to have husband like lord Shiva. It is believed that Goddess Parvati has observed this vrat to have Shiva as her husband.
Once Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were in the city of Amravati. On the way they decided to take rest in a temple. In the temple they started playing a game of dice. Goddess Parvati asked the priest to predict who will win the game. Priest was a devotee of Lord Shiva, so he took his name. But, Goddess Parvati won the game. Parvati was annoyed with the priest impertinence, and cursed him to be a leper.
For many years he lived a cursed existence. One day he was advised to observe 16 somvar vrat. Priest did the same and at the end of 16 somvar he restored to good health.
Story of a rich merchant and his son
There was a rich merchant despite of immense wealth and prosperity he was not happy because he had no son. Every monday he observes fast for a son. Every monday he visited temple and worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with full faith. Goddess Parvati was pleased with his devotion. She requested Lord Shiva to fulfill his desire. Lord Shiva blessed him with a son but his son will live for 12 years only. Merchant heard their conservation.
As time passed merchant was blessed with a beautiful son. Everybody was very happy but merchant was sad because he knew that his soon his son will die. Still he observed his monday fast with great zest.
At an age of 11 his son looked very smart and mature. Merchant called his brother-in law and asked him to take his son to Kashi for best spiritual knowledge. He also asked him to arrange devotional gathering at every hallt on the way and also distribute alms among the beggars.
One day they halt at a capital of king. The king’s daughter marriage was to take place that day. Bridegroom’s father was very disturbed because the groom was blind of one eye. His father didn’t want to disclose this fact so he was looking for a beautiful boy to replace him. For this he was ready to give enough wealth.
Merchant son agrees for this and he got married to the king’s daughter. At the time of depart he picked his bride’s scarf and wrote about himself, that he was a son of a rich merchant and he was on his way to Kashi for his spiritual studies and her real groom was blind of one eye. When bride saw the message she refused to accompany her one eyed groom.
When merchant son reached kashi and devoted himself fully to spiritual studies. Every monday his uncle arranged for devotional gathering and distributes alms among poor for his wellbeing.
On the last day of his 12th year he felt pain in chest and dies. Even when his uncle realised that his nephew has dies he kept silent to the brahmans so that they could have their food. When his routine was over he started crying many people gathered there. Fortunately Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were crossing the by that house they saw everything. Parvati was very sad so she requested Shiva to gave him life back. Lord Shiva sprinkled water on the dead boy and he regained his consciousness.
After completing his spiritual education they started their journey backward. On their way back they arranged arranged gathering and also offered donations to poors. When they reached the city where he was married the king recognised him and took him to his palace with full honour and arranged a happy departure of his daughter.
When merchant son reached his city along his wife. His father could not believe his eyes. He was very happy to see his son back with his eyes.
Pradosh Vrata katha in Hindi
एक समय की बात है, किसी नगर में एक साहूकार रहता था. उसके घर में धन की कोई कमी नहीं थी, लेकिन उसकी कोई संतान नहीं था, इस कारण वह बहुत दुखी रहता था. पुत्र पाने के लिए वह प्रत्येक सोमवार व्रत रखता था और पूरी श्रद्धा के साथ शिव मंदिर जाकर भगवान शिव और पार्वती जी की पूजा करता था. उसकी भक्ति देखकर एक दिन मां पार्वती प्रसन्न हो गईं और भगवान शिव से उस साहूकार की मनोकामना पूरी करने का आग्रह किया. पार्वती जी की इच्छा सुनकर भगवान शिव ने कहा कि ‘हे पार्वती, इस संसार में हर प्राणी को उसके कर्मों का फल मिलता है और जिसके भाग्य में जो हो उसे भोगना ही पड़ता है’ लेकिन पार्वती जी ने साहूकार की भक्ति का मान रखने के लिए उसकी मनोकामना पूर्ण करने की इच्छा जताई.
माता पार्वती के आग्रह पर शिवजी ने साहूकार को पुत्र-प्राप्ति का वरदान तो दिया, लेकिन साथ ही यह भी कहा कि उसके बालक की आयु केवल बारह वर्ष होगी. माता पार्वती और भगवान शिव की बातचीत को साहूकार सुन रहा था. उसे ना तो इस बात की खुशी थी और ना ही दुख. वह पहले की भांति शिवजी की पूजा करता रहा. कुछ समय के बाद साहूकार के घर एक पुत्र का जन्म होता है, जब वह बालक ग्यारह वर्ष का हुआ तो उसे पढ़ने के लिए काशी भेज दिया गया. साहूकार ने पुत्र के मामा को बुलाकर उसे बहुत सारा धन दिया और कहा कि तुम इस बालक को काशी विद्या प्राप्ति के लिए ले जाओ और मार्ग में यज्ञ कराना. जहां भी यज्ञ कराओ वहां ब्राह्मणों को भोजन कराते और दक्षिणा देते हुए जाना. दोनों मामा-भांजे इसी तरह यज्ञ कराते और ब्राह्मणों को दान-दक्षिणा देते काशी की ओर चल पड़े. रात में एक नगर पड़ा जहां नगर के राजा की कन्या का विवाह था. जिस राजकुमार से उसका विवाह होने वाला था वह एक आंख से काना था.
राजकुमार के पिता ने अपने पुत्र के काना होने की बात को छुपाने के लिए एक चाल सोची. साहूकार के पुत्र को देखकर उसके मन में एक विचार आया. उसने सोचा क्यों न इस लड़के को दूल्हा बनाकर राजकुमारी से विवाह करा दूं. विवाह के बाद इसको धन देकर विदा कर दूंगा और राजकुमारी को अपने नगर ले जाऊंगा. लड़के को दूल्हे के वस्त्र पहनाकर राजकुमारी से विवाह कर दिया गया. लेकिन साहूकार का पुत्र ईमानदार था. उसे यह बात न्यायसंगत नहीं लगी. उसने अवसर पाकर राजकुमारी की चुन्नी के पल्ले पर लिखा कि ‘तुम्हारा विवाह तो मेरे साथ हुआ है लेकिन जिस राजकुमार के संग तुम्हें भेजा जाएगा वह एक आंख से काना है. मैं तो काशी पढ़ने जा रहा हूं.
जब चुन्नी पर लिखी बातें राजकुमारी ने पढ़ी तो उसने अपने माता-पिता को यह बात बताई. राजा ने अपनी पुत्री को विदा नहीं किया, जिससे बारात वापस चली गई. दूसरी ओर साहूकार का लड़का और उसका मामा काशी पहुंचे और वहां जाकर उन्होंने यज्ञ किया. जिस दिन लड़के की आयु 12 साल की हुई उसी दिन यज्ञ रखा गया. लड़के ने अपने मामा से कहा कि मेरी तबीयत कुछ ठीक नहीं है. मामा ने कहा कि तुम अंदर जाकर सो जाओ. शिवजी के वरदानुसार कुछ ही देर में उस बालक के प्राण निकल गए. मृत भांजे को देख उसके मामा ने विलाप शुरू किया. संयोगवश उसी समय शिवजी और माता पार्वती उधर से जा रहे थे. पार्वती ने भगवान से कहा- स्वामी, मुझे इसके रोने के स्वर सहन नहीं हो रहा. आप इस व्यक्ति के कष्ट को अवश्य दूर करें.
जब शिवजी मृत बालक के समीप गए तो वह बोले कि यह उसी साहूकार का पुत्र है, जिसे मैंने 12 वर्ष की आयु का वरदान दिया. अब इसकी आयु पूरी हो चुकी है, लेकिन मातृ भाव से विभोर माता पार्वती ने कहा कि हे महादेव, आप इस बालक को और आयु देने की कृपा करें अन्यथा इसके वियोग में इसके माता-पिता भी तड़प-तड़प कर मर जाएंगे. माता पार्वती के आग्रह पर भगवान शिव ने उस लड़के को जीवित होने का वरदान दिया. शिवजी की कृपा से वह लड़का जीवित हो गया. शिक्षा समाप्त करके लड़का मामा के साथ अपने नगर की ओर चल दिया. दोनों चलते हुए उसी नगर में पहुंचे, जहां उसका विवाह हुआ था. उस नगर में भी उन्होंने यज्ञ का आयोजन किया. उस लड़के के ससुर ने उसे पहचान लिया और महल में ले जाकर उसकी खातिरदारी की और अपनी पुत्री को विदा किया.
