Ma Ganga - Janhavi

By Munindra Misra

Ma Ganga - Janhavi written in English rhyme, with the original text covedrs:

Mythology, descent, description, primer, mantra, stuti, stotra, chalisa, matmayam, names and Arti

• Language: English
• Publisher: Munindra Misra
• Release date: May 8, 2022

Book preview

MA GANGA - JAHNAVI

Ganga in Uttarakhand most sacred be,

Starts at the heights of glacier Gangotri,

With its source in the Gaumukh certainly,

Then dip 25 meters into the Kund Gauri.

Ganga begins its voyage cross-country,

Ends at Ganga Sagar and ocean finally,

A big section of Himalayas drained be,

By the Ganga river scheme undeniably.

From the eastern Shimla ridge, Nepal be,

Main Kumaon, Garhwal Himalayas simply,

Three smaller river systems created do be,

Rivers Yamuna, Ganga and Kali namely.

In its upper phases is river Bhagirathi,

Flows, has names with meaning many,

Called Padma and Meghna reverently,

Ma Ganga dip - purges all sin unfailingly.

Devi Bhagwati Ganga, Goddess of Devas be,

You free Worlds with Your water waves truly;

O Stainless Pure One, in Shankar’s head be,

On Your Lotus Feet my devotion is firmly.

Mythology

Birth of River Ganga

Ganga appears twice in Rig Veda clearly,

Later got importance as goddess only;

As per Vishnu Puran' she created be,

From the sweat of Lord Vishnu's feet;

. Hence, she is also called 'Vishmupadi',

The one flowing from Vishnu’s foot be;

Ganga, daughter of Parvataraja but be,

Sister of Lord Shiva's consort Parvati;

Ganga devoted to Krishna in heaven be,

This made his lover Radha jealous sadly;

Devi Radha then cursed Ganga angrily,

To go down to earth, flow as river only;

When Ganga was born, the holy cities,

Haridwar, Banaras existed not surely;

Still world was old, civilised sufficiently,

With kings, kingdoms, forests aplenty;

An angry, aging mother named Aditi,

Sat on fast, pray to Lord Vishnu plainly,

Asked aid from World Preserver truly,

In a moment of distress imploringly;

Her sons who ruled Universe many,

Had been beaten by King Bali mighty;

Who wanted to be the sole ruler only,

Of the complete celestial world solely;

As humiliated mother of beaten sons be,

Aditi refused to eat, closed her eyes fully;

She prayed to Vishnu for retribution only,

Who came after 12 penance days finally;

Moved by her devotion and purpose fully,

Vishnu assured kingdoms will restored be.

Vishnu disguised as a midget Brahmin only,

Answering to name of Vaman Deva only;

Appeared in famed court of Maharaja Bali,

Pleaded for lands within his steps three;

Amused, dulled by a sense of invincibility,

King agreed to the midget light-heartedly,

Vaman Deva expanded form to colossally,

In his first step, covered the Earth fully;

Thus kingdoms lost by sons previously,

Were got back by their mother Aditi;

But the second step of crucial import be,

He covered the heavens in their entirety;

Lord Brahma washed his feet respectfully,

Which flowed as Ganga river subsequently;

Ganga born from Brahma’s Kamandal be,

Dancing in heaven for delight of all truly.

Then Vaman questioned the great King Bali,

Where his third step should now placed be?

Following short of his promise – King Bali,

Bent his head to Lord – surrendering totally.

Ganga's dilemma

Ganga remained in universe heavenly,

Ever soothing and cooling all unendingly;

Once the loin cloth of revered Durvasa Rishi,

Was blown off with a breezy wind very gusty;

Ganga laughed too much embarrassing rishi,

The Rishi cursed Ganga to go to earth plainly;

But the great Ganga feared the earth clearly,