Ganga Dasshara – 9

Wish you all a very Happy Ganga Dusshara on this divine day.

This is the last blog of the series which I began 8 days ago.

It has been possible only and only due to the blessings of Maa Ganga as I stated in my last blog.

Also would like to express my gratefulness to my mentor Param Pujaniya Pandurang Shashtriji Athavale (Dadaji) and His daughter, my elder sister and the one who moulded me, my thoughts and my life, Pujaniya Dhanashree Athavale – Talwalkar (Didiji). Truth is that, it is They, who introduced the festival of Ganga Dusshara to me through Their Utsav Pravachans. We here, in Western India, didn’t even know about this festival. It is Their love for humankind that They made this festival find a special place in my / our lives.

Lastly, I thank you, my readers and my brothers and sisters who constantly read my blogs and gave me valuable suggestions for writing it and made it very easy for me.

On the last day, let us understand the meaning of the festival itself.

GANGA DUSSHARA means the one who takes away our 10 sins (Duss + Hara) from our lives.

These 10 sins are ‘Kaayik’, ‘Vachik’ and ‘Mansik’ (physical, speech (thoughts) and pshycological).

अदत्तानामुपादानं हिंसा चैवाविधानतः।

परदारोपसेवा च कायिकं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्।।

1. To take away even if not offered ie to steal

2. To commit violence for no reason

3. To have adulterous connections

These are the sins committed by the body ie physical self.

पारूष्यमनृतं चैन पैशुन्यं चापि सर्वतः।

असंबद्धप्रलापश्र्व वाङ्मयं स्याच्चतुर्विधम्।।

4. To speak arrogantly,

5. To lie (To spread falsehood)

6. To backbite about others

7. To talk without any reason and what make no sense ie senseless talk

The above mentioned 4 sins are committed through tongue (thoughts)

परद्रव्येष्वभिध्यानं मनसानिष्टचिंतनम्।

वितथाभिनिवेशश्र्व मानसं त्रिविधं स्मृतम्।।

8. To think about snatching others wealth

9. To think that bad happen to others

10. To wrongly insist / persist

These are the 3, and the last of 10, sins committed in our minds

एतानि दश पापानि हर त्वमथ जाह्नवी।

दशपापहरा यस्मात्तस्माद् दशहरा स्मृता।।

O Ganga ! you are the one who will deliver me from the above said 10 sins and so I remember you (bow down to you) on the Dusshara day as “Duspaaphara”.

While writing the meanings, and you my readers, while reading the meanings must have realised that we do commit some or the other sin/s from the above 10 everyday. These first 3 Shlokas bring inferiority complex in us while reading them, but the last ie 4th shloka installs the confidence that Maa Ganga will deliver us from them.

And for this, Param Pujaniya Pandurang Shashtriji suggests thus :

“Human has to bathe / cleanse his body, his thoughts and his mind daily. The body has to be cleansed with water, the thought with ‘Swadhyay – self introspection’ and the mind with ‘Bhakti – devotion’. If we dip in Ganga with this understanding, then Maa Ganga will surely deliver us from our sins”

– Sanskruti Pujan (Utsav Vibhag), based on discourses given by Param Pujaniya Pandurang Shahstriji Athavale.

To end this series, I would surely like to share my journey during these last 8 days and today the 9th day as only divine.

I got an opportunity to spend much time and learn a lot with Maa Ganga in an indirect way. I tried to keep away from all worldly pleasures. I just felt closer to living beings. Closer to nature. Closer to God. All these thoughts though fully understood did not find a place in my life till the start of this journey but now that I realise their importance, want to live them and give them a permanent place in life.

Lastly, A humble pray to Maa Ganga to keep blessing all of us in the way She has always.

Pray to God that may India receive the rainfall it needs.

Pray to God that let the world feels it oneness with its Creator

And once again Pray to deliver us from our above said 10 sins.

Namami Gange!