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The Significance of the Ganges River

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The river Ganges is as sacred as a temple, the length of the river Ganges is circumambulated by pilgrims. The significance of the ascent through tirthas within the river Ganges and how it is linked to bhakti, samsara and the Hindu pilgrimage will be examined with regards to myth, ritual and symbol. The myth used will be the descent of the goddess Ganga through Shiva’s hair and the rituals which follow the myth. The conclusion will be based on a reflection on the contemporary state of the River Ganges.

According to Spinney (2014), the northern Indian city of Allahabad hosts the world’s largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela. However, two weeks prior to the Maha Kumbh Mela on the banks of the river Ganges. It is the second major bathing day of the festival where people immerse themselves in the holy water in the anticipation of monsoon rains. The immersion of devoted Hindus in the Ganges is believed to remove ten life times of sin. The sacred pilgrimage to the Ganges has been described as the yearning that each Hindu possess. The River Ganges is a place is of great cosmic significance for Hindus and is often frequented. It is here that the Ganges meets the Yamuna and a third, mythical river called Saraswati. According to scriptures, it was a tussle between gods and demons that lead to the spilling of sacred nectar, the Ganges.
According to Eck (1996) “Ganga: The Goddess Ganges in Hindu Sacred Geography”, “The origins of the idea of Indian sacred geography seems to

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