Hindu Civilization, Ganges River and Spiritualism

India (Atnews) - A global traveler, Putu Suasta, alumni of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and Cornell University, returned to explore the Ganges River at the historic moment of Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj, India.

In addition to Tirta Yatra (pilgrimage) to Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, the traveler Suasta also visited Kurukshetra, Varanasi, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Ram Temple Ayodhya, Swaminarayan Akshardham New Delhi, Lotus Temple New Delhi.

For 12 days, all the pilgrims departed from Bali on January 23 with Life Observer Dr. Sayoga, Chairman of Bali Chapter Prajaniti, President Director of Pak Oles Tockcer Dr. Gede Ngurah Wididana, Komang Dyah Setuti, Putu Laksmi Anggari Putri Duarsa, Dr. Yoga and Nyoman Ratna Widiasmini.

Putu Suasta told the greatness of the sanctity of the Ganges River, worshipped and sanctified by Hindus (Sanatana Dharma) throughout the world. He has visited India 6 times, where he visited and explored holy places of Hindus (Sanatana Dharma) in more than three decades.

He has even lived in holy places for Hindus, such as Punjab, Varanasi, Rsikesh, Sarnath and Agra Jaipur. He lived the longest in Varanasi, or Benares, or Kashi or Kasi, a holy city for Hindus on the banks of the Ganges River located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India.

For Hindus, Varanasi is like Mecca for Muslims or the Vatican for Catholics. To develop spiritual insight and understand Indian culture, when he was in India, Putu Suasta communicated a lot with spiritualists and Sadhus.

Likewise, during the cultural exploration at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap Cambodia, a Hindu temple complex covering an area of 100 square kilometers built 1,000 years ago, he also visited the Batu Caves Hindu Temple in Malaysia some time ago.

Putu Suasta felt grateful to have had the opportunity to perform a meditation puja (dharsan) to Lord Murugan and exchange ideas with the leaders of his community some time ago in Selangor Malaysia.

Lord Murugan is a Hindu God who is famous among the Tamil people in the state of Tamil Nadu in India and Sri Lanka. This god is also known by various names, such as Kartikeya, Kumara, Shanmukha, Skanda to Subramaniam.

Even recently, the Maha Kumbabhishegam Shri Sanathana Dharma Aalayam (SSDA) or Murugan Temple was inaugurated in Jakarta, Sunday (Feb 2).

Interestingly, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi gave his appreciation for the inauguration. The event invited President Prabowo Subianto represented by Presidential Envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, Chairman of the Poverty Alleviation Council Budiman Sudjatmiko to the Head of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives Rahayu Saraswati, the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, Director General of Hindu Community Guidance Prof. Dr. I Nengah Duija, Chairman of Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) Wisnu Bawa Tenaya and the Board of Trustees of the SSDA Foundation, AS Kobalen.

Normally, Varanasi, Haridwar, Gangotri, Prayagraj (Allahabad) and Rishikesh are the main destinations that have great spiritual religious significance for Hindus.

Prayagraj and Haridwar are famous as the venues for the Kumbh Mela, a magnificent religious fair, and Haridwar is revered as the Gateway to Heaven. These beautiful cities located on the banks of the Ganges River are visited by many travel enthusiasts.

Suasta further explained that the Ganges River flowing 2,525 kilometers from the headwaters of the Himalayan Mountains is visited by millions of devotees from all over the world. The most widely accepted length of the Ganges River is 1,569 miles (2,525 km), and its river basin is estimated to be around 416,990 square miles (1,080,000 square km).

The Ganges River is worshiped by all Hindus who offer food and flowers to the river as a sacrament.

During the great festival of Maha Kumbh Mela, millions of Hindus from all over India and the world travel to the river to immerse themselves in the water to cleanse their soul and body. The Ganges River is a symbol of sacredness, mysticism, and a symbol of purity believed to provide spiritual protection for the spirits and souls of the deceased.

Many crematorium temples are located on the banks of the Ganges River, and Hindus throw the ashes of the deceased into the river to give meaning and ensuring that the soul has a proper and blessed path to heaven. The waters of the Ganges River are believed to be the path to the World of the Ancestors (Pitriloka).

The holy water of the Ganges is very extraordinary. The public perception of Hindus is that a drop of Ganges water when mixed with ordinary water becomes Ganges water with all its power and holiness.

Even the results of research carried out by researchers have found and proven that pure Ganges water, even if it is stored for a long period of time, will maintain its purity. While visiting to the holy area, especially during the Aarati Ganges Puja moment, pilgrims will feel touching and be unforgettable all the time.

Putu Suasta also explained that Ganges River flows along 2,525 kilometers, flowing from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal in northern India and Bangladesh.

The headwaters of the Ganges River start from the Himalayas at an altitude of 3,892 meters originating from the Gangotri Glacier in the state of Uttarakhand, India.

The glacier is at an altitude of 12,769 feet (3,892 m). The Ganges River begins further downstream where the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers meet. As the Ganges River flows out of the Himalayas, a narrow and steep gorge is formed.

The Ganges River begins at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda Rivers and is part of a larger river valley that connects with the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers.

The tributaries of the Ganges (freshwater streams that flow into the Ganges River) include water sources from Bangladesh, Nepal and Tibet.

The annual monsoon, which usually lasts from March to May, also supplies fresh water to the river. Once the river reaches the Bay of Bengal, it forms the Ganges Delta, the largest river delta in the world and a very fertile area for plant growth.

The river delta sediments contain remnants of forest vegetation, clay, lignite, and peat layers that enrich the surrounding soil.

The Himalayas are also home to Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Goddess Ganga is often depicted riding a Makra (a hybrid creature with a crocodile head and a dolphin tail).

As the Ganges flows further downstream, it changes course several times and is joined by many other tributary rivers.

The major rivers that flow into the Ganges are Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandaki, Burhi Gandak, Koshi, Mahananda, Tamsa, Yamuna, Son and Punpun.

Similarly, there are several large and small cities that the Ganges passes through on its way downstream. Some of these are Chunar, Kolkata, Mirzapur and Varanasi. Many Hindus visit the Ganges River in Varanasi as it is considered the holiest city.

On that account, the culture of the city is also closely related to the river as it is the holiest river in Hinduism.

For most of its course, the Ganges flows through India, even though its large delta sits in the Bengal region, which it shares with the Brahmaputra River, mostly located in Bangladesh.

After the Ganges flows out of India and into Bangladesh, its main branch is known as the Padma River. The Padma River is joined downstream by major rivers such as the Jamuna and Meghna rivers.

After joining the Meghna, it takes on the name before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. However, before entering the Bay of Bengal, the river creates the largest delta of the world, the Ganges Delta. This region is a highly fertile sediment-laden region that covers an area of 23,000 square miles (59,000 square km).

The Ganges River is the third-largest river of the world by discharge and the 34th longest river in the world. The average depth of the river is 16 meters, and its maximum depth is 30 meters.

The mouth of the Ganges River forms the largest delta of the world, known as the Sunderbans, and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. Its area is more than 105,000 square kilometers.

This river has the second largest water discharge in the world, and its river basin is the most densely populated in the world with more than 400 million people living in it.

Moreover, there are many holy places along the Ganges River including Gangotri, Haridwar, Allahabad, Varanasi and Kali Ghat.

“I have lived in some of those holy places,” said Suasta in his conversation.

Interestingly, Hindus from all over the world will gather to participate in the Kumbh Mela event which is a Hindu religious ritual in the form of mass bathing on the banks of the Ganges River celebrated in four places: Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain and Nashik.

In addition, the glory of Goddess Ganga has been known throughout the ages. Ganga is first mentioned several times in the Rig Veda, considered the earliest of the four Vedas (the principle sacred texts establishing the basis of Vedic thought and Hinduism).

In Rig Veda 3.58.6 is said, “Your ancient home, your auspicious friendship, O Hero, your wealth is on the banks of the Jahnavi River (another name for Ganga).”

The Ganga is the only river that flows from all three worlds—Heaven (Swarga), Earth (Prithvi) and Hell (Patala). One who has traveled to all three worlds is called Tripathaga in Sanskrit.

In Sanatana Dharma, the sacred Ganga is personified as Goddess Ganga. Followers of Hinduism believe that bathing in the sacred Ganga will help cleanse all sins.

People also believe that simply touching the river helps in attaining moksha (salvation) and so the ashes of the deceased are immersed in the sacred river.

Srimad Bhagavatam describes the origin of the Ganges and how it flows in and around Ilāvṛta-varṣa.

Lord Viṣṇu, the enjoyer of all sacrifices, appeared as Vāmanadeva in the sacrificial arena of Bali Mahārāja. Then, He extended His left foot to the edge of the universe and pierced the cover with His big toe nail. Through that hole, the pure water of the Ocean of Cause entered this universe as the Ganges.

After washing the lotus feet of the Lord, covered with reddish powder, the water of the Ganges acquired a very beautiful pink color. Any living entity can immediately purify his mind from material contamination by touching the transcendental water of the Ganges, but the water remains pure.

Since the Ganges directly touches the lotus feet of the Lord before descending into this universe, it is known as Viṣṇupadī.

Later on, he received other names such as Jāhnavī and Bhāgīrathī. After a thousand millennia, the waters of the Ganges descend upon Dhruvaloka, the uppermost planet in this universe. On that account, all the learned sages and scholars declare Dhruvaloka to be Viṣṇupada meaning “at the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu.”

The waters of the Ganges are called patita-pāvanī, the savior of all sinful living entities. It is a proven fact that one who regularly bathes in the Ganges becomes purified both externally and internally.

Externally, his body becomes immune to all diseases, and internally he gradually develops devotional services to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Throughout India, thousands of people live on the banks of the Ganges, and by regularly bathing in its waters, they undoubtedly become purified both spiritually and physically.

Many sages, including Śaṅkarācārya, have composed prayers in praise of the Ganges, and the land of India itself has become glorious because of the rivers like the Ganges, Yamunā, Godāvarī, Kāverī, Kṛṣṇā, and Narmadā flowing through it. Anyone who lives in the lands bordering these rivers will naturally have advanced spiritual awareness.

Dhruva Mahārāja, the son of the famous Mahārāja Uttānapāda, is known as the greatest devotee of the Supreme Lord because of his strong determination to perform devotional services.

Knowing that the sacred waters of the Ganges wash the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu, Dhruva Mahārāja, who is on his own planet, even today receives the water on his head with great devotion.

As he constantly thinks of the Lord with great devotion in his heart, he is overcome with overwhelming anxiety. Tears flow from his half-open eyes, and his entire body is covered with blisters.

Seven great sages (Marīci, Vasiṣṭha, Atri and so on) reside in the planets below Dhruvaloka. Being well aware of the influence of the Ganges water, to this day they sprinkle Ganges water on the tufts of hair on their heads.

In the upper planetary system, the topmost planet is Dhruvaloka, and below Dhruvaloka are seven planets inhabited by great sages, starting from Marīci, Vasiṣṭha to Atri.

After purifying the seven planets near Dhruvaloka (the pole star) the Ganges water is carried through the celestial paths of the demigods in billions of spaceships. Then, it floods the moon (Candraloka) and finally reaches the abode of Lord Brahma on the peak of Mount Meru.

It is hoped that it should always be remembered that the Ganges originates from the Ocean of Cause, beyond the scope of the universe.

After the water of the Ocean of Cause leaks through the hole made by Lord Vāmanadeva, it flows down to Dhruvaloka (the pole star) and then to the seven planets below Dhruvaloka. It is then carried to the moon by innumerable spaceships, and then falls on the peak of Mount Meru, known as Sumeru-parvata.

In this way, the water of the Ganges finally reaches the lower planets and the peaks of the Himalayas, and from there flows through Hardwar and throughout the Indian plains, purifying the entire land.

How the water of the Ganges reaches the various planets from the top of the universe is explained here. Spaceships carry water from the planets of the sages to the other planets.

At the peak of Mount Meru, the Ganges divides into four branches, each flowing in a different direction (east, west, north and south). These branches, known as Sītā, Alakanandā, Cakṣu and Bhadrā, flow into the ocean.

The branch of the Ganges known as Sītā flows through the Brahmapurī at the peak of Mount Meru, and from there flows to the peaks of the nearby Kesarācala Mountains, which are almost as high as Mount Meru itself. These mountains are like a bundle of threads around Mount Meru. From the Kesarācala Mountains, the Ganges flows to the peak of Mount Gandhamādana and then flows into the land of Bhadrāśva-varṣa. Finally, it reaches the saltwater ocean in the west.

The branch of the Ganges known as Cakṣu flows to the peak of Mount Mālyavān and from there flows into the land of Ketumāla-varṣa. The Ganges flows uninterruptedly through Ketumāla-varṣa, and in this way also reaches the saltwater ocean in the west.

The branch of the Ganges known as Bhadrā flows from the northern side of Mount Meru. Its waters fall on the peaks of Mount Kumuda, Mount Nīla, Mount Śveta and Mount Śṛṅgavān in succession. Then, it flows into the province of Kuru and, after crossing that land, flows into the saltwater ocean in the north.

Similarly, the branch of the Ganges known as Alakanandā flows from the southern side of Brahmapurī (Brahma-sadana). Passing through the mountain peaks of various countries, it falls with tremendous force on the peaks of the Hemakūṭa and Himakūṭa mountains.

After flooding these mountain peaks, the Ganges falls on a piece of land known as Bhārata-varṣa, which it also inundates.

Then, the Ganges flows into the salty ocean in the south. Those who come to bathe in this river are fortunate. It is not very difficult for them to attain the fruits of every step of performing great sacrifices such as the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha yajñas.

The place where the Ganges flows into the salty waters of the Bay of Bengal is still known as Gaṅgā-sāgara, or the place where the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal meet.

On Makara-saṅkrānti, in the month of January–February, thousands of people still go there to bathe, hoping for liberation. It is asserted here that they can indeed be liberated in this way.

For those who bathe in the Ganges at any time, the results of great sacrifices such as the Aśvamedha and Rājasūya yajñas are not at all difficult to attain. Most people in India still tend to bathe in the Ganges, and there are many places where they can do so.

In Prayāga (Allahabad), thousands of people gather during the month of January to bathe at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamunā and Saraswati.

“The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 is currently underway for 45 days, from January 13 to February 26, 2025, and will be attended by 400 million devotees from all over the world,” said Suasta.

After that, many of them go to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Ganges to bathe there. Therefore, it is a special facility for all Indians to be able to bathe in the waters of the Ganges at many pilgrimage sites.

Many other rivers, both large and small, flow from the summit of Mount Meru. These rivers are like the tributaries of the mountain, and flow into various regions of the land in hundreds of branches.

Among the nine varṣas, the tract of land known as the Bhārata-varṣa is understood to be the field of fruitful activities.

The heavenly pleasant places are divided into three groups: the heavenly planets, the heavenly places on earth and the heavenly places if found in the lower regions. Of these three classes of heavenly places (bhauma-svarga-pada-ni), the heavenly places on earth are the eight varṣas other than the Bhārata-varṣa.

The plot known as the Bhārata-varṣa is the field of activities, and the other eight varṣas are for persons who are meant to enjoy heavenly comforts. In each of these eight beautiful provinces, the inhabitants of heaven enjoy various standards of material comforts and pleasures.

Different incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead distribute His mercy in each of the nine varṣas of Jambūdvīpa.

Similarly, Ganga Devi descended to the world due to the severe penance performed by King Bhagiratha and hence Ganga is also known as Bhagirathi.

There is a story of a king named Sagara who had sixty thousand (60,000) sons. One day, King Sagara decided to perform the Ashvameda ceremony, a ritual in which a horse is sent throughout the country to conquer and acquire new kingdoms and establish sovereignty.

However, Lord Indra was jealous of King Sagara and decided to steal and hide the horse in the nether world.

King Sagara sent his sixty thousand sons to find the horse and after searching all over the earth, they found it in the nether world next to the meditating sage Kapila.

Believing Kapila to be the thief, they began to hurl insults at the great sage, thereby disturbing his practice. Kapila then opened his eyes–eyes that had not been opened for years –and with his spiritual power burned his sixty thousand sons to ashes.

After death, there are many long and elaborate rituals that must be performed for Hindus, including the immersion of ashes. However, because these sixty thousand sons were far away in the underworld, no one could perform their funeral rites, so they wandered as ghosts for years.

For generations, a descendant of King Sagara tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade Ganga to come to Earth to purify the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara.

Many years later, a descendant of King Sagara named Bhagiratha vowed to perform intense penance to bring Ganga down from heaven to purify the ashes of his ancestors, thereby washing away their sins and liberating their souls.

After much penance, Brahma agreed to the wish of Bhagiratha and ordered Ganga to flow down to earth. However, Ganga, since she is full of Shakti, began to descend, sweeping away everything in her path.

Bhagiratha prayed to Lord Shiva to stop Ganga from doing so, as he alone was powerful enough to stop her flow.

So, as Ganga fell from heaven, she got entangled in the hair of Lord Shiva. Ganga was purified by the touch of Shiva and released in a calm stream from his hair to flow both on earth and in the underworld, to purify and liberate not only the ancestors of Bhagiratha but also all the inhabitants of the earth.

Goddess Ganga, who descended from heaven and then flowed through the hair of the Lord Shiva, became even more sacred because it had come into direct contact with the Lord Siva.

Even now, the Ganga is the holiest river in Hinduism according to what is written in the Vedas and various other holy puranas.

The Ganga symbolizes coolness, purity of heart, forgiveness, compassion and holiness. The Ganga enriches the spiritual life of millions of Hindus who believe in and worship the Ganga as one of the manifestations of the gods.

It is believed that the Ganga descended to earth to erase all human sins so that humans can achieve eternal liberation or moksha.

The Ganga is the holiest river in Hinduism. The flow of the Ganga River is very famous in India and the world, and she is worshiped as a goddess, namely Goddess Ganga.

The flow of the Ganga River is believed to descend from heaven to erase all sins and purify humanity. According to various Hindu Puranas, just by looking at, by name, and by touch of the Ganges River, it can purify and erase all sins, and can grant humans the main goal, namely moksha.

That is why Hindus in India will store water from the Ganges in their homes with the aim that if there are relatives who are about to die, they will be given this water. Of course, it is hoped that the person who dies will get the forgiveness of sins and purification from the Goddess Ganga.

Likewise in Bali, in various religious ceremonies, it will begin with a purification ritual for self-purification or all materials and equipment for the ceremony by sprinkling water having been prayed for or tirtha.

During the cremation ceremony, before the body is burned, various holy waters from various temples in the area where he lives will be given, as well as holy water having been requested by the sulinggih or higher Hindu priests. This holy water is none other than the manifestation of the Ganges water which grants the forgiveness of sins, purification and moksha. 

Actually, there are many mantras or verses intended as worship and praise to Ganga. And almost in every mantra and verse, various awesomeness and sanctity of Ganga water are expressed. Ganga is the destroyer of all sins, suffering, and the one who bestows all goodness.

In addition, Ganga also plays an important role in Itihasa Ramayana, where Lord Rama and his wife Sita perform tapasya along the riverbank.

In the Mahabharata, Ganga gives birth to Devavrata, who is later known as Bhishma, the guide of the Kuru and Pandawa clans. Then, in the Mahabharata, Bhishma tells Yudhisthara about the greatness of Ganga and its ability to purify one of all sins.

In Bhagavad Gita 10.31, Sri Krishna states when giving the highest spiritual knowledge to Arjuna:

“Among the purifiers I am the wind, among the wielders of weapons I am Rama, among the fishes I am the shark, and in the flowing rivers I am Ganga.”

Goddess Ganga is the foster mother of Lord Kartikeya (Murugan), who is actually the son of Shiva and Parvati. She is also the mother of Devavrata (also known as Bhishma), who is one of the most revered figures in the Mahabharata.

It is believed that the water of the Ganga River will dry up at the end of Kaliyuga (the age of darkness, the present age) along with the Saraswati River, and the present age will soon end. Then, the next (cycle) of age is Satyayuga or the age of truth. (GAB/001)