A Legend of Ganga

The River Ganga is exalted as someone who provides salvation to even those who are utterly unfit. The Padma Puran tells us that while sons may abandon their parents, wives their husbands and friends, their dearest friends, the Ganga abandons no one. A legend associated with Pandit Jagannatha stands as a testimony to this all embracing nature of the River.

Jagannatha, a Brahmin from the 17^th century was declared an outcaste on account of his love affair with a Muslim woman. So, the Pandit went to Varanasi to try and restore his status as a Brahmin. However, shunned by all and devoid of all hope of acceptance, Jagannatha sat atop the Panchganga Ghat alongwith his beloved and composed an ode to the River Goddess. Poetically, his composition had 53 verses to correspond to the 52 steps of the Ghat and the stepping ground

The poetry begins

You were sent for the salvation of the world by Shiva, Lord of Lords….

It continues

I come to you as a child to his mother

I come as an orphan to you, moist with love

I come without refuge to you, giver of sacred rest

I come a fallen man to you, uplifter of all

I come undone by disease to you, the perfect physician

I come, my heart, dry with thirst, to you, ocean of sweet nectar

Do with me whatever you will

It concludes

Take us into your embrace for ever for Moksha sublime bliss for ever

The legend says that as Pandit Jagannath composed his 53 verses of Ganga Lahari, the river rose step by step. At the penultimate hymn, the waters touched the feet of the poet and his beloved and at the last verse, purified them, embraced them, and carried them away.

The River is the Mother who loves and claims the child who has been rejected even by the outcastes, criticized even by the madmen and rejected by the other tirthas. There are plenty who care for the good, but who cares for the Sinner except for the one who has only Love in her heart.

The entire Ganga Lahri can be accessed here

Adopted from: India, A sacred Geography by Diana L Eck