Cosmic Story: Siva & Parvati and the Purifying Ganges

[sushmakomandur]

Bathing in the Ganges River is said to remove all sins.  In India, there are a few spots that are thought to be especially sacred to take a dip.  A lot of people congregate at these spots.  Moreover, there are certain astrological conjunctions that are especially auspicious for bathing in the Ganges.  During these conjunctions, sometimes millions of people will gather for a dip in the Ganges at the sacred spots.  These gatherings are called "melas".   Once Shiva and Parvati were flying over a mela area and found over a million people bathing in the sacred waters and offering prayers.  The intelligent Parvati asked Shiva "When the scriptures guarantee that a dip in the Ganges River purges the bathers from all sins and gives them entry into Heaven, why is it that so few reach Heaven?  Shiva replied that the Ganges bath and the related prayers have to be done with total faith and in a surrendering mood.  Shiva and Parvati decided on a plan to test the devotees faith.  Shiva transformed Himself into an old, feeble and sick man.  Parvati became a young girl of eighteen years.  The old man seemed to be in writhing pain and his young wife called loudly for help from the religious person returning form their Ganga bath.   She said that if any person who was pure in heart and free from sins would sprinkle Ganges water over her sick husband he would recover instantaneously. But strangely not one out of the multitudes of the devotees returning from the Ganges bath responded.  Hours later towards evening a member of the lower caste, hearing the lamentations of the woman said "O lady of the high caste, I am full of sins but I have heard that a dip in the Ganges will purify me so I shall just take a dip and return with the holy waters". He had the faith and he rushed to the river, had a bath, brought the sacred waters and sprinkled it on the sick man.  To the wonder of the crowds the old man was cured and he disappeared with his wife.  We read so many scriptures that say "if you do this and this, such and such will happen".  But it so seldom happens!  This story explains why.  Blindly following prayers and rituals with no faith is not enough.  Prayers should not only come from the lips but the whole heart and mind.  Baba advised people to follow two dictums:   "faith" and "patience".   

[v2birit]

That is perfectly correct story. A bath in Ganga will certainly enlighten you, but only when it is accompanied by faith, surrender & repentance. The Lord says in Garuda Purana that "if just by  bathing in Ganga, a person's sins could be removed, then all the crocodiles in Ganga would have become great ascetics(sages)". In short faith & surrender is what is required.
    Recently i visited Ramkund, at Nashik. This is a part of the Godavari river. It is here that Lord Rama-Laxman-Sita used to take thier holy bath when they were in 14 years excile. I was very happy that i could visit here & i took bath 2 times in the Ramkund. I remembered Lord Rama & Sai baba while doing so. Really it was a great satisfying experience. I was very happy.

Om Sai Ram.