Bhagirathi (another name for Ganga) Jayanti is celebrated on Dashami (10th Day) in the Shukhla Paksha (Waxing phase of the moon) during the Jyeshta maasa (month) of Hindu Calendar. It is to commemorates and express gratitude to Maa Ganga for descending down to earth for emacipation of mankind.

King Bhaigratha performs severe penance to bring Ganga from Heaven down to earth to liberate souls of 60,000 uncles who had committed sins and were burnt to ashes due to wrath of Kapila Maharshi. This is also the reason, to get liberated from cycles of births and deaths, every Hindu desires to be pass on on the banks of Ganga, get cremated and their ashes immersed in Maa Ganga.

The Legend – King Bhagiratha

According to Narada Purana, (Legend of Bhagiratha is found in many of them but Narada Purana is one of my favourite back story for Bhagirathi Jayanti), Iskshwaku Kula’s Maharaja Sagara had two wives, Keshini and Sumati. Each of these wives were given a boon to choose between One son who will be very pious, famous and Intelligent and the other option 60,000 sons. Sumati opts for the latter and these 60,000 sons were trouble makers and were a nuisance for everyone in Devaloka and Bhumi too. Kapila Maharshi then suggests King to conduct Ashwameda Yaga to divert the attention of all these spoilt children. A yaga where a horse is let loose to wander all over the place, traveling through all kingdoms. Anyone challenging the supremacy of the king stops the horse and has to overcome the King’s army in a battles. Maharaja Sagara’s children followed the horse to ensure all kings submit to supremacy of their father else they were subdued in the battle and forced to submit to the rule of Maharaja Sagara.

One night Indra from Devaloka steals the horse and ties it in Maharshi Kapila’s Ashram. Sagara’s children come in search of the horse and finding it in Maharshi’s Ashram thinking that he stole the horse, create a ruckus, abuses and assaults the Maharshi. Wrath of Maharshis whose penance is disturbs has no shielf and in anger Kapila Maharshi opens his eyes and reduces all these children to ashes.

Anshuman, Grandson of Maharaja comes and pleads for mercy from Maharshi, but Maharshi says, those dead cannot be brought back to life. However their souls can be liberated only when in future King Bhagiratha in your lineage bring Ganga from Heaven to Earth.

King Bhagiratha a pious, devoted King performs severe penances and observes austerities which pleases Maa Ganga. She concedes to his request but warns that here descent to earth would is such a great force that it would be impossible to sustain. As a solution, She asked him to pray and please Bhagwan Shiva, as no one except him would be able to sustain the force. King Bhagiratha once again begins his tapas for Shiva and finally Shiva agrees to let Ganga flow through his hair, tempering the forces of her descent to earth. Thus source of River Ganga is as Bhagirathi (meaning caused by Bhagiratha)

The exact place where Bhagirathi descends to earth is at Gomukh and it flows with same name until Devaprayag where it merges with Alakananda and flows as Maa Ganga. She flows into the plains and liberates 60,000 sons of Maharaja Sagara.

Ganga Dasara festival is celebrated for the 1st 10 days of Jyeshta month and it is believed that on the 10th day Maa Ganga touched the earth on Dashami of Jyeshta. A dip by a devotee in Maa Ganga on Bhagirathi Jayanti is believed to remove the devotee of all 10 sins

Ganga Dasara
Since it is believed that Ganga took birth on Earth (descent to earth actually) on this day, She will be the focus of worship. It is said that indulging in Charity will bestow inexhaustible virtues and punya on the donors.

If you have a dip in Maa Ganga on this day, all 10 types of sins committed by us in 10 Janmas will be washed away. For people who are in Kashi, it is more beneficial if they can bathe in Dashashwamedha Ghat and then have Darshan of Mahadeva. In case devotees are not able to bathe in Ganga, the least is to go to a nearby River and have a dip. It is believed that chanting Ganga Dashahara Stotram 10 time while standing in Ganga would be extremely beneficial. While chanting Ganga Dashahara Stortram, take a sankalpa and pray that the 10 types of sins that could be committed by Body, Words and Mind are absolved, says Kashi Kanda of Skanda Purana.

Ganga Dashahara Stotram
(I am told there is some more stanzas in some versions)

ॐ नमः शिवायै गंगायै, शिवदायै नमो नमः। नमस्ते विष्णु-रुपिण्यै, ब्रह्म-मूर्त्यै नमोऽस्तु ते।।

नमस्ते रुद्र-रुपिण्यै, शांकर्यै ते नमो नमः। सर्व-देव-स्वरुपिण्यै, नमो भेषज-मूर्त्तये।।

सर्वस्य सर्व-व्याधीनां, भिषक्-श्रेष्ठ्यै नमोऽस्तु ते। स्थास्नु-जंगम-सम्भूत-विष-हन्त्र्यै नमोऽस्तु ते।।

संसार-विष-नाशिन्यै, जीवानायै नमोऽस्तु ते। ताप-त्रितय-संहन्त्र्यै, प्राणश्यै ते नमो नमः।।

शन्ति-सन्तान-कारिण्यै, नमस्ते शुद्ध-मूर्त्तये। सर्व-संशुद्धि-कारिण्यै, नमः पापारि-मूर्त्तये।।

भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदायिन्यै, भद्रदायै नमो नमः। भोगोपभोग-दायिन्यै, भोग-वत्यै नमोऽस्तु ते।।

मन्दाकिन्यै नमस्तेऽस्तु, स्वर्गदायै नमो नमः। नमस्त्रैलोक्य-भूषायै, त्रि-पथायै नमो नमः।।

नमस्त्रि-शुक्ल-संस्थायै, क्षमा-वत्यै नमो नमः। त्रि-हुताशन-संस्थायै, तेजो-वत्यै नमो नमः।।

नन्दायै लिंग-धारिण्यै, सुधा-धारात्मने नमः। नमस्ते विश्व-मुख्यायै, रेवत्यै ते नमो नमः।।

बृहत्यै ते नमस्तेऽस्तु, लोक-धात्र्यै नमोऽस्तु ते। नमस्ते विश्व-मित्रायै, नन्दिन्यै ते नमो नमः।।

पृथ्व्यै शिवामृतायै च, सु-वृषायै नमो नमः। परापर-शताढ्यै, तारायै ते नमो नमः।।

पाश-जाल-निकृन्तिन्यै, अभिन्नायै नमोऽस्तु ते। शान्तायै च वरिष्ठायै, वरदायै नमो नमः।।

उग्रायै सुख-जग्ध्यै च, सञ्जीविन्यै नमोऽस्तु ते। ब्रह्मिष्ठायै-ब्रह्मदायै, दुरितघ्न्यै नमो नमः।।

प्रणतार्ति-प्रभञजिन्यै, जग्मात्रे नमोऽस्तु ते। सर्वापत्-प्रति-पक्षायै, मंगलायै नमो नमः।।

शरणागत-दीनार्त-परित्राण-परायणे। सर्वस्यार्ति-हरे देवि! नारायणि ! नमोऽस्तु ते।।

निर्लेपायै दुर्ग-हन्त्र्यै, सक्षायै ते नमो नमः। परापर-परायै च, गंगे निर्वाण-दायिनि।।

गंगे ममाऽग्रतो भूया, गंगे मे तिष्ठ पृष्ठतः। गंगे मे पार्श्वयोरेधि, गंगे त्वय्यस्तु मे स्थितिः।

आदौ त्वमन्ते मध्ये च, सर्व त्वं गांगते शिवे! त्वमेव मूल-प्रकृतिस्त्वं पुमान् पर एव हि।।

गंगे त्वं परमात्मा च, शिवस्तुभ्यं नमः शिवे।।

।।फल-श्रुति।।
य इदं पठते स्तोत्रं, श्रृणुयाच्छ्रद्धयाऽपि यः। दशधा मुच्यते पापैः, काय-वाक्-चित्त-सम्भवैः।।

रोगस्थो रोगतो मुच्येद्, विपद्भ्यश्च विपद्-युतः। मुच्यते बन्धनाद् बद्धो, भीतो भीतेः प्रमुच्यते।

10 Factors essential to observe Ganga Dasara

The Shukla Dashami of Jyeshta becomes even more pious for Ganga Dasara if Naksatra (Star) is Hasta Nakshatra and it is on a Mangalavara (Tuesday) and if 10 yogas confluence on the day. Maximum factors that confluence more the beneficial impact of the day. Please note all factor may not confluence.

1. Jyeshta Maasa
2. Shukla Paksha
3. Dashami Tithi
4. Mangalavara/Budhavara
5. Hasta Nakshatra
6. Garaja Karana
7. Vyatipata Yoga
8. Moon in Kanya Rashi
9. Surya in Vrishabha Rashi
10. Ananda Yoga

10 Types of Sins Ganga Snana Absolves

Through Body

1. Taking what is not deserved
2. Cruelty
3. Coveting other Women

Through Words

1. Acrimonious Words
2. Lying
3. Complaining
4. Gossip

Through Mind

1. Thought of usurping someone else’s belongings
2. Evil Thoughts
3. Greedy Thoughts

Puja Vidhana

If you have Ganga Jala (Water) from Kashi, Rishikesh, Hardwar or any other place, it is better to use it for Kalasha Sthapana and Avahana (invitation). With utmost devotion, pray to Maa Ganga and install the Kalasha with Ganga Jala in a clean place. In case it is not available, use any clean water for the same. It is believed that doing everything in counts of 10 is recommended: 10 dips in River, 10 types of Pushpa (flowers), 10 types of Patra (leaves), 10 types of fruits for Naivedya, Chanting of all stotrams 10 times, Anna-daana for 10 couples etc.

Namami Gange, Jai Maa Gange