GANGA DUSSEHRA VRATA Significance - This vrata is performed from Jyeshtha Masa Prathipade to Dashami (Dussehra). In these 10 days, there are 10 yogas. Among them, Dashami and Vyathipaath are important. Coincidently if there are 2 Dashamis, Vrata must be performed on the one which has more Yoga ● Jaysta Masa ● Dashami Thithi ● Shukla Paksha ● Bhudavara ● Hasta Nakshatra ● Vyathipaath ● Garajakarana ● Nanda Thithi ● Chandra in Kanya Rashi ● Ravi in Vrashabha Rashi Jyeshtha Masa Shukla Paksha Dashami was the day when Ganga incarnated on Earth and answered Bhagirathi’s prayers. Therefore, it is also called as Bhagirathi Jayanthi. On Jyeshtha Masa Dashami Hastha Nakshatra, chanting Ganga Stotra and taking bath in the river Gange or otherwise taking bath in any other river and splashing a few drops of the water of holy Ganges during or after bath is very auspicious. If that is not possible, then chant Ganga Sthotra while taking bath at home. Ganga Stotra – tasyaaM dashamyaamEtacca stOtraM gaMgaajalE sthitaH | paThEstu dashakRutvastu daridrO vaapi caakShamaH || sO&pi tatphalamaapnOti gaMgaaM saMpoojya yatnataH | <b>gaMgeya dwaadasha naamagaLu - <-b> nalinee, naMdinI, seetaa, maalatee, ca malaapahaa | viShNu paadaabja saMbhootaa gaMgaa, tripathagaaminI || bhaageerathI, bhOgavatI, jaahnavI, tridashEshwarI | dwaadashaitaani naamaani yatrayata jalaashayE || snaanakaalE paThan martyaH tatra tatra vasaamyaham | nalinee, naMdinI, seetaa, maalatee, ca malaapahaa | GANGA DUSSEHRA VRATA viShNu paadaabja saMbhootaa gaMgaa, tripathagaaminI || bhaageerathI, bhOgavatI, jaahnavI, tridashEshwarI | dwaadashaitaani naamaani yatrayata jalaashayE || snaanakaalE paThan martyaH tatra tatra vasaamyaham | How to Celebrate – The festival's name Dussehra is derived from 'Dus' which connotes ten and ' hara' which means defeat. Thus, the name Ganga Dusshera. Therefore, 10 is a significant number 1. On Dashami day, perform Pooja to Ganga Thali or a Kalasha filled with Arishina, Kumkuma and Mantrakshathe following Ganga aavaahana . 2. Perform Gange pooja by offering Arishina, Kumkuma, Gejjevastra, flower, Deepa, dhoopa…etc 3. Udithumbabeku to Ganga – Arishina, Kumkuma, Flowers, Bangles, Blouse Piece, Pan Leaves, Beetal nut, Fruits or Coconut, Rice, Dakshine 4. Do Nevidya of 11 fruits (Mangoes) 5. Then perform Arati 6. Do 10 Pradakshina Namaskara 7. Give Brahmana 10 fruits, Pan Leaves, Beetal Nut and Dakshine. Keep one mango prasada for your family. 8. To Muthaide Udithumbabeku by giving Arishina, Kumkuma, Flower, Bangles, Blouse piece, white rice, Coconut, ( if possiable give Ganga Thal), Lemonaid (Panaka), Kosamberi, Bananas and other fruits On this day, one should not only perform Ganga Pooja but should also remember Bhagiratha. Story – Once Surya Vamsha Raja Sagara performed an Ashwamedh yagya and freed the horses involved with the yaga. His 60 thousand sons ran behind the horses. However, King Indra wanted this yaga to be unsuccessful and therefore, hid the horse in Saint Kapila’s ashrama. This was also a trick of devatas to distract Saint Kapila’s penance (tapassu) so he doesn’t become stronger. King Sagar’s sons found that the horse was tied to the back of Saint Kapila GANGA DUSSEHRA VRATA and thought that it was stolen by Saint Kapila. They attacked Saint Kapila and started disturbing his penance. Annoyed at being disturbed, he opened his eyes. All the 60,000 sons of King Sagar were burnt to ashes. Time passed and one day, the grandson of Sagara came to Saint Kapila and asked for forgiveness on behalf of his uncles and asked for their Moksha. Saint Kapila said if you make Ganga to flow over the ash, they will get Moksha. So many generations failed to bring Ganga to earth. The sins of the 60,000 ancestors increased day by day. Due to increased sin, the kingdom started to suffer from injustice, drought, lawlessness. The great grandson Sagara the Bhageeratha came. It was difficult for him to rule the Kingdom. He had no peace, or ease. King Bhagiratha then gave his kingdom to his minister and went to the Himalayas to do penance for 1000 years. Lord Brahma, impressed with his devotion blessed him but warned him of the river Ganga’s rapid flow, which could even lead to destruction. Bhagiratha did penance to Lord Shiva for one more year. Impressed with his devotion, Lord Shiva agreed to decrease the flow of river Ganga through his hair. He withheld the river’s force and directed it towards Earth. While flowing down on Earth, River Ganga destroyed Sage Janhu’s asylum and in anger he does aposhana( he drinks the whole Ganga river ). Bhagiratha asked for Sage Janhu to let the river Ganga flow and to help get his ancestors Moksha. Upon requesting Bhagiratha, Sage Janhu left the river Ganga from his right ear. Therefore, River Ganga is also known as Janhavi. Due to Bhagiratha’s effort, River Ganga flowed on Earth and on the ashes of his ancestors, who then reached Moksha. Therefore, river Ganga is also called Bhaageerathi. Not only should Ganga be prayed on this day, but one should also remember King Bhagiratha . When we are working, when we are thinking, when we are talking, we commit ten types sins. As a result of doing Pooja and giving Daana, all those sins will be washed away. || Shree Krishnaarpanamastu || .