Gaṇgā Sagar Snāna Mela (bathing in Gaṇgā)

[Paramananda das]

Gaṇgā Sagar Snāna Mela (bathing in Gaṇgā)
was yesterday so in many places will bath in Ganga from Nepal down to Bay of Bengal where Ganga meets the Ocean :
Ganga Snan -5 l Holy Snan l Baths in Gangasagar l Bath in Debghat Nepal Haridwar I Kumbh Mela - YouTube

Even a Company that sells Ganges water for this Occasion I keep Ganges water here and try to put on my head daily or as much I remember to put
Gangasagar Mela - The Biggest Pilgrimage Fair of Eastern India

Srila Sankacarya used to say even a little Ganges water daily and read Bhagavad Gita will free us from Samsara

As you might recall from reading Srimad Bhagavatam Lord Kapila was meditating and the sons of King Sagara attacked Lord Kapila thinking he had taken the Sacrificial horse, they were burned to ashes due to their offenses, Lord Narasimha can also burn anyone to ashes simply by His glance, Lord Kapila did not even have to look at them still they burned to ashes so King Bhagiratha finally managed to bring Ganga to Earth ,so were Ganga and the Ocean meets is a big Mela daily to honor how Ganga was brought by Bhagiratha and deliver the 60,000 sons of King Sagara Maharaja by the holy Ganges touching their ashes so they went back to Godhead simply by touching Ganges water

if you have never been to Ganga Sagara I would advise it I once went with a devotee Vaikuntanath Prabhu and it was worth the long journey from Calcutta by bus.

I found this by one devotee very nice compilations :

Srila Prabhupada explains Ganga Sagara Mela

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 3: “The Status Quo” : SB 3.33: Activities of Kapila : SB 3.33.34 : PURPORT :
It is understood that Kapila Muni first went towards the Himalayas and traced the course of the River Ganges, and He again came to the delta of the Ganges at the sea now known as the Bay of Bengal. The ocean gave Him residence at a place still known as Gaṅgā-sāgara, where the River Ganges meets the sea. That place is called Gaṅgā-sāgara-tīrtha, and even today people gather there to offer respects to Kapiladeva, the original author of the Sāṅkhya system of philosophy. Unfortunately, this Sāṅkhya system has been misrepresented by an imposter who is also named Kapila, but that other system of philosophy does not tally with anything described in the Sāṅkhya of Kapila in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,

Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order” : SB 4.29: Talks Between Narada and King Pracinabarhi : SB 4.29.81 : PURPORT :
Śrīdhara Svāmī informs us that Kapilāśrama is located at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal, a place known now as Gaṅgā-sāgara. This place is still famous as a place of pilgrimage, and many millions of people gather there every year on the day of Makara-saṅkrānti and take bath. It is called Kapilāśrama because of Lord Kapila’s living there to perform His austerities and penances. Lord Kapila propounded the Sāṅkhya system of philosophy.
Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 5: “The Creative Impetus” : SB 5.17: The Descent of the River Ganges : SB 5.17.9 : PURPORT :
The place where the Ganges flows into the salt water of the Bay of Bengal is still known as Gaṅgā-sāgara, or the meeting place of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. On Makara-saṅkrānti, in the month of January–February, thousands of people still go there to bathe, hoping to be liberated. That they can actually be liberated in this way is confirmed herein. For those who bathe in the Ganges at any time, the results of great sacrifices like the Aśvamedha and Rājasūya yajñas are not at all difficult to achieve. Most people in India are still inclined to bathe in the Ganges, and there are many places where they can do so. At Prayāga (Allahabad), many thousands of people gather during the month of January to bathe in the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā. Afterward, many of them go to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Ganges to take bath there. Thus it is a special facility for all the people of India that they can bathe in the water of the Ganges at so many places of pilgrimage
Srila Prabhupāda: [break] Any circumstances, they can adjust. [break] Oh, Gaṅgā–sāgara.
Devotee: Yes. That’s on the fourteenth, tomorrow.
Srila Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Hare Kṛṣṇa. [break] …stand where there is water then they will manage everything. Water must be there.
Devotee:: [break] …Americans to live like this is totally impossible. They’d have to commit suicide. If they can’t find the bathroom they won’t know what to do. They have to pass stool. But water won’t concern them because they don’t bother bathing. They need a toilet, though.
Srila Prabhupāda: [break] …for taking bath in the junction of Ganges and the sea. Just see how people are enthusiastic, coming from long, long distance, Gaṅgā–sāgara. Gangā means Ganges, and sāgara means the sea. [break] …it means they keep their lota, you see. [break] …bathing in this cold water.
Devotee: [break] …they’d be bothered by the boats being here.
Srila Prabhupāda: Huh?
Devotee: They don’t seem to be bothered by these boats.
Srila Prabhupāda: No. No. [break] …childhood I was taking bath. I used to come with my mother. She took bath; I also took bath.Conversations : 1976 Conversations : January, 1976 : Morning Walk — January 12, 1976,
Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations” : SB 8.18: Lord Vamanadeva, the Dwarf Incarnation : SB 8.18.28 : PURPORT :
Lord Śiva is known as Gaṅgā-dhara, or one who carries the water of the Ganges on his head. On Lord Śiva’s forehead is the emblem of the half-moon, yet to give supreme respect to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śiva placed the water of the Ganges above this emblem. This example should be followed by everyone, or at least by every devotee, because Lord Śiva is one of the mahājanas. Similarly, Mahārāja Bali also later became a mahājana. One mahājana follows another mahājana, and by following the paramparā system of mahājana activities one can become advanced in spiritual consciousness. The water of the Ganges is sanctified because it emanates from the toe of Lord Viṣṇu. Bali Mahārāja washed the lotus feet of Vāmanadeva, and the water with which he did so became equal to the Ganges. Bali Mahārāja, who perfectly knew all religious principles, therefore took that water on his head, following in the footsteps of Lord Śiva.
Books : Srimad-Bhagavatam : Canto 9: “Liberation” : SB 9.22: The Descendants of Ajamidha : SB 9.22 Summary :
The sons of Pratīpa were Devāpi, Śāntanu and Bāhlīka. When Devāpi retired to the forest, his younger brother Śāntanu became the king. Although Śāntanu, being younger, was not eligible to occupy the throne, he disregarded his elder brother. Consequently, there was no rainfall for twelve years. Following the advice of the brāhmaṇas, Śāntanu was ready to return the kingdom to Devāpi, but by the intrigue of Śāntanu’s minister, Devāpi became unfit to be king. Therefore Śāntanu resumed charge of the kingdom, and rain fell properly during his regime. By mystic power, Devāpi still lives in the village known as Kalāpa-grāma. In this Kali-yuga, when the descendants of Soma known as the candra-vaṁśa (the lunar dynasty) die out, Devāpi, at the beginning of Satya-yuga, will reestablish the dynasty of the moon. The wife of Śāntanu named Gaṅgā gave birth to Bhīṣma, one of the twelve authorities. Two sons named Citrāṅgada and Vicitravīrya were also born from the womb of Satyavatī by the semen of Śāntanu, and Vyāsadeva was born from Satyavatī by the semen of Parāśara, Vyāsadeva instructed the history of the Bhāgavatam to his son Śukadeva. Through the womb of the two wives and the maidservant of Vicitravīrya, Vyāsadeva begot Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu and Vidura.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 17: The Lord Travels to Vrndavana : Madhya 17.86 : PURPORT :
This Bindu Mādhava is the oldest Viṣṇu temple in Vārāṇasī. Presently this temple is known as Veṇī Mādhava, and it is situated on the banks of the Ganges. Formerly five rivers converged there, and they were named Dhūtapāpā, Kiraṇā, Sarasvatī, Gaṅgā and Yamunā. Now only the River Ganges is visible. The old temple of Bindu Mādhava, which was visited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was later dismantled by Aurangzeb, the great Hindu-hating emperor of the Mogul dynasty. In the place of this temple, he constructed a big majīda, or mosque. Later, another temple was constructed by the side of the mosque, and this temple is still existing. In the temple of Bindu Mādhava there are Deities of four-handed Nārāyaṇa and the goddess Lakṣmī. In front of these Deities is a column of Śrī Garuḍa, and along the side are deities of Lord Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Śrī Hanumānjī.
māgha-māsa lāgila, ebe yadi yāiye
makare prayāga-snāna kata dina pāiye
SYNONYMS

māgha–māsa lāgila—the month of Māgha has begun; ebe—now; yadi—if; yāiye—we go; makare—during the Makara-saṅkrānti; prayāga–snāna—bathing at Prayāga; kata dina—for a few days; pāiye—we shall get.
TRANSLATION

“It is now the beginning of the month of Māgha. If we go to Prayāga at this time, we shall have an opportunity to bathe for a few days during Makara-saṅkrānti.”
PURPORT
Bathing during the month of Māgha at Māgha–melā still takes place. This has been a very old melā (assembly) from time immemorial. It is said that the Lord in the form of Mohinī took a bucket of nectar and kept it at Prayāga. Consequently Māgha–melā has been observed, and there is an assembly of holy men there every year. Every twelfth year there is a Kumbha–melā, a great festival, and all the holy men from all over India assemble there. The brāhmaṇa wanted to take advantage of the Māgha–melā and bathe there.
Bathing at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā near the fort at Allahabad, Prayāga, is mentioned in revealed scriptures:
māghe māsi gamiṣyanti
gaṅgā-yāmuna-saṅgamam
gavāṁ śata-sahasrasya
samyag dattaṁ ca yat-phalam
prayāge māgha-māse vai
tryahaṁ snātasya tat-phalam
“If one goes to Prayāga and bathes at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā in the month of Māgha, he attains the result of giving hundreds and thousands of cows in charity. Simply by bathing for three days there, he attains the results of such a pious activity.” Because of this, the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa was very eager to go to Prayāga and bathe. Generally karmīs (fruitive laborers) take advantage of bathing there during the month of Māgha, thinking that they will be rewarded in the future. Those who are situated in devotional service do not very strictly follow this karma–kāṇḍīya process. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 18: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Sri Vrndavana : Madhya 18.145
ectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 3: Lectures : SB 3.26: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.4 — Bombay, December 16, 1974 : 741216SB.BOM : Arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matir vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ. These things are forbidden. You cannot… Arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīḥ. Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu, the same thing—if you think that this mūrti is made of stone, śilā-dhīḥ, or Śālagrāma-śilā, if you think it is śilā or stone, this is nārakī-buddhiḥ. This is not recommended. It is… Don’t think. Arcye viṣṇau śilā-dhīr guruṣu nara-matiḥ. And those who are guru, spiritual master, Vaiṣṇava, if you think of them that he is ordinary human being, that is forbidden. Gāṅga-jala or caraṇāmṛta, if you think ordinary water, that is forbidden. Vaiṣṇave jāti-buddhiḥ. Vaiṣṇava, who has become devotee of Kṛṣṇa, if you think that he belongs to this caste, he belongs to that caste, that is also forbidden. Nārakī-buddhiḥ. These things are nārakī-buddhiḥ. At least, those who do not know how Kṛṣṇa can be transcendental in all His features… Therefore we are forbidden, “Don’t take like that.” It is a fact that this Kṛṣṇa in this temple is the same origin Kṛṣṇa who is in the Vaikuṇṭha, but because we have no eyes to see, because we are not mature to see Kṛṣṇa, therefore we should accept this, I mean to say, negation, that “Don’t think like that.” Then we will be able to understand
Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures : Canto 5: Lectures : SB 5.5: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.3 — Vrndavana, October 25, 1976 : 761025SB.VRN :
So these mahātmās, tyāgīs. Generally, they are sannyāsīs. And so far other mahātmās also, it does not mean only the sannyāsī can be mahātmā. No. Gṛhasthas also can be mahātmā. How gṛhasthas can be mahātmās, that is explained in the next verse: ye vā mayīśe kṛta-sauhṛdārthā. His only business is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is… Otherwise, here it is said, jāyātmaja-rātimatsu gṛheṣu. He has no interest in so-called family life, wife, children, friends, and nationality. No. Ye vā mayīśe kṛta-sauhṛdārthā. Only interest is how to please Kṛṣṇa. Such person, he is also mahātmā. Not that only the mahātmās who are renounced order. There are gṛhasthas also. Just like Advaita Ācārya, He was gṛhastha. He became very, very sorry that people are so much suffering. “It is not in My power to elevate them. Unless Kṛṣṇa personally comes, it is not possible.” Therefore He offered to Lord Viṣṇu Gaṅgā-jāl, tulasī, praying, “Please come. People are very much suffering. So if You come…” And on His request Kṛṣṇa came in the form of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. So it is not that a gṛhastha cannot be mahātmā. There are many mahātmās
Conversations : 1977 Conversations : January, 1977 : Evening Darsana — January 23, 1977, Bhuvanesvara : 770123ed.bhu :
Prabhupāda: He started this rajya hope: “We must have our own in hand.”(?) So he was a very big man, barrister. One, his friend, he was also brāhmaṇa. So he felt it, and he was taking daily Gaṇgā-snāna. So this, his friend, Mr. Bannerjee, he came to see him, that “You bring one doctor.” He refused: “No, I don’t want. I’ll drink this Ganges water.” So he never took any help from the brāhmaṇas. But simply drinking Ganges water cured. And in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam also it is stated, nārtasya cāgadam udanvati majjato nauḥ, tāvad vibho tanu-bhrtāṁ tvad-upekṣitānām [SB 7.9.19]. A doctor medicine is not actually cure. Unless…. If somebody is neglected, denounced by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, any amount of medicine or good physician will not be able to cure. Father, mother, is not the shelter of the children. The things are described in the Bhāgavatam.
Conversations : 1976 Conversations : July, 1976 : Evening Darsana — July 8, 1976, Washington, D.C. : 760708ed.wdc :
Prabhupāda: In this country or that country, there is no such distinction. This patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam, any country you can get it. You cannot say in America there is no patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyam, in India only. No. Everywhere it is available. Therefore this general prescription is there. Even Kṛṣṇa does not say Gaṅgā-jala. Because Gaṅgā, if you say Gaṅgā-jala, that is available in India. He says toyam, any jala, any water. Because any water, as soon as touches the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, it becomes Gaṅgā. Why Gaṅgā is so adored? Because it is coming from the toes of Kṛṣṇa. So any water touching Kṛṣṇa’s toes, that becomes Gaṅgā.

Conversations : 1976 Conversations : January, 1976 : Morning Walk — January 12, 1976, Bombay : 760112mw.bom :
Prabhupāda: [break] …for taking bath in the junction of Ganges and the sea. Just see how people are enthusiastic, coming from long, long distance, Gaṅgā-sāgara. Gangā means Ganges, and sāgara means the sea. [break] …it means they keep their lota, you see. [break] …bathing in this cold water.
ArticlesSrila Prabhupada explains Ganga Sagara Mela, Yasoda nandana Dasa