Gangotri Dham

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Overview

Gangotri Dham, located at an elevation of 3,100 meters (approx.) atop the Himalayan range in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, occupies a particular place in the hearts of Hindus. It is one of Uttarakhand’s four sacred and essential pilgrimage destinations during the Chota Char Dham Yatra. Amidst the natural beauty and grace that the mountains and altitude of the area provide, what distinguishes Gangotri as one of the holiest destinations is its close relationship with the River Ganga (the Ganges).

Ganga Maa (mother), the Hindu deity, originates from the Gangotri glacier at Gaumukh, about 18 km from Gangotri town. It is claimed that Goddess Ganga came to Earth to cleanse King Bhagirathi’s forefathers of their sins. The Ganga River has been regarded as a sacred source of purity since the dawn of mythology to date, by humanity. Going for religious tour to Gangotri is part of religious obligation and a spiritual mission of some sort.

The legend behind the Gangotri Dham

Bhagirath’s Penance

According to mythology, King Sagara, King Bhagirath’s great grandfather, slew all of the demons on earth. He planned to hold an Ashwamedha Yagna to proclaim his sovereignty. During the yagna, a horse was intended to be set free to travel between empires indefinitely. Indra, the ultimate monarch, feared that if the yagna was completed, he would lose his celestial throne. Using his divine powers, he seized the horse and quietly tied it in Sage Kapila’s ashram, where he was deep in meditation.

As soon as King Sagara’s agents saw they had lost track of the horse, he assigned the duty of tracking it to his 60,000 sons. The king’s sons, in their search for the horse that was lost, had Sage Kapila through whose meditation place they came upon. They found him tied right next to sage and invaded his ashram where they allege that he had stolen the horse.

The sage Kapila’s meditation was broken, and in his rage, he transformed his 60,000 sons into ashes with a single tremendous glance. He also cursed that their souls would only achieve Moksha if their ashes were cleansed by the sacred waters of the Ganga, which was then a river situated in heaven. It is stated that Bhagirath, King Sagara’s grandson, undertook strict penance for 1000 years in order to release his forefathers and persuade Ganga to descend to earth. Finally, his efforts paid off, and the River Ganga was delighted with his devotion and prepared to descend to Earth.

The Story of River Ganga

Another legend says that when the River Ganga agreed to come to earth in response to Bhagirath’s prayers, its intensity was so great that the entire earth would have been drowned. Lord Shiva captured the River Ganga in his locks to save the globe from destruction. Bhagirath pondered for an extended period of time to appease Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva saw Bhagirath’s enormous devotion, he was pleased and released River Ganga in the shape of three streams, one of which descended to earth and became known as the Bhagirathi River.

 When Ganga’s water reached the ashes of Bhagirath’s ancestors, the 60,000 sons awoke from eternal rest. The stone on which Bhagirath is said to have pondered is known as the Bhagirath Shila, and it is near to the Gangotri Temple.

Mythologies behind River Ganga’s Birth

According to one mythological tale, Ganga was a vivacious, beautiful woman born from Lord Brahma’s Kamandalu (water vessel). There are two versions of her birth story. According to legend, Lord Brahma collected this water in his Kamandalu while washing Lord Vishnu’s feet after Lord Vishnu liberated the universe from the demon Bali in his reincarnation as Vaman.

According to another tale, Ganga came down to earth in the form of a human and wedded King Shantanu, an ancestor of the Pandavs from the Mahabharata. She is said to have given birth to seven sons, which she threw into the river for unknown reasons. Her eighth child, Bheeshma, was spared thanks to King Shantanu’s intercession. Ganga left him. Bheeshma later played an important role in the Mahabharata, the ancient epic.

WHAT TO SEE AT GANGOTRI DHAM?

Gangotri Temple

The simple house of Maa Ganga, located beside the Bhagirathi River, is a vision of serenity. The famous temple, located in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, is one of four pilgrimages on the Garhwal Himalayas’ Chota Char Dham circuit. Mother Ganga can be found in the white temple building as a little silver idol. The breathtaking Himalayan mountain range and the flowing Bhagirathi at its side provide an ideal setting for worshipping the life-giving, gentle yet strong deity. Before entering the main shrine, pilgrims must bathe in the pious river’s crystal clear waters.

As the winter season approaches the mountain region, Goddess Ganga prepares to leave for the Mukhyamath temple in Mukhba hamlet, 20 kilometers downstream. The transfer occurs on the auspicious day of Diwali (October/November), surrounded by Vedic mantras and elaborates rituals. On the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya (April/May), the Goddess is brought back to the Gangotri temple with renewed delight and fervor.

Underwater Shivling

A Shivling built of natural rock is immersed in water and visible in the winter when the water recedes. It is supposed that Lord Shiva sat there while tying Ganga in his matted hair. Shiva protected the world from Devi Ganga’s enormous energy by dividing it into seven streams.

Gaumukh and Tapovan

A hike full with stunning and high peaks around will take you to the sacred origin of Gennai River at Gaumukh. Also, Tapovan is another possible route for trekking, which is about 4 kilometers away from Gaumukh. In addition to its streams and waterfalls, Tapovan has a variety of natural meadows with beautiful flowers from which there are great views over the whole area with mountains like Shivling and Bhagirathi being on sight. Tapovan also serves as a base camp for a number of mountaineering tours.

Bhairon Nath Temple, Bhairon Ghati

The temple of Bhairon Nath is located about 10 km downstream from Gangotri, around the point where the Jadh Ganga (also known as the Jhanvi River) meets with the Bhagirathi. According to tradition, Bhairon Nath was appointed by Lord Shiva to protect the region. And after seeing the Gangotri temple, travel to the Bhairon temple.
Moving roughly 3 km from Bhairon Ghati, one can visit Lanka Chatti to see one of the region’s tallest river bridges; the bridge across the River Jhanvi is quite a sight in its own right.

How to reach Gangotri Dham?

Best time to visit Gangotri Dham

The optimum times to visit the Gangotri temple are April/May to June and September to October/November.
Gangotri is frigid virtually all year, although the ideal months to visit are April-June and September-October. Summers here are nice, and it is also the best time to visit Gangotri Dham. Monsoons bring severe rains, making travel more challenging. Winters here are extremely cold, with heavy snowfall making the temperature unbearable.

Conclusion

It is important for Hindus in India to understand that the Gangotri dham is significant place of pilgrimage. There are legends and interesting events in the past that add to its fame. It has both spiritual significance and breathtakingly beautiful settings, complete with snow-capped mountains and abundant foliage. Whenever you plan regarding a trip to India, please do not leave out Gangotri dham from the list of places that ought to be visited; it will certainly remain irreplaceable among the other things that you will see or witness leading to the end of your holiday.

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