History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c75.342

v5.c75.342

Gaṅgā (Ganges) 585-596, G and Kurukṣetra were the most sacred spots acc. to Manu 587, as long as a particle of the bones of a man lies inside the G so long does the man remain happy in heaven 586, casting of the ashes of a cremated person in the Ganges 594-595; countries, hermitages, mountains through which G flows are pre-eminent in purity 586, defining the extent of the kṣetra of G, the tīra (bank) and the garbha 589-90; derivation of word 'Gaṅgā' 589; eulogy of, in Viṣṇu-purāṇa 587-588, four different streams of G. in four directions 587, grand eulogy of, in Vanaparva chap. 85 verses 86-97, 586, G. does not forsake even the most sinful or wicked man 589, G. is equal to all the 35 millions of holy places declared by Vāyu, says Kūrma 588; G. water and residence thereon are said to be superior to Vedic sacrifices, *tapas*, and *yoga*, since they yield heaven and mokṣa 588, G represents Viṣṇu who represents all gods 589; God Nārāyaṇa is the owner of the strip of land within four cubits from the flowing water of G. 590, interpretation of the story of Gayāsura by Mitra, O'Malley and Barua 359-360; invocation of the clay in the bed of G. 591-592, kṣetra extends to two krośas on each bank of G. 590; mantras to be recited at the time of a bath in the Ganges 594; mūlamantra about G. 589, names of the seven streams of the G. 587; no tonsure on, according to Vācaspatimiśra 575, on G. all times are auspicious and all men are fit for receiving gifts 589, one thousand names of, in Skandapurāṇa, Kāśīkhaṇḍa, chap. 29, 565, procedure of a bath in the G prescribed by Matsyapurāṇa chapter 102 for all varṇas and all students of the several vedas, 591-594, Purāṇas contain hundreds of verses eulogising the sanctifying activity and greatness of, 585, Purāṇas say that G springs from toe nail of Viṣṇu and that Śiva let it off from his matted hair in seven streams 587; residence on the bank itself of G. is not desired 590, saṅkalpa to be made at time of bathing in G. 590n; some purāṇas say that the G is easy of access everywhere except at three places *viz* Gaṅgādvāra, Prayāga and where it joins the sea 588, special merit accumulated by bath in the Ganges on certain days 596, supposed to flow in heaven as Mandākinī, on the earth as Ganges and in Pātāla as Bhogavatī 587, *tarpaṇa* on G. after one bathes with water for the gratification of the three worlds 592, waters of, burn all bad deeds 586; waters of, are white, while those of Yamunā are dark 596n