Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.116

c7.116

12) Greatness (divine nature) of Gaṅgā. Mahābhārata has (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 26), the following on the greatness of Gaṅgā.— If, after death, the bones of the dead are deposited in Gaṅgā the departed will attain heaven. Even if one had sinned throughout his life he would attain Viṣṇupāda (heaven) if he worshipped Gaṅgā. Bathing in the Gaṅgā is as beneficial as performing hundred yajñas. As long as the bones of one remain in the waters of the Gaṅgā so long will he occupy an honourable seat in heaven. He who has come in contact with its water will shine forth as the sun devoid of all darkness. Places which are not favoured by its waters will become barren like night without the moon and trees without flowers. Gaṅgā water is more than enough to satisfy living things in all the three worlds. He who does penance standing on one leg for thousand years, and he who gives up his body in the waters of the Gaṅgā are on a par with each other. God attaches more importance to him who has fallen into the Gaṅgā than to him, who has performed tapas hanging by his head for a thousand years. He who smears the sand on the banks of the Gaṅgā on his body will get the lustre and glow of the devas, and he, who smears the sand on his head will shine forth like the Sun. All the sins of those on whom has blown the air which had come in contact with Gaṅgā water will be swept away. It should be known that Gaṅgā water can wash off all sins and purify mortals. The Agni Purāṇa (Chapter 110) has the following on this subject.