How is my sins washed away by bathing in the river Ganga (Ganges)?
The Ganges are mentioned in the Rig-Veda, the earliest of the Hindu scriptures. It appears in the Nadistuti sukta (Rig Veda 10.75), which lists the rivers from east to west. It is believed that the Ganga descended from the heavens to wash away the sins of all mankind. The mythological story of Bhagiratha explains how this is made possible. According to Hindu religion a very famous King Bhagiratha did Tapasya for many years constantly to bring the river Ganga, then residing in the Heavens, down on the Earth to find salvation for his ancestors, who were cursed by a seer. Therefore, Ganga descended to the Earth through the lock of hair (Jata) of Lord Shiva to make whole earth pious, fertile and wash out the sins of humans. For Hindus in India, the Ganga is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more. Ganga is considered as a bridge between Earth and Heaven and it is believed that anyone who bathes in the river will be released from the cycle of rebirths.
