Sarga-44
Offering libations to the departed with holy water of Ganga 1.44.1-19
This suggests that bathing in the Ganga and offering libations to the ancestors can be done by anyone in the family for their souls. This is narrated extensively in the Mahabharatha and the Vishnupurana. [The commentary consists of these lengthy quotations, which are translated below].
In ‘Anushasana’ on Yudhishthira’s query Bhishma replies: “Those countries, towns, hermitages and mountains are the holiest through which passes the great river, Ganga. People whose bodies are sanctified by the holy water of Ganga when alive or whose mortal remains are deposited into Ganga after death attain and retain their heavenly abode. Sinners who resort to the holy river attain heaven. A person retains heaven for as many thousand years as his bones lie in the Ganga. Drinking the water of Ganga heated by the Sun is better than even drinking gruel made of barley-grains collected from cow dung. (a means of subsistence known as unchhavritti). [In the Mahabharata Bhishma answers Yudhishthira’s query by quoting a dialogue between a Siddha and a brahmin, Shilavritti by name. The latter is addressed here through the vocative]. The sins of one bathing in Ganga are totally destroyed like cotton in fire. Resorting to Ganga may save the wretched overcome by the worst evils. The arrogant become holy on resorting to Ganga. As hungry children take refuge in their mothers, people longing for happiness resort to Ganga. Sprinkled by the sand, smeared with the mud on the bank of Ganga acquires the brilliance of the sun capable of dispelling darkness. When the breeze drenched with the waves of Ganga touches a person, it absorbs all his sins instantly. By a look, touch or bath in the water of Ganga, a person saves himself as well as six generations before and after him and even beyond. Ganga saves the families of both the father and the mother of a person just by hearing about her, longing for her, sipping or touching her holy water, looking at her or by bathing in her. Whosoever wishes to make his birth, life or sacred knowledge fruitful should offer libations to his ancestors on the banks of Ganga with her holy water. The highest merit one acquires by taking refuge in Ganga can never be obtained through sons, wealth or righteous deeds. Who will not surrender himself to Ganga, the sole refuge of persons retired to the forests, householders, ascetics, celibates and the learned? Sankara held in his matted hair this great holy Ganga as she fell from heaven. By offering heaven to the sons of Sagara reduced to ashes on earth, the fame of Ganga spread in the whole universe as a great purifier. She is magnanimous, swift and unfathomable. Those who abandon their bodies in her vicinity acquire for themselves the status equal to the gods. Even saying, “This is Ganga”, ensures a permanent place of honour. She is the mother of Guha and origin of gold. By bathing in her holy water in the morning one acquires the fruit of the three aims of life (dharma, artha and kama).
In the Visnupurana also Ganga is similarly glorified.
Thus this is Visnu’s third and the best cause of creation, the holy support for the three worlds. From it originates the river Ganga coloured by the anointment applied by the divine ladies to their bodies, the destroyer of all sins. It springs from the nail of the left big toe of Visnu and Siva supports her on his head, night and day, most devoutly. The seven great sages perform their pranayam supported by her waves in his matted hair. The Moon on his head shines bright and beautiful continuously sprinkled by the river stream. [The word ahahkshyayam it could be a misprint for ahahkshapam] After falling on Meru with a loud thud, the river sprang out of the Moon and for purification of the world flowed in four directions. It is the same river called by different names like Sita, Alaknanda, Chakshu and Bhadra on account of her flowing in different directions in different speed. Siva held on his head for hundred of years the stream named Alaknanda marked by her association with him. Coming out of Siva’s matted hair the river wetted the ashes of Sagara’s sons and opened the doors of heaven for them. After bathing in her water, sins vanish in no time. Sons, who with full faith offer libations to their ancestors on her banks, receive rare gratification that lasts for full three years. Brahmins and others who performed sacrifices here on her banks for Purusottama, the lord of sacrifices, were rewarded by immense affluence. Ascetics, devoted to Keshava, have washed away all their sins by bathing in her and have attained final liberation. Hearing about her, longing for her, seeing or touching her, drinking her water or bathing in it and even muttering her name day after day, sanctifies thousands. Those who mutter the name ‘Ganga’ repeatedly get rid of their sins accumulated over three births, although they are hundreds of miles away from her. Though this holy river is the very origin of the three worlds springing from the foot of the lord, she is still the third holy place of the Lord”.
Sarga-44
Offering libations to the departed with holy water of Ganga 1.44.1-19
This suggests that bathing in the Ganga and offering libations to the ancestors can be done by anyone in the family for their souls. This is narrated extensively in the Mahabharatha and the Vishnupurana. [The commentary consists of these lengthy quotations, which are translated below].
In ‘Anushasana’ on Yudhishthira’s query Bhishma replies: “Those countries, towns, hermitages and mountains are the holiest through which passes the great river, Ganga. People whose bodies are sanctified by the holy water of Ganga when alive or whose mortal remains are deposited into Ganga after death attain and retain their heavenly abode. Sinners who resort to the holy river attain heaven. A person retains heaven for as many thousand years as his bones lie in the Ganga. Drinking the water of Ganga heated by the Sun is better than even drinking gruel made of barley-grains collected from cow dung. (a means of subsistence known as unchhavritti). [In the Mahabharata Bhishma answers Yudhishthira’s query by quoting a dialogue between a Siddha and a brahmin, Shilavritti by name. The latter is addressed here through the vocative]. The sins of one bathing in Ganga are totally destroyed like cotton in fire. Resorting to Ganga may save the wretched overcome by the worst evils. The arrogant become holy on resorting to Ganga. As hungry children take refuge in their mothers, people longing for happiness resort to Ganga. Sprinkled by the sand, smeared with the mud on the bank of Ganga acquires the brilliance of the sun capable of dispelling darkness. When the breeze drenched with the waves of Ganga touches a person, it absorbs all his sins instantly. By a look, touch or bath in the water of Ganga, a person saves himself as well as six generations before and after him and even beyond. Ganga saves the families of both the father and the mother of a person just by hearing about her, longing for her, sipping or touching her holy water, looking at her or by bathing in her. Whosoever wishes to make his birth, life or sacred knowledge fruitful should offer libations to his ancestors on the banks of Ganga with her holy water. The highest merit one acquires by taking refuge in Ganga can never be obtained through sons, wealth or righteous deeds. Who will not surrender himself to Ganga, the sole refuge of persons retired to the forests, householders, ascetics, celibates and the learned? Sankara held in his matted hair this great holy Ganga as she fell from heaven. By offering heaven to the sons of Sagara reduced to ashes on earth, the fame of Ganga spread in the whole universe as a great purifier. She is magnanimous, swift and unfathomable. Those who abandon their bodies in her vicinity acquire for themselves the status equal to the gods. Even saying, “This is Ganga”, ensures a permanent place of honour. She is the mother of Guha and origin of gold. By bathing in her holy water in the morning one acquires the fruit of the three aims of life (dharma, artha and kama).
In the Visnupurana also Ganga is similarly glorified.
Thus this is Visnu’s third and the best cause of creation, the holy support for the three worlds. From it originates the river Ganga coloured by the anointment applied by the divine ladies to their bodies, the destroyer of all sins. It springs from the nail of the left big toe of Visnu and Siva supports her on his head, night and day, most devoutly. The seven great sages perform their pranayam supported by her waves in his matted hair. The Moon on his head shines bright and beautiful continuously sprinkled by the river stream. [The word ahahkshyayam it could be a misprint for ahahkshapam] After falling on Meru with a loud thud, the river sprang out of the Moon and for purification of the world flowed in four directions. It is the same river called by different names like Sita, Alaknanda, Chakshu and Bhadra on account of her flowing in different directions in different speed. Siva held on his head for hundred of years the stream named Alaknanda marked by her association with him. Coming out of Siva’s matted hair the river wetted the ashes of Sagara’s sons and opened the doors of heaven for them. After bathing in her water, sins vanish in no time. Sons, who with full faith offer libations to their ancestors on her banks, receive rare gratification that lasts for full three years. Brahmins and others who performed sacrifices here on her banks for Purusottama, the lord of sacrifices, were rewarded by immense affluence. Ascetics, devoted to Keshava, have washed away all their sins by bathing in her and have attained final liberation. Hearing about her, longing for her, seeing or touching her, drinking her water or bathing in it and even muttering her name day after day, sanctifies thousands. Those who mutter the name ‘Ganga’ repeatedly get rid of their sins accumulated over three births, although they are hundreds of miles away from her. Though this holy river is the very origin of the three worlds springing from the foot of the lord, she is still the third holy place of the Lord”.