“It is flowing, like Ganges, our preaching programme all over the world.” Morning darshan, 4th April 2007, Nabadwip. (podcast link)

Some slokas from today’s lecture:

mahattvaṁ gaṅgāyāḥ satatam idam ābhāti nitarāṁ
yad eṣā śrī-viṣṇoś caraṇa-kamalotpatti-subhagā
dvitīya-śrī-lakṣmīr iva sura-narair arcya-caraṇā
bhavānī-bhartur yā śirasi vibhavaty adbhuta-guṇā
(CC 1.16.41)

“ ‘The greatness of mother Ganges always brilliantly exists. She is the most fortunate because she emanated from the lotus feet of Śrī Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead. She is a second goddess of fortune, and therefore she is always worshiped both by demigods and by humanity. Endowed with all wonderful qualities, she flourishes on the head of Lord Śiva.’ ”

śrī-chaitanya-bhāgavata grantha śuddha-bhakti-mata
kahe sadā śrī-bhaktivinoda
nirantara pāṭha-phale kubuddhi yāibe cha’le
kṛṣṇa-preme labhibe pramoda
(Śrīla Prabhupād Bhakti Siddhānta Saraswatī Ṭhākur, Gauḍīya-bhaṣya)

“Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur has taught that Śrī Chaitanya-bhāgavat is a śuddha-bhakti grantha [a treatise on pure devotion]. It is like the Ganges flowing from above to below, and nothing—no misconception or unfortunate influence—can stand in its way. By regularly reading Śrī Chaitanya-bhāgavat one will attain the joy of Kṛṣṇa-prema.”

dṛṣṭaiḥ svabhāva-janitair vapuṣaś cha doṣair
na prākṛtatvam iha bhakta-janasya paśyet
gaṅgāmbhasāṁ na khalu budbuda-phena-paṅkair
brahma-dravatvam apagachchhati nīra-dharmaiḥ
(Upadesamrta 6)

Do not consider devotees in this world mundane
because of faults in their nature and body.
The water of the Ganges never loses its spiritual nature
because of bubbles, foam, and mud, which are natural in water.

*

Ganga Stotram

Devi Sureshwari Bhagavati Gange tribhuvana taarini tarala tarange
Shankara mouli viharini vimale mama mathi raasthaam tava pada kamale

I bow to you goddess Ganga, the supreme deity of the devas (Sureshwari), the ultimate goddess (Bhagavati), saviour of the three worlds (Tribhuvanas), who is pure and restless with her waves
O the one, who resides and flows from Lord Shiva’s head, the pure one, let my mind always remain on your lotus like feet.

Bhagirathi sukha-dhayini maataha tava jalamahima Nigame kyathaha
Naham jane tava mahimanam pahi krupamayi mamajnanam (2)

O Bhagirathi, the mother who bestows happiness (sukhadhayini) to everyone, whose water’s significance is praised by Vedas (Nigamas)
I am ignorant, who is not capable of knowing your importance. O the merciful one, despite of this please protect me.

Hari pada padya tarangini Gange hima vidhu mukthaa dhavala taramgee
Dhureekuru mama dhushkruti bharam kuru krupaya bhava-sagara-paaram (3)

The one, whose waves touch the feet of Lord Hari, whose waves resemble that of white snow, moon, and pearl.
Please lift my burden caused due to evil deeds and with your mercy please help me cross the ocean of the samsara

Tava jala mamalam Yena nipitham parama padam khalu tena gruhitham
Maatar Gange tvay yo bhakthaha kila tham dhrashtum na Yamah shakthaha (4)

Those who take your holy water, will indeed attain the supreme abode.
O Goddess Ganga, even the Yama’s power of glance will not affect that devotee.

Patithod dharini Jahnavi Gange khanditha girivara manditha bhangey
Bhisma-janani hey munivara kanye patita nivarini tribhuvana dhanye (5)

O the one who uplifts her devotees to the path of righteousness, daughter of sage Jahnu, Goddess Ganga, who meander through the mountains and circles them
The mother of Bhishma, the boon from the sage (Durvasa), one who removes sins from the people who have fallen out of their path, the one revered in the three worlds.

Kalpa lathaamiva phaladhaam lokey pranamati yasthvam na patati shoke
Para vaara viharini Gange vimukha yuvathi krutha taralaapange (6)

Who rewards the worlds like a Kalpalatha (wish fulfilling creeper), who bow to you with true devotion will never fall into grief
The one who flows great, the beautiful smiling women who remain restless and flowing with side glances like a young maiden

Tava chen-mataha srothaha snataha punarapi jatharey sopi na jataha
Naraka nivarini Jahnavi Gange kalusha vinasini mahimot thunge (7)

Those who praise and bathe in your holy waters do not have to take birth again
The one who eliminates the misery of hell, daughter of Muni Jahnu, Goddess Gange, you are the destroyer of sins and the best among the glorious ones.

Punarasa dange punya tarange jaya jaya Jahnavi karunaapange
Indra mukuta mani raajitha charane sukhade shubhade bhrtya sharanye (8)

The one who makes the impure ones pure again by your holy waves, Victory to you O Jahnavi, the compassionate one
The ones whose feet are lustering with the reflections of the gems present on Indras crown, the bestower of joy and auspiciousness to the one who seeks refuge.

Roogam sokam thapam papam hara mey Bhagavati kumati kalapam
Tribhuvana-sare vasudha-haare tvamasi gatirmama kalu samsare (9)

Please remove my illness, sorrows, afflictions, and sins. O Devi Bhagavathi, also please remove my wrong thoughts from my mind
The one who is the essence of the three worlds, who is like a jewel to the earth, who is indeed my refuge in the worldly existence (Samsara)

Alakaanande paramaanande kuru karunamayi katara vandye
Tava tata nikate yasya nivasaha khalu vaikunthey tasya nivasaha (10)

O the Alakananda, the embodied form of great joy, I bow to you, be pleased on me the merciful one
Those who live near the adobe of you (on the banks of river Ganga) It is equivalent to living in Vaikuntha.

Vara mihanirey kamatho minaha kim va teere sarataha kshinaha
Athavaa swapacho malino dinaha tava na hi dhure nrupati kuleenaha (11)

It is better to live as a turtle or as a fish in your waters, or even as a withered lizard living on your riverbank
Or even to be a low living, unclean person living near to you on your banks, But let me not live far away from you, even as a king

Bho Bhuvaneshwari punye dhanye devi dravamayi muni vara kanye
Gangastavam imam amalam nithyam pathathi naro yaha sa jayathi sathyam (12)

O the goddess of the world (Bhuvaneshwari), virtuous and blissful, the goddess who is in the form of water, the boon of sages. (I bow to you)
The one who recites this Gangastavam will understand the truth of salvation and will become the truth.

Yessaam hrudhaye Ganga bhaktis tesham bhavathi sada sukha muktihi
Madhura manohara pajjhatikabhih paramananda kara lalitaabhih (13)

One who fills his heart with the devotion to Goddess Ganga will be bestowed always with the joy of salvation
This sweet and enchanting stotram in Pajjhatika sabdha (meter of music) is an embodiment of great joy

Ganga stotramidam bhava saram vanchitha phaladam vimalam saaram
Shankara sevaka shankara rachitham pathathi sukhii stave iti ca smaaptaha (14)

This Ganga stotram is the pure essence of existence and bestows all your wishful desires
This blissful stavam composed by Shankara, the servant of Lord Shankara, brings joy to the receiver and this hymn ends here.

Jaya Jaya Gange Jaya Hara Gange
Jaya Jaya Gange Jaya Hara Gange
–Sri Shankaracharyya

upajiyā bāḍe latā ‘brahmāṇḍa’ bhedi’ yāya
‘virajā’, ‘brahmaloka’ bhedi’ ‘paravyoma’ pāya
tabe yāya tad upari ‘goloka-vṛndavāna’
‘kṛṣṇa-charaṇa’-kalpa-vṛkṣe kare ārohaṇa
(Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛta: Madhya-līlā, 19.153–4)