I watched few documentries on TV people bathing on the banks of Ganga in thousands in Banaras.?

Question

Are they not scared of crocodiles or they are too ignorant or perhaps it is their blind faith that nothing will happen? Are there any authorities to warn them of the consequences? The film also showed few human bodies, animals floating on the surface and cranes sitting on top eating flesh. Please reply, do the police investigate the source of these deaths, find their relatives or perhaps they themselves push away these bodies in Ganga to save the cerimonial expenses or it is the way to heaven, they otherwise believe in?

Answer 1

Though it must be looking all disgusting to you. Its Genesis is in the cultural background of the Hindus who treat the Ganges as the most pious river like Mother and it is presently what you see. As you know the most pressing reason for floating corpses in the river are somewhat religious and somewhat abject poverty and to some extent criminal. Anyway it is a real sorry state and we are ashamed very much and are responsible for it.

Answer 2

I won't be able to answer all the questions here but let me try.

1. I don't think there are crocodiles in Ganges cuse the water is icy cold. People take bath there and there are metal chain near the banks which people can hold while taking bath so that they don't get swept away while taking the holy dip.
2. Authorities warm the people and also have put notice boards in place.
3. Mostly the bodies are burnth and the ashes are poured in the ganges. The priest who do this keep record of all the people whose cremation has happed there. Infact people can go there and check records 10-15 generations back.
The ashes are mostly thrown in ganges or other holy places so that person passes to the next world easily.

Answer 3

Purity is of two types.That of mind and the body. Mind becomes pure by pious thoughts and body by Kind speech and helpful actions.As Sri Rama krishna Parama hansa showed to a person bathing in ganga alone does not purify any one. Praying for purity in mind and body while bathing in Ganga helps a person to become pure gradually. Other shastraik injunctions have to be followed for long time. Chanting of god's name is essential. By these actions an impure person becomes pure and gets connection with God.

Answer 4

You have asked 2 or 3 pertinent questions about Ganga in Benaras-

1. Crocodiles - I have gone to Benaras several times and taken bath in Ganga but never seen or even heard of any crocodile coming there. Even if there are population of crocodiles in whole of Ganga will be few. Secondly Crocodile does not come in the crowed places and to banks of the rivers. So there is no such fear in Benaras.

2. Bodies of Human and animal floating - Benaras is full of Sadhus. Lot of people from various parts of India come at their old age to live and to die here since it is considered they will go to heaven if they die at Benaras, as Lord Shiva as Vishwanath is presiding here. Many Sadhus and other live alone at Benaras without any relatives. Sadhus are not cremated and their bodies are supposed to be buried or thrown into water. Same is the case with persons living along as orphans and poor. These people when dead they are put into Ganga. Many dead animals (Mostly cattle) are also put in Ganga. These bodies get decomposed in water and go towards south.

3. Lastly Ganga is a SACRED or Pavitra river and all the sins get washed away here so people flock here for taking bath. Benaras is a small and thickly populated city and the Ganga here is polluted in various ways. Be beauty of Ganga is in spite of such abnormal pollution it gets purified itself and after 2 or 3 kms of its flow you will find the water clean.-

Answer 5

People call the TV as idiot box its beacause we tend to believe everything we see in it.
Ganga is a river which is believed to come from heaven. The purification properties of the water is still mystrious even today scientist wonder that.
There must be something which drived the ancestors to bring up such a tradition.

Todays facts are merely under the mire of ignorance. We cant claim all the knowledge which we now have is more advanced to that our ancestors had.

Answer 6

I appreciate your questions, observations, concerns and the anuisitiveness.
Sir, basically when you mention Ganga - it menas India and implies Hindus.
Hinduism is basically not a religion but a very strange mix of beliefs, rituals and above all a way of life.
Its a very diificult situation to understand and appreciate a way of life from a very long distance - taking a ZOOM shot.
You have to be near it, understand the underlying philosophy , thinking and adapt and appreciate the underlying feelings

Anybody who tries to answer your questions would fall short by many a legths - as you have to eat a mangoe to know what a seetness it carries inside it - which can never be explained by mere words

Blessings

Answer 7

Appreciate your concerns, but what u are talking about are the ghats of the ganges in Benaras, these are perfectly safe ghats to bathe in as these being nearer to population no crocodiles are present.

The bodies that u mention are from the cremation grounds nearby and are accounted for.

Answer 8

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 9 chp 9 TEXT 12

TEXT

yaj-jala-sparsa-matrena
brahma-danda-hata api
sagaratmaja divam jagmuh
kevalam deha-bhasmabhih

SYNONYMS

yat-jala--whose water; sparsa-matrena--simply by touching; brahma-danda-hatah--those who were condemned for offending brahma, the self; api--although; sagara-atmajah--the sons of Sagara; divam--to the heavenly planets; jagmuh--went; kevalam--only; deha-bhasmabhih--by the remaining ashes of their burnt bodies.

TRANSLATION

Because the sons of Sagara Maharaja had offended a great personality, the heat of their bodies had increased, and they were burnt to ashes. But simply by being sprinkled with water from the Ganges, all of them became eligible to go to the heavenly planets. What then is to be said of those who use the water of mother Ganges to worship her?

Answer 9

NO, no way to heaven. Water is a purifying agent. Ganga & Banaras makes no sense. Ganges water is very forceful.but looks calm. death is certain if one is not careful.to enter Ganges.No sin is removed by Ganges.

Answer 10

One has to understand the local customs and appreciate and respect them, instead of looking into rationality. They are long standing practises.