Hymn to Ganga 恆河之頌

HYMN TO GANGA by Swami Sivananda
恆河之頌 施化難佗大師

O adorable Mother Ganga! The Shakti of Lord Siva,
Prostrations and adorations unto Thee.
Thou art the creatrix and nourisher of the world;
People address Thee “Bhagirathi’ – ‘Har Gange.”

I know well Thy Story, O dear Mother!
Once king Bhagiratha brought Thee down
To purify the ashes of his grandfathers.
Lord Siva took Thee in His matted locks.

Thou takest origin from Gomukh, beyond Gangotri;
Thou passest through Uttarkashi, Rishikesh and Haridwar;
Thou purifest the Punyabhumi of Bharata Varsha;
Thou finally mergest in Ganga Sagar.

Thou art Bhrantinashini and Jagatjanani,
Thou adorest the head of Gangadhar;
Thou art the Nectar of Immortality that gives salvation;
Thou art Maha Maya, Adi Shakti and Avyaktam.

People sing “Ganga Lahari” in the evening,
They do Arati with Bhav and devotion;
They raise Jaya Jayakar – “Ganga Mayee ki jai”;
They worship Thee with flowers and Prasad.

Thou art Jnana Ganga – the Wisdom Nectar,
Thy subtle form is in the celestial regions;
Thy gross form only, human beings behold here,
Thou pervadest the world as subtle Chidakasa.
Thou hast attracted the people of the whole world;
Thy name has holy associations and vibrations;
A dip in Thee refreshes and purifies the heart;
Millions flock to Thee in Kumbha Mela.

Thou art the purest Water on earth,
No germs can thrive in Thee-
This is the finding of the scientist in his laboratory,
Thou art sparkling and clear as crystal.
A drop on the tongue at the moment of death gives Moksha;
Yogins and Sadhus do Tapas on Thy banks in cottages;
Thou deliverest them from the round of births and deaths;
Who can describe, Mother, Thy glory and splendour?

(Tell me) Will a day come to me, beloved Mother!
To sit on a block of stone on Thy bank,
To shed continuous tears of Prem on Thy lap,
And merge in Thee for ever and ever.

O All-powerful Mother of compassion and love!
Bless me with Thy grace and mercy;
Destroy my darkness of ignorance,
Remove the veil and show Thy true form.

I am Thine, Mother, Thou art mine;
The sense of duality has vanished now;
The bridge that separates us has broken now;
Let me dwell in Thee, Mother, for ever and ever.