GREATNESS OF GANGA

Naimiṣam is most sacred place in Kṛta Yuga, Puṣkaram in Tretā yuga while Kurukṣetram is most sacred  in Dvāpara Yuga.

In Kali Yuga, Gangā snānam is most sacred and particularly at Prayāg is considered to be the only medicine for all Sins .

Kṛte tu naimiṣam kṣetram tretāyām puṣkaram param !
dvāpare tu kurukṣetram kalau gangā  viśiṣyate !!
gangāmeva niṣeveta prayāgam tu viśeṣataḥ !
nānyat kaliyuge ghore bheṣajam nṛpa vidyate !!

- Matsya Purāṇa

DEEPAVALI CELEBRATIONS

I. Caturdasi

(i)Early Morning GangA snAnam
By doing dIpAvali- GangA snAnam in the early morning during naraka caturdaSi , one does not see yamaloka.

Taile lakshmIrjale gangA dIpAvalyAScaturdaSIm !
PrAta: snAnam ya: kuryAt sa: yamalokam na paSyati !!

Oil – Lakshmi Water – GangA

II. AmavasyA

(i)Damodara pUjA
Recite dAmodarAshtakam and perform dAmodara pUjA

(ii)KetAra GaurI Vratam

SUlam damarukam caiva dadhAnam hasta yugmake !
ketAra devamISAnam dhyAyet tripura ghAtinam!!

Ayusca vidyAm ca tathA sukanca saubhAgya vriddhim kuru deva deva !
samsAra ghorAmbunidhau nimagnam mAm raksha kedAra namo namaste!!

(iii)Evening Lighting dIpam

Lighting Dipam in the house and temples, one gets rid of naraka bhayam and enjoys happiness

Datto dIpaScaturdaSyAm narakaprItaye mayA !
Caturvarti samAyuktah sarva pApAnuttaye!!

(iv)Evening Lakshmi kubera pUjA

Pradosha samaye lakshmIm pUjayitvA tata: kramAt !
dIpa vrukshASca dAtavyA: SaktyA deva gruheshu ca !!
svalankrutena bhoktavyam sita vastropa SobhinA !!