Pilgrims progress smooth on third day

Rajahmundry, July 16 (INN): Pilgrims' progress to the ghats to take a holy dip and perform rituals was smooth on the third day of Godavari Mahapushkarams or maha kumbh mela here on Thursday.

With the VIP ghat also thrown to the general public to ease congestion at other ghats, and with police directing to the crowds to vacant slots, the visiting devotees to the once-in-12 years fete had it all easy not only here, but all other ghats like Pushkara ghat and Kotilingala ghat. With Amavasya persisting on Thursday forenoon, the Pitrukarmas or rituals to the dead continued on large scale along with other pujas.

The daanas or charity prescribed for the third day of the mega event included jaggery, Aswa or horse, vegetables, and fruits, but there was no restriction on giving away all other donations as normal.

The flow of people was steady but not slow with lakhs descending on the ancient city known for its ancient civilization and rich cultural heritage. Things were as calm as the great river Godavari when it was not in spate, as timid as a cow.

In fact, the name Godavari is derived from the all-giving quadruped. At its origin in Nasik, it is said to come out of a cow's mouth. The river also is said to have been named as Godavari since a cow had a great role to play in its descent to the earth.

According to legend, the sage Gauthama, who is part of Saptharish is or seven great sages, with powers acquired through penance ,could sow the seeds without water to reap a rich harvest. This, he used, to feed on all other rishis or sages who came to him seeking food.The rishis were happy but as time rolled on, also became jealous of him. They wanted to tease him and created a fake cow and made it graze on the fields of Gauthama. And then, they had the audaucity to complain to Gauthama that a cow was destroying all the crops on his fields. Gauthama then threw a blade of grass at the maya cow to drive it away. But the cow collapsed dead. The rishis, who sat at the meal offered by Gauthama, then rose, refusing to eat the food given by a host who resorted to `Gohatya' or killing of a cow.

The innocent Gauthama pleaded to them for corrective action upon which the rishis said that the celestial Ganges alone could be the remedy. Gauthama then prayed to Lord Siva who agreed to remove a lock of his hair holding Ganges. This was how Ganga came down passing over the dead fake cow from Nasik in Maharashtra to Andhra Pradesh, ultimately to jon the sea, P. Dharmarao Bhagavathar narrated in his Hari katha at the Arts College grounds on Wednesday evening.

Godavari river is also called Gauthami as it was Gauthama who brought it to the earth through his power of penance.

The river on Thursday was as mild as a cow and looked as innocent as the sage and people were even seen enjoying a splash before taking the dip and offering prayers.