The beauty of the sight was what attracted me the most. The snow laden peaks of Shivling and Bhagirathi, the howling of the wind and the mighty river gushing out mercilessly from the mouth of the creepy cave. The whole scene was reminiscent of a water colour landscape. Picturesque. I was enchanted, needless to say. Being a Hindu, the holyness of the river was too clear to be avoided by my eyes. But a little more observation revealed a few facts, which would have got unnoticed had i let myself be carried away(it isn't easy to control oneself in front of such beauty). I was reminded of our Hindu tales of king Bhagirath bringing the Ganga. Miraculously, the Bhagirath peak towers magnificently over the mouth of the Gomukh cave. It is said that the Ganga was caught in Mahadev's "jata". The mesh of clouds floating above reminded me of a saint's shrine. What was more intriguing was that the clouds looked more like pure, holy, smoke as if an yagya was being performed. Off course, I wouldn't have been able to imagine all these-the story was in my head-i was just matching and comparing and like a jigsaw puzzle it all fit.
What i wasn't convinced about was calling it "maa ganga" or "ganga ji". Its nice to give respect to nature's own gift but why can't people imagine ganga as"beti" or a child. After all, the tremendous force in which the river is rushing out is closer to a frolicksome but daring child, rather than a serene, understanding, caring, loving, mother. The upper course in the mountains is much more beautiful and natural than the middle and lower courses in the plains, torn apart by barradges and dams.
And if people love their"maa" so uch, why do they have to throw all kinds of rubbish like ash, "pujar ful" and all other residues of each and every hindu ritual ino their "maa's" lap?
