On the bank of river Ganga, Richard (now Radhanath Swami) resolved to sit in silence and prayer from sunrise to sunset for one month. Richard also decided that a carrot a day would be his only food for the month. Mother Ganga taught Richard many lessons. He was particularly struck by the beauty of the river and felt no human artist could ever capture even a moment of the unending display of the sparkling waves of Ganga that rippled and swirled as if intoxicated by her own beauty. The Himalayas appeared majestic and inspired awe in Richard’s heart. It was here that a man gave Richard the robes of a sadhu, monk, who has forsaken worldly attachments to pursue a divine life. This was two unstitched pieces of white cloth, one to cover the lower part of the body and the other one for the upper part. Richard prayerfully cast his western clothes into the river’s sweeping current and the man also whispered to Richard that the Ganges would be his mother and that she would reveal this in due course of time.
Radhanath Swami’s description of Ganga is mesmerizing. It has to be read to be relished. I couldn’t help reading it over and over again. My appreciation for mother Ganga is growing and now I am reminded of her unlimited glories.
Ganga is the only river in the world that has a history rich in legends and also forms an integral part of the terrestrial, cultural and spiritual life an entire Nation. Mother Ganga is providing irrigation, fertility of soil, source of water, communication and transport, scenic beauty and at the same time carrying the rubbish and human wastes, including half burnt bodies in her sweeping flow beyond pollution. Although most moderns are unaware and ignorant of her utility, her spiritual power remains still intact. Not surprisingly she has struck the minds of writers, poets, painters and sculptors. I once read a dramatic story of Jagganath Pandit, court poet of Emperor Shah Jahan and a devotee of Mother Ganga, who fell in love with a Muslim princess. He married her and was ex-communicated. He took shelter of mother Ganga and composed a famous poem, ‘Ganga lahiri’, ‘the waves of Ganga’. The legend says that while being persecuted, he sang the glory of Ganga, and mother Ganga opened her arms and took the lovers in her bosom. The poem has been translated into many Indian languages.
Besides the romantic story, Ganga has given spiritual shelter to millions. That’s what Radhanath Swami experienced while meditating on her banks. Even today Ganga water is carried to all parts of India to be used on occasions to ward off evil spirits, mixed in water tanks, put in the mouth at the time of dying, sprinkled in marriages, birth ceremonies and other auspicious and inauspicious occasions for spiritual benedictions. The demand for Ganga water was so much at one time that it became a commercial item sold by a Calcutta businessman Baishnab Charan Seth in the mid nineteenth century. Mr Seth sold Ganga water in sealed earthen pots and even noblemen and kings purchased Ganga water from him.
Radhanath Swami’s spiritual realizations and lessons that he learnt on her banks are simply unforgettable. I am eagerly waiting to devour each page of this classic, ‘The Journey Home.’
Table of Contents
Founder-acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
Nice lessons that I can learn from Mother Ganges.. really Maharaj is sharing deep realizations from his journey which make me feel as if I am also on the same journey..
View CommentMother Ganga Ki jai
View CommentMother Ganga is amazing
View CommentThank you very much for describing nicely how mother Ganga still plays an important role in the lives of Indians.
View CommentAmazing! Radhanath Swami’s narrations & discriptions about this Holy river are such that it multiplies our love and respect for the river.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has so beautifully composed the descriptions of the beauty of Mother Ganga that apart from Indians, even Westerners who read it would instantly fall in love with this divine river.
View CommentIt is such an heart melting experience of Swamiji from the sacred Ganga. This transformed the way I perceive and think of the Mother Ganga. Thank you for this article
View CommentHis Holiness Radhanath Swami shows in his book that if we are sincere, serious and free from ulterior motives, everything is possible. His description of how Mother Ganga reveals sacred chants to him still leaves me spellbound. Thanks for sharing this wonderful article.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s description of Ganga is mesmerizing. It has to be read to be relished. I couldn’t help reading it over and over again. My appreciation for mother Ganga is growing and now I am reminded of her unlimited glories.I strongly agree on this
View CommentThanks for very good article.
View CommentGanga Ma ki Jay!!!
View CommentNice Description about mother Ganga.
View CommentI was stunned to see the determination of Radhanath Swami in sitting down on a rock in the middle of the forceful ganges river from dawn to dusk meditating on the lord while his only food was a carrot a day!
View CommentIts very inspiring how true spiritualists like Radhanath Swami, recognize the value of Holy Places and know to take full benefit/ blessings of the Holy Place, by depending on the grace of the Holy Place (Here Mother Ganga)
View CommentVery nice article……Mother Ganges reciprocated with Swamiji in the same way a mother reciprocates with her dear child…….really Swaimiji’s story is really exciting & full of deep spiritual realisations…..
View CommentI thought I knew about the river Ganges, but now I feel I did not know anything!
View CommentGanga Mai ki jaiiii. Radhanath Swami Maharaj ki jaiii.
View CommentMother Ganga is so divine and one feels that she has undiscriminating love for anyone and everyone.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has shared wonderful realisations learnt from mother Ganges, in this wonderful book, “The Journey Home”
View CommentThank you Radhanath Swami for sharing these deep realizations about mother Ganga.
View CommentMother Ganges showers blessings on anyone who takes her shelter as she revealed the path to Swamiji
View CommentThe entire book is amazing in its revelations on Radhanath swami’s Journey to meet his spiritual master. The Ganges is definitely pivotal in this epic journey.
View CommentPreviously before my Krsna Conscious days, for me, Ganga was only a ordinary river… Reading Her glories opened my eyes. I never knew Her power, Her importance. I received Her mercy of knowing Her only through Maharaj…
View CommentRiver Ganga is a mother to a spiritual seeker who goes to her for help.Radhanath Swami has brought out this aspect of Ganga very beautifully in his book ‘The Journey Home’.
View CommentTruly.One must see Ganga in the Himalayas to believe the descriptions in The Journey Home.
View CommentRadhanath Swmai learned amazing lesson from Mother Ganges. His hear was open to receive the message.
View CommentRadhanath Swami ki jaiiii.
View CommentWonderful article based on the book of Radhanath Swami describing the glories of Mother Ganga.
View CommentAlso the part of the book where Ganges roars the mantra to Radhanath swami is awe inspiring.
View CommentRadhanath Swami is such a great saint that even mother Ganges guided him along his journey.
View CommentSpecial thanks to swamiji for writing this book on his spiritual quest…..
View CommentThankyou Radhanath Swami for introducing me to mother Ganga.
View CommentVery nice article.
View CommentJust beautiful!
View CommentThanks for sharing the glories of Mother Ganges.
View Commentradhanath swami is really very compassionate towards his fellow human beings that he is sharing his hard earned essence of life, from his journey for truth, in a very simple and easy ways,
View Commentjust wonderful glories of Ganga devi. mother ganga ki jai
View Commentganga mai ki jai
View CommentThank you
View CommentThankyou for posting! Wonderful Article!
View CommentAmazing one!
View CommentAll Glories to Mother Ganga! While reading this, I’m reminded of another article where Radhanath Swami speaks about the union of his biological mother and Mother Ganga with such sweetness.
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s spiritual realizations and lessons that he learnt on her banks are simply unforgettable
View CommentMother means the reflection of true love of supreme Father- Lord. Mother Ganga reciprocated with sincerity of Richard and gave him true direction to supreme father. This is THE nature of a true mother.
View CommentThank you very much for sharing
View CommentMother Ganga gives shelter to all her children, although the children disrespect her by externally polluting her.
View CommentReally wonderful article!
View CommentThank you so much for sharing.
very inspiring
View CommentRadhanath Swami’s writings capture the heart becauuse he speaks from his heart.
View CommentThanks Maharaj. You have given me different perspective.
View Comment