Can we use Ganga water to bathe the Deities when that water is actually Krishna’s own charanamrita?
From: Sridham Vrindavan Das
As a custom we usually use Ganges water in various puja activities such as abhishek ceremonies of the deities etc. I recently met few brajabasi from vrindavan & in a conversation with them, they told me that do not offer lord krishna water from the Ganges as this is his charnamrita , which flow from his feet to Lord shiva’s head then it is received by the mortals on earth , The brajabasi explained that Lord Krishna is only offered water from the Yamuna as only this is dear to him , please enlighten me prabhuji on this mater & perhaps share with us all some more information to this.
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Yes, sastra and acaryas set the clear example that Ganga water can be used for abhisekas:
SB 10.27.22-23 (Sri Krsna bathed by Indra with Ganga water)
SB 10.79.11-15 (Sri Balarama bathed at Gangasagara)
“Sri Raghava Pandita and the other eternal associates of Sri Nityananda immediately prepared for the abhiseka, bathing ceremony. They assembled hundreds of pots filled with Ganga water and perfumed it with delicate aromas. With gladdened hearts, the devotees one by one poured water over Sri Nityananda’s head and all the while chanted the Holy Name of the Lord and appropriate mantras.” (Caitanya Bhagavata 3.5)
“In descending order of quality, the best water for bathing the Deity is Ganga or Yamuna water, then water from any tirtha, water from a river that flows directly to the ocean, water from a tributary river, water from a natural spring, lake, pond, or man-made reservoir, water from a well, and finally water from a pot.” (Pancaratra Pradipa 1.13, see also 4.11)
Hari Hari
ys Jan