Gangothpathi / Ganga Pooja

On the prayers of King Bhagiratha, Ganga was coming down to Earth.  While it was passing through Jahnu Dwipa, Jahnu Rishi was  performing Tapas in his Ashrama.  Due to the sudden inflow of Ganga, the Ashram was flooded.  Jahnu Rishi tapas got disturbed.  He swallowed the entire Ganga as Achamana with his Tapo Shakti (Spiritual Powers).  

King Bhagiratha prayed Jahnu Rishi and pleaded him to let go Ganga.  Jahnu Rishi agreed to it.  It was not appropriate to let go Ganga through the Mouth.  Hence, Jahnu Rishi let Ganga go out from his Right Ear.  And this was on Vaishaka Shukla Saptami.  Since Ganga came out from Jahnu Rishi, she got the name as Jahnavi (Daughter of Jahnu).  

Special prayers across the Ganga belt are performed on this day to mark this event. It is good to perform Ganga Pooja at home by putting Ganga Water in a Kalash and offering prayers to it.  Since it is a tradition to offer pooja to Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati together, prayers have to be offered for all 3.  Even if no separate Yamanu and Saraswati Kalash is kept, one can invoke Yamuna and Saraswati during the Prayers.

Sankalpam
Achamanam - Pranayamam - Shubhey….Evam Gunavisheshana Vishishtayam Shubha Thithou, Bharathi Ramana Mukhya Prana Anthargada, GANGA JANAKA SHRI BINDHU MADHAVA PRERANAYA SHRI BINDHU MADHAVA PREERTHARTHAM SHRI LAKSHMI NARAYANA PRASADA SIDHYARTHAM, GANGA YAMANU SARASWATI Poojaam Karishye

Offer Shodasha Pooja to the Kalash

For Archana you may chant the following 12 names of Ganga
Nandhini - Nalini - Sita - Malathi - Malapaha - Vishnu Padabja Bootha - Ganga - Tripatha Gaamini - Bhagirathi - Bhogavathi - Jahnavi - Trijateshwari

Yashya Smrityacha …. Anena Ganga Poojanena Ganga Yamnu Saraswati Anthargada, Bharathi Ramana Mukhya Prana Anthargada Shri Bindhu Madhava Priyathaam Supreethovarathobhavathu Sri Krishnarpanamastu