Ganga in the Sierras

One of the hardest parts of being away from India is missing Ganga. Pujya Swamiji always says whenever we invoke Her name, pray to Her and love Her, she flows before us. Meditating on the banks and bathing in the water of so many streams, rivers and lakes on this beautiful spiritual pilgrimage, I invoked Maa Ganga’s name in them all. ..Water, of course, is inherently sacred, whether it is Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, or any of the water bodies on this planet. Water is life. From the 9 months we spend in the womb of the mother, to that which quenches our parched throats and irritates our desiccated fields, water is life. This pristine water, flowing so beautifully, is, amazingly dependent upon the Amazon rainforest staying healthy. If the Amazon ceased to exist, aside from the colossal devastation to the planet, the Sierras would lose more than 50% of their snowpack. That snow is not only the water in these lakes, rivers and streams but it also is the drinking water for most of California! So, as I stood on the banks of these sacred waters I was filled with deep gratitude, deep love and deep awe for the intricate workings of this divine universe and the intricate tapestry of life of which we are all a critical thread. And I was filled with even more of a commitment to work to protect and preserve this beautiful planet…It did not, however, quench my thirst of wanting to be back on the banks of Mother Ganga! ..Let me know in the comments where YOU invoke the presence of Mother Ganga….