Once, a venerable ascetic journeyed to the house of King Shibi. Upon seeing him arrive, Shibi, whose mind was filled with devotion, welcomed the sage with all due rites of hospitality. After the guest had been honored, Shibi began to inquire about the well-being of the various regions. The guest, a gleaner of wisdom, responded with a question of his own: “O best of the twice-born, which lands, which peoples, which mountains, and which hermitages are the most holy? Out of affection, please point them out to me.” The sage, revealed as a siddha, answered with gentle gravity, “Those lands, peoples, mountains, and hermitages are truly holy in whose midst the triple-flowing, supreme river—the Ganga—always abides. By austerity, by celibacy, by sacrifices, or by giving, no creature attains that blessed state which is gained simply by serving the Ganga. The contentment that arises in self-disciplined souls who have bathed in her sacred waters cannot be matched, not even by a hundred great sacrifices. “Just as the sun’s rising dispels the deepest darkness, so too does bathing in the Ganga’s waters cause a person to shine, freed from all sin. As fire consumes a heap of cotton, so does immersion in the Ganga destroy all impurities. Whoever drinks her water, warmed by the sun’s rays, is freed even from the sin of cow-slaughter and becomes purer than fire itself. Even if a man bathes with just one foot in the Ganga, he surpasses the merit of a thousand Chandrayana vows. “Consider this: if a man were to hang head downward for ten thousand years, or if he were to serve the Ganga’s water for just one month—the latter would free him from the sin of killing a Brahmin and grant him the sinless state of Vishnu. This sacred confluence, the Veṇī, is pure and a destroyer of all sins. Simply by remembering her, even the gravest sinner is instantly released; Prayaga, this king of holy places, is rare and beloved among Vaishnavas. “Bathing here, O best of men, one quickly attains Vaikuntha. In that state, one knows neither friend nor foe, nor does one perceive righteousness or unrighteousness. By bathing in the Ganga, one is freed from even the greatest of sins. Whoever utters ‘Ganga, Ganga,’ even from hundreds of yojanas away, is freed from all sin and ascends to Vishnu’s world. “Even those burdened with the gravest sins—Brahmin-killers, cow-slayers, those who have taken liquor, or child-murderers—are freed from all their sins and swiftly attain heaven. Beholding Madhava, seeing the Lord, and bathing in the Veṇī, one moves toward Vaikuntha. Just as darkness vanishes at sunrise, so do sins perish by bathing there. “Bathing at Gangadvara, Kushavarta, Gallika, Nilaparvata, or at the holy place Kanakhala, one escapes the cycle of rebirth. Knowing this, O noble one, the bather in the Ganga is repeatedly freed from sin, merely by bathing. Among the gods, Vishnu is supreme; among sacrifices, the Ashvamedha; among all trees, the Ashvattha; and among rivers, always Bhagirathi, the Ganga.” Thus concluded the eighty-first chapter, “The Glory of Ganga,” in the sacred dialogue between Umāpati and Nārada, within the Uttarakhaṇḍa of the revered Padma Mahāpurāṇa. In another sacred teaching, Mahadeva spoke of the Damanaka festival. “In the month of Chaitra,” he said, “the festival of Damanaka should be celebrated, especially on the twelfth day. For Vaishnavas who observe it with faith, this festival brings great joy, for the divine Damanaka blossom itself arose from the delight of the gods. “Devoted Vaishnavas, desiring the fruits of all worship, should offer the Damanaka on the twelfth day of the bright half of Chaitra, O Nagānandinī. With supreme devotion, let one arrange this great festival, mind intent upon the task, first going to the garden. “With the guru’s command, worship should be performed together with Rati: ‘O Kāma, obeisance to you, enchanter of the universe.’ For the sake of Viṣṇu, I shall seek; show mercy upon me. With singing and the sounds of instruments, the Damanaka should be brought home. “On Ekādaśī, after the preliminary consecration, worship should be performed at night by the Vaishnavas with devotion. First, a Sarvatobhadra maṇḍala should be made; then, the Lord of gods, together with Rati, should be placed there. Covering with a white cloth, the wise should set the damana plant in place, and the best of the twice-born Vaishnavas should perform worship. “Chanting ‘Klīṃ, obeisance to Kāma-deva; Hrīṃ, obeisance also to Rati,’ and placing Kandarpa in the directions beginning with the east, the wise should worship him. Fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp, and ārati are to be offered at night, according to rule, O Lady of the gods. “In each direction, the following should be recited: ‘Obeisance to Madana’ in the east; ‘Obeisance to Manmatha’ in the southeast; ‘Obeisance to Kandarpa’ in the south; ‘Obeisance to Anaṅga’ in the southwest; ‘Obeisance to Bhasmaśarīra’ in the west; ‘Obeisance to Smara’ in the northwest; ‘Obeisance to Īśvara’ in the north; ‘Obeisance to Puṣpabāṇa’ in the northeast. Thus, in all directions, worship is performed. When Keśava is worshipped here, all the gods are well worshipped. “Having worshipped the damana plant with unbroken rice, fragrance, incense, lamps, offerings, and betel leaves, one should recite: ‘We contemplate that Supreme Person, Kāma-deva; may Anaṅga inspire us.’ With the Kāma-Gāyatrī, recite over the damana plant one hundred and eight times, and bow: ‘Obeisance to Puṣpabāṇa, who brings joy to the world; to Manmatha, the eye of the world; to him who brings delight to Rati.’ “Obeisance to you, O God of gods; obeisance to you, Śrī Viśveśa; obeisance to the Lord of Rati; obeisance to you, ornament of the universe. O Lord of the universe, seed of all, with these various mantras, especially those prescribed in the Āgamas. “Janārdana, together with Lakṣmī, should be worshipped with care; then, having offered the prescribed acts, the wise should keep vigil through the night. O God of gods, Lord of the universe, bestower of all desired objects, fill my heart, O Viṣṇu, with desires, beloved of Kāmeśvarī.” Thus, the sacred observances and the glory of the Ganga and the Damanaka festival were revealed, shining forth as paths of devotion and liberation for all who listen with faith.