What actions can we take to help cleanse Ganga?

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An excellent start towards purification is to establish a daily schedule, a commitment, a

sankalpa which we faithfully follow with our full attention. This concentration of purpose

will cause us to commune, ultimately, with our own soul, bringing devotion into our hearts

and clarity into our minds. In the Cosmic Puja (Samasti Upasana), the Nava Durga Puja (1)

on page 120 describes this process of purification beautifully through several steps, each

represented by a specific goddess: (1) the Goddess of Inspiration (Sailaputri), the Mother

of the Universe; (2) the Goddess of Learning (Brahmacarini), the Image of the Three: (3) the

Goddess of Practice (Candraghante), also the Goddess of Welfare; (4) the Goddess of

Refinement (Kusmanda), the Eyes of Desire; (5) the Goddess Who Nurtures Divinity

(Skandamata), She Who Tears Apart Thoughts; (6) the Goddess Who Is Ever Pure

(Katyayini), You Who Belong To Shiva; (7) the Goddess of the Dark Night (Kalaratri), The

Seed of Desire; (8) the Goddess of the Great Radiant Light (Mahagauri), also the Goddess

of Contentment; (9) and lastly, the Goddess of the Grantor of Perfection (Siddhide), the

Reliever of Difficulties. As you may note, this puja describes a series of purifying processes

we experience inwardly as dedicate ourselves to helping to cleanse Ganga, the River that

flows within each of us. May we all be blessed with success in applying the numerous tools

for purification Shree Maa and Swami Satyananda have so kindly given us!

Jai Maa, Gautam.