Ganga - The Goddess (The Holy River)

Born 1945 Recipient of Defence Secretary commendation medal and card as NCC officer (captain). Gandhi medal awardee, DLA award and Rupayan Achievers award 2013 International Who's Who or Professional & Business Women. Carolina (USA), (1998). Honorary member of Advisory Board of American Biographical institute of USA. (1998). (Dr.) Chitralekha Singh is the first Woman D.Litt. (Painting) in the world. A M.A., PhD., D.L., she became Lecturer, Reader & Head, Department of Fine Arts, Agra College, Agra. She was awarded UGC Research Associate-ship minor and major project and short term project of ICHR. She is Founder-Director of Lalit Kala Sansthan, Dr B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra and Founder Dean., Institute or Visual Performing Art & Research. Mangalayatan University. Aligarh, now working as Dean Humanities social Science, Fine performing arts, Yog & Astrology in Mewar University Chittorgarh, examiner of six universities, research guide of four universities and has privilege of 64 Ph.D. and 250 M.Phill 216 awardees under her expert guidance. Devoted to art, as an artist, she held many solo and group exhibitions, attended many seminars and Workshops. Her paintings are in the collection of Bangladesh, Holland, Germany, Nigeria, Rome, USA and Canada besides in India. Her 40 books have been published so far and more than 15 are under publication. She has visited Italy, Mauritius. China, United States, Canada, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka to convey, the message of peace 'Vashudhaiv Kutumbkam' (World is one Family) through her pen and brush. Now she is devoting her full time to promote art and culture at her own society ‘Chitralekha: The Village of Art’ at Agra. Her painting ‘Divya Gyan’ The Enlightenment selected for 'Art Prize - the world’s biggest event of, Art at Grand Rapids Michigan States U.S.A. 2014. She is Honorable member of the advisory Committee of National Gallery of Modem Art, HRD Ministry, Delhi. Her biography 'Dr Chitralekha Singh The Artist’ - authored by Devendra Mohan will give the vivid aspects of her life … is now published.

Co-Author of Dr. Chitralekha Singh (luckily her father/guide/insperation) Shri Prem Nath Gupta is BSc LLB but deeply in Art/thought & Literature, Studied widely the depth of art Religion & Archaclogy. He wrote many books like 1008 names of Shiva, Shiv the great god, Ganesh, Hanuman, Durga, Saraswati, Indian Festivals Fairs & Fast, Hindu Cast, Customs & Ceremony, Laxmi, Kali, The Great Religions of the world, Hinduism etc with co-authorship of Dr. Chitralekha Singh & Dr. Lipika Singh.

The Ganges is the only river in the world to drop from heaven upon the earth below. One can take this as fact, myth or poetry, in whatever way one wishes. The point is not to force our rationality upon other people's rationality.

The river Gangas is a symbol of Indian culture all over the world. The two fold aspect of Lord Brahma, the lower and upper, is compared to the holy river Ganga, looked upon as consisting of only the water, by ordinary people Plunging in them, while its greatness as a divinity, is known by those gifted souls desirous of salvation.

Ganga has been the source of Indian cultural and religious glorification for centuries. It is a symbol of unification, spiritual inspiration, piety and sacredity. It symbolises the hopes, wishes, apprehensions, the lyrics for its success, praise, victory and the over long cultural heritage of India. It is revered as 'Mother Gangs'.

Respect for the river goddesses was deep rooted among the people of the Vedic Ages. The rivers are addressed as a composite group, "O ye Waters..." (Rigved, Page 10, 75)

The early concept developed more fully into numerous individual river goddesses during the Epic period. Both in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, references to Ganga in all her various forms and functions, abound in direct references to Ganga. Her verbal origin evolved into writing forms about 400A.D. and her full conceptual iconography developed.

Some books on Ganga have appeared in the press so far but most of them are devoted to Ganga as a river, to journey along Gangas river, to pilgrimage places and its 'ghats'. Ganga Chalisa, published, lays stress on the descent of the Ganga as a deity, a goddess. As celestial waters or its link with heaven, Baikunth, Gods and saints has not been given the desired importance. In Hindu mythology, every creation in the Universe, has its presiding deity and so have the temples.

In order to help the readers in the creation of water in the Universe, a chapter 'Creation of the Universe' has been added, after introduction of Gangs as a deity and as a river.

In this small book, importance and glory of Ganga as a deity and later as a sacred life line of India, has been explained to a greater extent which the reader will find, as a knowledge in religion, interesting and useful. One knows one Ganga which is Bhagirathi Ganga but in addition to this, there are many more Gangas, rarely known to people. This book gives an exhaustive account of all these aspects. The same fact has been explained in more than one version, there repetition was unavoidable.

The book has been illustrated highlighting different aspects of Ganga as a deity, in personification, its descent on earth and as a holy and sacred pilgrimage. The sketches make the reading fascinating, particularly those of Ganga as a deity (rarely painted or sculpted). For easy and fast understanding, the complicated chronology of dynasties and river confluences, flow charts have been added at relevant places in the text.

The main text by Premnath, illustrations and her recent tour pilgrimage by Chitralekha Singh and tourism aspects by Lipika Singh, have made the book useful and beneficial for people in all walks of life.

The book will be found interesting and knowledgeable by tourists, pilgrims and by all those in quest of knowledge especially religious.