The Holy Bagmati River

This book is a guide to the Tirthas, sacred bathing places. Those who know how to perform a snan( ritual bath according to the Hindu precepts) are free to do so. One doesn't see many bathers in the Bagmati around Pashupatinath, even at Shivarartri. On the other hand, the ghats of Gokarnareshwara are used heavily during Gorkarna Aunshi. Just recently,traffic was stalled in Teku, because of all the women going ot the ghats to bath, on Rishi Panchami. In many places it is possible to stop by the river and sprinkle some water on one's head. It may not seem like much, but this is the Kali Yuga and a little dharma goes a long way. The two basic geo-mythological accounts ( Sthala Purana) of the Himalaya and Kathmandu Valley are the Himvatkhanda and Nepalamahatmya. Both of them trace the origin of the Bagmati/ Vagmati river to Shiva's laughter, although the cause for his laughter in each story is different.