holy festival of Daśapāpaharā Daśamī (Jyeṣṭha-māsa, Śulkapakṣa, Daśamī) or Gaṅgāvataraṇam (the Descent of Mother Gaṅgā in the earthly planet).
Śrīmad Appayya Dīkṣitendra describes the glories of Mother Gaṅgā in three verses in His Brahmatarka Stava and in one verse in His Rāmyaṇa-tātparya-sāra-saṃgraha Stotra in connection with Lord Śiva. Each word he has used in the two Stotras embodies a larger body of passages of the Itihāsa-purāṇas and illustrates the same in the commentaries on the two works by profusely quoting from the ancient scriptures. In the commentary on verses 35, 36, and 37 of BTS, He marshals arguments against those who glorify Lord Viṣṇu and mock at Lord Śiva in connection with Gaṅgā. In this way He undergirds the path of Śivabhakti without uttering a word against Lord Viṣṇu or His devotees in the Stotra or its commentary.
Brahmatarka Stava:
Rāmyaṇa-tātparya-sāra-saṃgraha Stotra:
VERSE 35 of BRAHMATARKA STAVA
गङ्गा धृता न भवता शिव पावनीति
नास्वादितो मधुर इत्यपि कालकूटः ।
संरक्षणाय जगतां करुणातिरेकात्
कर्मद्वयं कलितमेतदनन्यसाध्यम् ॥ ३५ ॥
TRANSLATION
Oh Lord Śiva! Mother Gaṅgā was not borne by You because she is a purifier (of Your existence) and the poison of Kālakūṭa was not swallowed by You because it is sweet. For the sake of protecting the world and out of immense compassion these two tasks, that are impossible for the others, were undertaken by You.
VERSE 36 of BRAHMATARKA STAVA
गङ्गाऽपि नैव भवता करिचर्मधारिन्
मूर्ध्ना धृता मधुरिपोश्चरणात्क्षरन्ती ।
किं तु प्रसादनपराय भगीरथाय
दत्त्वा वरं शतधृतेः सदनात्पतन्ती ॥ ३६ ॥
TRANSLATION
Oh Lord who wears elephant skin! (That manifestation of) Mother Gaṅgā who flows from the foot of Lord Viṣṇu was never borne by You on the head. Rather, it was (the manifestation of) Mother Gaṅgā who flows down from the Planet of Śatadhṛti (Lord Indra) that was (borne by You on the head) in order to bless King Bhagīratha after granting him the boon.
NOTE
In His commentary on this śloka, Dīkṣitendra explains that there are two different manifestations of Mother Gaṅgā in this Universe. One of them is the daughter of Himavān who flows within the Planet of Lord Brahmā, and a small amount of this stream was brought down to the Earth by King Bhagīratha. The other stream of Gaṅgā originated from the foot of Lord Trivikrama as He pierced the wall of the Universe and causing a small amount of it to inundate the higher planetary systems. The former is known as Tripathagā Gaṅgā because she flows in three streams (planets) viz Brahmaloka, Bhūloka, and Pātālaloka. The latter is known as Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā because she flows from the foot of Lord Viṣṇu.
The commentary on this śloka is a must read for all āstikas, for Dīkṣitendra has quoted profusely from the Vāmana Purāṇam, Vālmīki Rāmyaṇam, Sabhā-parvan of Mahābhārata, Kūrma Purāṇam, Viṣṇu Purāṇam, Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇam, and Kedāra-khaṇḍa of Skānda Purāṇam to show evidence for the Supremacy of Lord Śiva as well.
VERSE 37 of BRAHMATARKA STAVA
सापि त्वदङ्गपतिता नितरां पवित्रा
जाता ततस्त्वदभिषेकजलोपमेति ।
स्वर्लोकवासिभिरनन्तरमादृतासीत्
ये मूर्धभिर्दधति ते चरणावसृष्टम् ॥ ३७ ॥
TRANSLATION
That (daughter of Himavān) became extremely purified after falling upon Your head and was, thereafter, venerated by the residents of Svarloka (heaven) as pure as Your abhiṣeka-jala and they bear (the water) that flows from Your feet on with heads.
(Verses of Brahmatarka Stava translated by Gokulakrishna Aiyar)
All Glories to Mother Gaṅgā!
All Glories to Lord Śiva!
All Glories to Lord Viṣṇu!
All Glories to Parameśvarāvatāra Śrīmad Appayya Dīkṣitendra who had equal devotion towards both Viṣṇu and Śiva!
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