Ganga Ashtakam 4गंगाष्टकम् 4 గంగాష్టకమ్ 4 கஂகாஷ்டகம் 4 ಗಂಗಾಷ್ಟಕಮ್ 4 ગંગાષ્ટકમ્ 4 গংগাষ্টকম্ 4 ଗଂଗାଷ୍ଟକମ୍ 4 ഗംഗാഷ്ടകമ് 4

{|| gaMgAShTakam 2 ||}
GANGASHTAKAM by Shri Shridharavenkatesa of
Tiruvisanallur respectfully called as Ayyaval.
|| shrI ayyAvAl iti prasiddhaiH shrIdharave~NkaTeshAbhidhaiH virachitam ||
Introduction:- Once, the author Shridhara had to perform the
shrAddha ceremony wherein his ancestors are propitiated. In this
ceremony three pious brahmins who are well versed in the vedas
and are of exemplary character are invited. The Manusmriti gives
details about the qualifications of the brahmins to be invited on
this occasion. The forefathers are invoked in them. Then these
brahmins are honoured, as one would do his ancestors with food,
clothes and dakShina. In Shridhara's case the ceremony fell on
an Amavasya day in the month of Kartika (8th month of the solar
calendar). He had made all arrangements to conduct the ceremony as
ordained in the shastras, including inviting the three brahmins. The
food items to be served to the brahmins (who represent his ancestors)
were being cooked. As the preparations were in progress, he heard the
plaintive cry of a beggar. The beggar was an outcaste. He said he had
not eaten for hours, and so is famished and distressed. Shridhara,
who was a very pious person, saw in this outcaste the image of
Lord Siva and was immensely moved. He immediately gave the