Legend – The Descent of the Ganga
The legend of the descent of the Ganga is in the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana. The young princes Rama and Lakshmana are travelling with Sage Vishwamitra at his request to protect the Vedic rituals that he is conducting from demons that were constantly disrupting it.
After this mission was accomplished, they were on their way to Mithila to see the famous bow of Lord Shiva. They soon came to the River Ganga and made a mini-ashram by the bank of the river. After bathing, performing pujas and having their meal, Sage Vishwamitra told them the story of Ganga, brought down to the earth by the ancestors of Rama and Lakshmana.
Importance of Ganga
The Ganga is the most important river in India. Emerging at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier in the Himalayas, the river at its origin is called Bhagirathi and only from Devaprayag, where the river meets Alakananda is the name Ganga used.
Gangotri is one of the Chota Chardham pilgrimage sites (the four sites are Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath). A temple to Ganga Devi is situated on the right bank of River Bhagirathi in the Gangotri village.
A stone slab near the temple is known as Bhagirath Shila as it is believed to be where King Bhagiratha meditated to bring Ganga down to earth.
Himalayas
The Himalaya is the king of mountains, a storehouse of minerals. To Himavan, the deity presiding over the Himalayas, were born two daughters: Ganga and Uma. The Gods asked Himavan for Ganga who later turned into a river, capable of purifying the world and who would carve her way through air or even underground, according to her own free will. How could that be achieved?
On earth, long, long ago, there lived a very pious king, Sagara by name, who ruled over Ayodhya. His first wife was Keshini, a daughter of the king of Vidarbha. His second wife was Sumati, the sister of Garuda, the king of birds. King Sagara and his wives performed penances in the Himalayas and were given boons by Sage Brighu: one of Sagara’s wives would bear a son who would perpetuate the race while the other would bear 60,000 sons who would be mighty warriors.
In due course, Keshini gave birth to a son Asamanja and Sumati to 60,000 male offspring. Asamanja grew up to be a cruel fellow and was expelled from the kingdom. His son, Amsuman, on the other hand, was beloved of all the subjects.
One day, King Sagara decided to perform a horse sacrifice. The horse was allowed to roam at will. Amsuman who had by then become a great car-warrior, played the role of attending to the horse.
Lord Indra, disguised as a rakshasa, stole the horse away. King Sagara sent out the 60,000 sons of Sumati to retrieve the horse. The 60,000 warriors searched here, there, everywhere; but the horse was to be found nowhere. Then they started excavating the earth to check the underground regions.
The nagas, demons, ogres and other beings inhabiting the subterranean regions let out a roar and went to Brahma to complain that the sons of Sagara were destroying all beings coming in front of them suspecting that they had interfered with the yagna. Brahma appeased them saying that the excavation of the earth happened in every Kalpa; and that Vishnu, the consort of Bhumi Devi, the earth, would take care of the sons of Sagara.
Meanwhile, the 60,000 went back to King Sagara who advised them to continue their search into the underworld, Rasaatala, the penultimate subterranean region. The 60,000 did as they were bid. And soon in Rasaatala, they saw the horse! Ah! Success! Nearby was a sage who appeared to be in deep meditation. It was Vishnu as Sage Kapila. The 60,000 immediately jumped to the conclusion that the robber was in front of them and shouted, “Here is the thief pretending to be a yogi”.
Sage Kapila, disturbed in meditation, opened his eyes and the 60,000 princes were reduced to a heap of ash. This was the intention of Lord Indra who had, on purpose, led the horse to the ashram after stealing it.
Days passed by. King Sagara now called Amsuman and told him to go in search of his uncles in the nether regions. Amsuman followed the path dug by his uncles and soon came across the horse grazing peacefully but also a heap of ash, which he was told were his uncles. He desired to offer water to their spirits but not a drop could he find there.
The king of birds, Garuda, now appeared and advised Amsuman,
“O Prince! Understand that the death of your 60,000 uncles is actually to ensure the descent of Ganga onto Earth. Ganga is capable of purifying the entire earth. It is the water of the Ganga that will enable the souls of the 60,000 princes to achieve salvation”.
Amsuman took the horse and went back to King Sagara and told him all. King Sagara completed his yagna. After Sagara, Amsuman and then his son, Dileep, became kings. They undertook penances to hit upon a plan to bring Ganga down to earth, but in vain. It was Amsuman’s grandson and Dileep’s son Bhagiratha who was finally successful. He performed severe austerities on Mount Gokarna in the Himalayas.
Brahma granted him the wish of bringing down Ganga on earth and advised that Lord Shiva be invoked to support Ganga when she descends onto the earth.
Seven Streams – Tripathagaa
Lord Shiva and his consort Uma, appeared jointly in front of Bhagiratha and agreed to let Ganga descend from the heavens onto the blessed head of Lord Shiva. But when she reached the matted coils of Lord Shiva’s head, she could not find a way out. So Bhagiratha once again undertook penances. Lord Shiva released Ganga into Lake Bindusara; while being released, it got split into seven streams.
Three ran east, three ran west and the seventh followed the chariot of Bhagiratha. This earned Ganga the name ‘Tripathagaa’, the river following a ‘threefold path’ (the three paths are also referred to as heaven, earth and the nether worlds).
Ganga flowed, now swiftly, now slowly; now a thin stream, now a broad river. The river inundated the sacrificial mound of Sage Jahnu, a performer of miracles, who was performing a sacrifice. Furious, the sage drank up the entire river. The Gods, Rishis – everyone was stunned – and glorified the sage.
He was pleased and discharged the Ganga through his ears. Hence, the Ganga is also known as Jahnavi, the daughter of Jahnu. Once again, the river followed the path of Bhagiratha’s chariot, filled the excavation, reached Rasaatala, washed over the heap of ashes and liberated the souls of the 60,000 princes.
– Smt. D.K. Ahana Lakshmi
Click here to learn about the Narmada River
