Origin of our Sacred River Ganga
There are so many sacred Rivers in our country and River Ganga is treated most sacred of all.We are lucky enough to have it in India.
We Indians do not treat river as just water but we treat it as the Divine Mother.We worship it.
Proud to have such a rich culture.
River Ganga and its importance
Ganga is actually a heavenly river named Mandhakini but descended from heaven to earth by the intense tapasya of Great King Bhagiratha for his great grandfathers and it reached the Pathala Loka(below earth region) for there salvation.
As it is flowing in three worlds (Heaven,Earth and patala) it is named as Tripathaga.
Ganga has great power to removes Sins.It purifies us.
It is said that just a drop of Ganga jal during our last breath will shut the doors to hell.
In Kali yuga we don't know which rituals to perform to get rid of these sins and if we do them wrongly it gives us more sin. So the easy way to get freed from sins is to bath in River Ganga.
Origin of Ganga
The story of Ganga's descent from heaven was given in Ramayana and was explained by Vishwamitra Marharshi to Lord Rama in Balakanda.
King Sagara of Raghu Dynasty and his tapasya for children.
King Sagara who was from Raghu dynasty was brave and followed dharma, he had two wife's namely Kesini (daughter of Vidharba) who is truthful and dharmic and the other Sumati(daughter of Arishtanemi) who had great beauty but they had no children.
One day the king along with his wife's went to Himavat mountain and did tapasya on peak Bruguprasravana to obtain children.They did tapasya for hundred years and pleased by the tapasya,Rishi Bhrugu gave them a boon that he will have one son who will continue the progeny and sixty thousand sons who will have fame and perservance,wife's enquired Rishi who will have one and who will have many, Rishi gave the choice to the wife's themselves to select who they want.
Kesini selected one son who will continue the progeny while Sumati (sister of Garuda) selected sixty thousand sons.They prostated before Rishi and left.
Few years later Kesini gave birth to a son and named him Asamanjasa and Sumati gave birth to a gourd shaped embryo which bursted and sixty thousand sons came out,they were placed in clarfied butter until their full development. It took a long time for them to become youthful.
Asamanjasa had a evil behavior and used to drown the children into the river Sarayu and would laugh when they drown.
King after knowing the incidents did not spare his son and sent him out of the kingdom. Asamanjasa had a son named Amshuman.He was brave and loved by the people and is polite to everyone.
Sagara performs Yagna(Sacrifice)
One day King Sagara thought of doing a Yagna.So he along with eminent priest started the preparation of Yagna as per the Vedas.
The Yagna was started in between the Himavat and Vindya mountains which was the right place for Yagna.
Amshuman was sent to protect the sacrificial horse and he was instructed to follow the horse.
When the Yagna was about to end,the sacrificial horse was stolen by Indra in disguised form as Rakshasa.
The news was bought to King Sagara,Priest suggested that the Yagna should be completed at any cost and horse should be brought back,if not it is not good for both the King and the Priests involved in Yagna.
King Sagara's sons in search of sacrificial horse
Then King Sagara ordered his sixty thousand sons to bring back the horse and asked to search for it in the whole earth Yojan by Yojan(measurement of distance) and excavate till they find the Horse.
Sagara sons went in search of Sacrificial Horse and started digging the earth with the ploughs spades and there nails which are diamonds.
Sagara in anger ordered the sons to go again and search each and every corner of the earth.Sons started digging all the corners of the Earth and found Diggajas at North,South,East,West poles and they were bearing the earth on there head.Sagara sons prostated them and left.
Sagara's sons turned into ashes by the anger of Kapila Maharshi
Finally they found the horse in North east and is tied near to Kapila Maharshi who was meditating.So the sons thought that it was Kapila maharshi who had stolen the horse and all sixty thousand sons who were armed moved towards Kapila maharshi to attack him.Kapila Maharshi who was in dhyana opened his eyes and saw them coming towards him, he did a humkara (sound) and all of them turned into ashes by his anger.
As its a long time that his sons did not return King Sagara sent his grandson Amshuman to get the horse for completion of yagna.
Garuda's suggestion to get Ganga for Sagara's Salvation
Amshuman followed the route dug by his uncles and met the diggajas,asked there where abouts and enquired about his uncles and the horse,the diggajas blessed them that he will soon find the horse.
He continued his search and found the horse and saw his uncles where turned into ashes,with great sorrow he thought of doing the ritual (tarpana)with water,Soon Garuda deva came to him and said that they did so harm to the earth and everyone are happy with there desmise and moreover they were burned into ashes by anger of Kapila maharshi so only the water of River Ganga (purifier of three worlds )will purify your uncles to give them Heavens and need to do the rituals with that sacred water only.He prostated Garuda deva and left the place with the horse.
The Yagna was completed as per vedas.
Amshuman communicated everything to King Sagara.
Amshuman becomes King.
King Sagara was not knowing how to bring heavenly Ganga down.He could not plan any means,after ruling for years he passed away and reached heavens.
His grandson Amshuman became the King.He had a son Dilipa ,Amshuman handed over the kingdom to him and went to Himavat parvath for tapaya,he performed the tapasya for 32000 years and passed away.
Dilipa rules the kingdom
Dilipa knowing that his grandfathers did not get sathgati, looked for an option to descend Ganga to earth and performed many yagna's but was unable to get River Ganga for there ancestors salvation.
King Bhagiratha and his great Tapasya
Later Bhagiratha son of Dilipa was made the King,he did not have children.Inorder to bring Ganga from heaven,he handed over the kingdom to his ministers and went to Gokarna and started doing tapasya with arms up and fire around,taking food once a month continued tapasya for so many years.
Brahma grant boons
Pleased by the tapasya Brahma appeared before him to ask for a boon.
Bhagiratha asked two boons
First one is to bring Ganga down to earth for the funeral rights of there great grandfathers to reach heavens.
Second one is to continue the race of Ikshyvakus.
Brahma smiled and with sweet voice said that his progeny will be continued but its only Shiva who can bear the force of Ganga if it comes down to earth and no other can do it and asked him to please Lord Shiva.
Bhagiratha again started tapasya for Shiva and stood on his toe tip for one year.
Shiva pleased with his tapasya agreed to bear Ganga on his head.
Ganga's pride and Shiva's lesson
Ganga thought that no one can bear her force and it is impossible even for Lord Shiva to stop her reaching earth.
Lord Shiva knowing Ganga's proud intention stood with leg wide open,hands on the waist and with matted locks to hold Ganga.
Ganga fell onto the head of Shiva but was unable to come down to Earth though she put in all her efforts.It took years and the Ganga was still moving around in the matted lock.
As Bhagiratha did not found Ganga,he continued his tapasya for Shiva.
Pleased with his tapasya Shiva released Ganga slowly.
Ganga's release by Lord Shiva and its descent to earth.
Ganga started falling on to Earth,branched herself into seven streams.
Three of the streams named as Hladini,Pavani, Nalini flowed eastwards.
The other three streams named Suchakshu,Sita and sindhu flowed westward.
And the seventh stream followed Bhagiratha.
The Ganga was falling from the sky onto the head of Lord Shiva and from there to the Earth.
All the sea animals such as Fishes,Snakes,Crocodiles,Crabs fell along with Ganga.
Ganga while falling down made a huge noise.She rose so high and fell back.she was moving faster,slower, wider and narrower.
All Gandarvas,Kinaras, Rakshas,Devatas, Siddhas,Danavas just stood there amazed looking at the happening.
Heavenly God's bought there chariots to see the Ganga falling .The sky was shining as hundred Sun's with the reflection of gold ornaments of Devatas.
All the Devatas,Kinnaras,Rishis,Gandharvas were following the Ganga on its way.
As the Ganga touched Lord Shiva's head it is freed from all the impurities and treating it sacred Rishis,Devatha, Gandarvas,Siddhas bathed in it.
Those Devatas who got cursed to fall back to earth went to heaven again as there sins got removed.Everyone were rushing to Ganga to purify themselves.
Ganga named as Jahnavi
While Ganga was flowing it flooded the Yagna ground of Jahnu Maharshi while he was performing the yagna,seeing the pride of Ganga he became furious and drank all the Ganga water.
Everyone stood amazed,they worshipped and pleaded the Maharshi to give her a chance and treat her as his daughter.
Pleased with them he released Ganga from his ears,so the Ganga got the name Jahnavi.
Ganga reaches Pathala Loka
Brahma's appearance before Bhagiratha
Soon after Ganga flooded the ashes, Lord Brahma appeared in front of Bhagiratha and said that his great grandfathers reached heavens as gods.
Bhagiratha made it possible to get Ganga to earth though his ancestors like Sagara who is righteous, Amshuman who had great prowess,Dilipa who was not less than a Maharshi failed to bring Ganga to earth.
Brahma praised him saying by doing this act he reached high abode in dharma.
Brahma continued saying that as long as Ganga is on Earth Sagara's will continue to stay in Heaven.Ganga will be treated your eldest daughter and named as Bhagirathi.
Asked him to offer the water to there ancestors and fulfill his vow and take a dip in the sacred water and purify himself.
Bhagiratha ruled the kingdom with great satisfaction
Bhagiratha was freed from sorrow and his progeny continued and lived happily.People were happy to get a king like Bhagiratha.
Benefits of reading the story as given in Ramayana.
Whoever reads the story of Ganga origin with concentration all there desires get fulfilled, their longevity and fame increases and their sins get freed.
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