Ganges River

:Ganges is also the name of a commune in the Hérault département in France.

The Ganga in Hinduism

The Ganga is personified in Hinduism as a goddess: Maa Ganga (Mother Ganga). Hindu legend makes her the foster-mother of Karttikeya, who was actually a son of Shiva and Parvati

Related Topics:
Hinduism - Goddess - Karttikeya - Shiva - Parvati

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Several places sacred to Hindus lie along the banks of the river Ganga, including Haridwar and Varanasi. It is believed that taking a dip in the river will wash away one's sins, and that having one's ashes disposed of in the Ganga after death may improve one's next life or even allow Moksha to be attained sooner. Devout Hindus make pilgrimages to bathe in the Ganga and to meditate on its banks.

Related Topics:
Haridwar - Varanasi - Sin - One's ashes disposed - Death - Next life - Moksha - Pilgrimage - Bath - Meditate

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to the mythological legend, Brahma collected the sweat of Vishnu's feet and created Ganga. Being touched by two members of the Trimurthi, Ganga became very holy.

Related Topics:
Mythological - Brahma - Vishnu - Trimurthi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Several years later, a king named Sagar magically acquired sixty thousand sons. One day, King Sagar performed a ritual of worship for the good of the Kingdom. One of the integral parts of the ritual was a horse, which was stolen by the jealous Indra. Sagar sent all his sons all over the Earth to search for the horse. They found it in the Underworld next to a penitent sage Kapila. Believing that the sage had stolen the horse, they hurled insults at him and caused his penance to be disturbed. The sage opened his eyes for the first time in several years, and looked at the sons of Sagar. With this glance, all sixty thousand were burnt to death.

Related Topics:
King - Ritual - Worship - Kingdom - Horse - Indra - Earth - Underworld - Kapila

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The souls of the sons of Sagar wandered as ghosts since their final rites had not been performed. When Bhagiratha, one of the descendants of Sagar, son of Dilip, learnt of this fate, he vowed to bring Ganga down to Earth so that she could sweep away the ashes to heaven.

Related Topics:
Soul - Ghost - Bhagiratha

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bhagiratha prayed to Brahma that Ganga come down to Earth. Brahma agreed, and he ordered Ganga to go down to the Earth and then on to the Underworld so that the souls of Bhagiratha's ancestors would be able to go to Heaven. The vain Ganga felt that this was insulting and decided to sweep the whole Earth away as she fell from the Heavens. Alarmed, Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva that he break up Ganga's descent.

Related Topics:
Heaven - Shiva

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ganga arrogantly fell on Shiva's head. But Shiva calmly trapped her in his hair and let her out in small streams. The touch of Shiva further sanctified Ganga. As Ganga travelled to the Underworld, she created a different stream to remain on Earth to help purify unfortunate souls there.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Because of Bhagiratha's efforts Ganga descended on to earth and hence the river is also known as Bhagirathi, and the term "Bhagirath prayatna" is used to describe valiant efforts or difficult achievements.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another name that Ganga is known by is Jahnavi. Story has it that once Ganga came down to earth, on her way to Bhagiratha, her rushing waters created turbulence and destroyed the fields of a sage called Jahnu. He was angered by this and drank up all of Ganga's waters. Upon this, the Gods prayed to Jahnu to release Ganga so that she could proceed on her mission. Pleased with their prayers, Jahnu released Ganga (her waters) from his ears. Hence the name "Jahnavi" (daughter of Jahnu) for Ganga.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~