Symbols and vehicle of Ganga

Ganga Devi, white in colour, rests on makaramatsya, holding in her hands a pot and lotus flowers.

Origin and general information

Ganga had its origin during the incarnation of Visnu as Vamana. When Vamana measured the three worlds in three steps the nails on his left feet were raised high. They caused a pore on the upper side of the universe. Ganga starting from the finger of Visnu's feet fell in heaven.

The famous Visnupadi, the flowing water (tirtha) of which washes away the sins of the people in the universe is the very same Ganga under discussion. For many yugas (eras) this river confined itself to the heights of the sky, otherwise called Visnupada. This particular spot is known as Dhruvamandala as it is here that Dhruva, son of King Uttanapada, does his penance. The seven sages who constantly go round and round the Dhruvamandala take their bath in this holy river. The course of the river is thus: starting from Visnupada it falls on devayana glittering with crores of vimanas and therefrom it descends on Candramandala which it submerges. It follows its course again from there dividing itself into four tributaries called Sita, Caksus, Alakananda and Bhadra and then falls in Brahmaloka wherefrom it flows in all directions. Of the four tributaries Sita falls on the head of mount Meru, flows down to Gandhamadana, then circling through Bhadrasva Varsa falls into the eastern sea. Caksus falls on the peaks of mount Malyavan, flows through Ketumala and falls into the western sea. Alakananda falls on mount Hemakuta, flows through Bharata Varsa and falls into the southern sea. And Bhadra falls on the head of mount Srrigavan, flows through Uttarakuru and falls into the northern sea. Alakananda flows through Bharata Varsa and is regarded as the most sacred of the four tributaries. Ganga which flowed through heaven fell on the earth after thousands of years of its origin. (Bhagavata, Pancama, Skandha, Chapter 1 7)

Why Ganga became Shiva's consort

Mahavisnu was once engaged at Vaikuntha in a pleasant talk with his wives, Laksmi, Sarasvati and Ganga when Ganga cast lustful eyes on Visnu, who, behind the backs of the other two wives returned the lustful glances. Sarasvati could not put up with that situation for a long time. Therefore, she got up from her seat and beat Ganga. Laksmi tried to restrain Sarasvati lest the quarrel should become fiercer. Angered at this intervention Sarasvati cursed that Laksmi be born on earth. Ganga got angry that innocent Laksmi was thus cursed, and she in her turn cursed that Sarasvati be born as a river on earth. Sarasvati did not take the curse lying down, but cursed that Ganga also be born as a river on earth and take upon herself the sins of the whole world.

When all the three wives of Visnu got themselves thus into trouble he told them as follows: "Everything has happened as it should have happened. Laksmi may go to the earth and be born in the home of Dharmadhvaja and grow up as his daughter, but not from the womb of his women. There you will purify the three worlds after which you will be born as the plant called tulasi, and be married by an asura called Sarikhacuda, who will be born as a part of me. And, after that you will be turned into a sacred river called Padmavati, and leaving the river on earth your divine form will return to Vaikuntha." And, to Ganga Visnu said as follows: "You will go to earth as a holy river to wash off the sins of people there. A king called Bhagiratha will be leading you to earth, and you will, therefore, be known as Bhagirathi also. And, you will remain there on earth as the wife of the ocean of King Santanu. Your divine form will return to mount Kailasa as the consort of Shiva." As for Sarasvati, Visnu asked her to be born as a river on earth, her divine form ultimately returning to Satyaloka and then becoming the consort of Brahma. And, thus it was that Laksmi became the consort of Mahavisnu, Ganga of Shiva, and Sarasvati of Brahma. (Devi Bhagavata, Navama Skandha)

Ganga born on earth due to the curse of Brahma

Mahabhisaka, an emperor of the Iksvaku dynasty, went to Satyaloka after he had attained heaven, to worship Brahma. Ganga too happened to be there. In the devotional atmosphere at Satyaloka a casual breeze removed Ganga's clothes slightly from position, and Mahabhisaka then cast a lustful glance at her which she also returned. Brahma, who was observing this exchange of love got angry and cursed that Mahabhisaka be born as a King on earth and Ganga as his wife. Ganga prayed for redemption from the curse, and Brahma told her that she would regain her old status after she had delivered the Astavasus. As the consequence of Brahma's curse Mahabhisaka was born as King Santanu in the solar dynasty on earth and he married Ganga. (Adi Parva, Chapters 96 and 97)

Bhagiratha brought down Ganga on earth

King Sagara of the solar dynasty had two wives called Sumati (Vaidarbhi) and Kes inl (Saibya). A son called Asamanjasa was born to Kes inl, and 60,000 princes were born to Sumati. Sagara drove out of the country Asamanjasa, who turned out to be an enemy of the people. The 60,000 sons of Sagara also proved to be a menace to the world, and the Devas approached Brahma for protection from the menace. He assured the Devas that a sage called Kapila will destroy the 60,000 evil fellows. During the above period of time Sagara performed an Asvamedha Yajna, and his sons went round the earth with the sacrificial horse. But, when they reached the sea-shore the horse disappeared. When the sons complained about it to their father, Sagara, he asked them to look out for the horse in every part of the world and bring it back. Not finding it anywhere on earth they dug a hole and entered Patala, where they saw Sage Kapila absorbed in meditation and the missing horse tied to a pole near the sage. (It was Indra who had carried away the horse and tied it there). The sons of Sagara, believing that was Kapila who had stolen the horse were about to attack the sage when he opened his eyes, and they were reduced to ashes in the fire of Kapila's eyes. His sons having not returned even after a long time Sagara asked his grandson Amshuman to seek them out, and after an extensive search he saw Kapila at Patala. Amshuman pleased Kapila with laudatory phrases and the latter returned to him the sacrificial horse. Kapila also pronounced the blessing that the grandson of Amshuman would perform the purificatory rites of Sagara's sons by bringing down Ganga to earth from heaven. Amshuman returned to the palace with the horse and the asvamedha was duly concluded. From Amshuman was born Dillpa and from him Bhagiratha. On becoming King, Bhagiratha handed over the reins of government to his ministers and began efforts to bring down Ganga to earth. He did tapas for thousand years on the slopes of the Himalayas when Ganga asked him to please Shiva first as he alone could face her (Ganga) fall on the earth. Accordingly he pleased Shiva by his penance and Shiva agreed to receive Ganga on his head. With a terrific noise Ganga came down on Shiva's head. The haughty Ganga wanted to carry down Shiva also to Patala. Realising this ambition of her Shiva blocked her passage with the result that she wandered about in Shiva's matted hair for many years without finding an outlet. Bhagiratha again did tapas and pleased Shiva who shook his matted head and made some water fall therefrom on earth. The water fell into Bindusaras, and flowed in seven tributaries, the first three, Hladini, Pavani and Nalini towards the east, the next three, Sucaksus, Sita and Sindhu towards the west and the seventh tributary followed Bhagiratha. In this manner they progressed a great distance till they reached the asrama of the sage Jahnu, and the haughty Ganga flooded the asrama. The sage got enraged at this and drank up Ganga. But Bhagiratha pleased the sage who then let out Ganga through his ears. Thenceforth Ganga came to be called Jahnavi also. Ganga again followed Bhagiratha to Patala and made the sons of Sagara attain salvation by purifying them with her waters. After the purificatory rites of the sons of Sagara were over, Bhagiratha conducted Ganga to the sea and with its waters the sea became full.

Divine nature of Ganga

Mahabharata has the following on the greatness of Ganga. If, after death, the bones of the dead are deposited in Ganga the departed will attain heaven. Even if one had sinned throughout his life he would attain Visnupada (heaven) if he worshipped Ganga. Bathing in the Ganga is as beneficial as performing hundred yajnas. As long as the bones of one remain in the waters of the Ganga so long will he occupy an honourable seat in heaven. He who has come in contact with its water will shine forth as the sun devoid of all darkness. Places which are not favoured by its waters will become barren like night without the moon and trees without flowers. Ganga water is more than enough to satisfy living things in all the three worlds. He who does penance standing on one leg for thousand years, and he who gives up his body in the waters of the Ganga are on a par with each other. God attaches more importance to him who has fallen into the Ganga than to him, who has performed tapas hanging by his head for a thousand years. He who smears the sand on the banks of the Ganga on his body will get the lustre and glow of the devas, and her who smears the sand on his head will shine forth like the Sun. All the sins of those on whom has blown the air which had come in contact with Ganga water will be swept away. It should be known that Ganga water can wash off all sins and purify mortals. The Agni Purana (Chapter 110) has the following on this subject. Through whatever places the Ganga flows those places become sublime and sacred. Ganga is the refuge of all created beings who aspire for the final good. If Ganga is worshipped daily it will save families both on the mother's and the father's side from evil fate. To drink Ganga water is better than the observance of a thousand lunar months. If one worships Ganga for a month one will derive all the benefits of having performed all the yajnas. Even the blind (the ignorant) who worship Ganga, will attain equal status with the devas. The sight of Ganga, contact with its waters and drinking Ganga water will purify people in thousands and lakhs.