How River Ganga came to Earth

 The Story of Ganga’s Descent – How River Ganga Came to Earth

Once upon a time, there was a great king named Bhagiratha, who belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty. His ancestors had been cursed, and their souls were trapped without salvation. To free them, Bhagiratha decided to bring the divine river Ganga from heaven to Earth, as her holy waters could cleanse all sins and grant moksha.

Bhagiratha’s Intense Tapasya

Bhagiratha left his kingdom and went to the Himalayas, where he performed intense penance for several years, praying to Lord Brahma to send Ganga to Earth. Pleased by his devotion, Brahma granted his wish but warned, “Ganga’s force is too powerful for Earth. Only Lord Shiva can control her descent.”

Hearing this, Bhagiratha started meditating upon Lord Shiva with deep devotion. After years of meditation, Shiva finally appeared and agreed to receive Ganga on his head to prevent her from destroying the Earth.

Ganga’s Arrogance and Shiva’s Power

When Ganga descended from the heavens, she was proud of her immense force and thought she could sweep away everything in her path. However, Shiva opened his matted locks (Jata) and trapped her inside them, making her unable to flow further.

Realizing her mistake, Ganga prayed to Shiva for forgiveness. Pleased with her humility, Shiva slowly released her from his hair in small streams, allowing her to flow gently down to Earth.

Ganga’s Journey and the Salvation of Bhagiratha’s Ancestors

As Ganga flowed down, Bhagiratha led her to the spot where the ashes of his ancestors lay. The sacred waters touched the ashes, granting salvation to their souls and freeing them from their curse.

Since then, Ganga has been considered the most sacred river in Hinduism, and taking a dip in her waters is believed to wash away sins and grant spiritual liberation.

Moral of the Story

1. Devotion and perseverance can accomplish even the most impossible tasks.

2. Pride leads to downfall, but humility is always rewarded.

3. Shiva’s wisdom and patience teach us the importance of balance and control in life.