Bhagiratha went to the Himalayas and started severe austerities. The sages around were amazed to see his dedication. He started his meditation first living on fruits, then on leaves, then on air and finally gave up that too. He was reduced to only skin and bones.
Pleased Ganga came to him to give him a boon, With folded hands Bhagiratha said that his ancestors had been burnt by the sage Kapila and they would attain salvation only when they were touched by the waters of Ganga.
Ganga said she would come but who would be able to bear the force of her waters when she started her journey towards earth.
Bhagiratha then went and started praying to Shiva. Pleased, Shiva appeared before him. Listening to Bhagiratha, Shiva agreed to help him. He went to the Himalayas and asked the mountain range to release Ganga.
Ganga jumped on Shiva's head and from there she began flowing in three different directions. The river flowing towards heaven became known as Mandakini. The river flowing towards earth became Alaknanda and the one flowing to the nether world became known as Bhogvati.
Ganga then said to Bhagiratha - I have come to earth on your invite. Tell me in which direction should I flow. Where are your ancestors?
Bhagiratha started leading the way and Ganga started flowing behind him. She soon got lost in the Himalayan mountains. Ganga then thought of Airavata, the elephant. When the elephant came, Bhagiratha asked the elephant to create a way for Ganga. The elephant said he would be willing to do so if Ganga pleased him.
Bhagiratha, ashamed, told Ganga what Airavata had said. Ganga said to Bhagiratha - Go tell the elephant, if he can withstand my waves, I will please him.
Airavata then created a path with his tusks. Ganga gushed out and soon Airavata was fighting for his life. He appealed to Ganga to save him. Ganga slowed herself, and the elephant fled from there.
They soon reached the ashrama of the sage Jahnu. The sage seeing the river, drank it up. Not seeing the flowing river behind him, Bhagiratha appealed to the sage. The sage, released the river from his knee, by tearing open his flesh. From then on, Ganga became known as Jhanavi.
People were pleased to see Ganga flowing on earth. Flowing behind Bhagiratha, Ganga reached the ashrama of the sage Kapila.
Touched by the waters of Ganga, the sons of Sagara attained salvation and went towards Vaikuntha.
Flowing onwards, Ganga went into the ocean and the ocean was full again.
Pleased Ganga came to him to give him a boon, With folded hands Bhagiratha said that his ancestors had been burnt by the sage Kapila and they would attain salvation only when they were touched by the waters of Ganga.
Ganga said she would come but who would be able to bear the force of her waters when she started her journey towards earth.
Bhagiratha then went and started praying to Shiva. Pleased, Shiva appeared before him. Listening to Bhagiratha, Shiva agreed to help him. He went to the Himalayas and asked the mountain range to release Ganga.
Ganga jumped on Shiva's head and from there she began flowing in three different directions. The river flowing towards heaven became known as Mandakini. The river flowing towards earth became Alaknanda and the one flowing to the nether world became known as Bhogvati.
Ganga then said to Bhagiratha - I have come to earth on your invite. Tell me in which direction should I flow. Where are your ancestors?
Bhagiratha started leading the way and Ganga started flowing behind him. She soon got lost in the Himalayan mountains. Ganga then thought of Airavata, the elephant. When the elephant came, Bhagiratha asked the elephant to create a way for Ganga. The elephant said he would be willing to do so if Ganga pleased him.
Bhagiratha, ashamed, told Ganga what Airavata had said. Ganga said to Bhagiratha - Go tell the elephant, if he can withstand my waves, I will please him.
Airavata then created a path with his tusks. Ganga gushed out and soon Airavata was fighting for his life. He appealed to Ganga to save him. Ganga slowed herself, and the elephant fled from there.
They soon reached the ashrama of the sage Jahnu. The sage seeing the river, drank it up. Not seeing the flowing river behind him, Bhagiratha appealed to the sage. The sage, released the river from his knee, by tearing open his flesh. From then on, Ganga became known as Jhanavi.
People were pleased to see Ganga flowing on earth. Flowing behind Bhagiratha, Ganga reached the ashrama of the sage Kapila.
Touched by the waters of Ganga, the sons of Sagara attained salvation and went towards Vaikuntha.
Flowing onwards, Ganga went into the ocean and the ocean was full again.
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