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How Ganga Came to Earth | Mythological Story

Do you know why Ganga River is also called as Bhagirathi or Jaahnavi ? Or Do you know why we see Ganga flowing from the Shiva's hair ?

Today's mythological story is about India's Ganga river and it will also answer all these above questions. Let's start the story -

A long time ago, there was no rain on earth for twelve years. Due to this all rivers and wells dried up. There was no drinking water for people and animals. Both were slowly dying.

HowGangaCameToEarth_MythologicalStories



That time the king of the land as Bhagiratha. He saw the suffering of all living beings and he decided to take some action for it. First he went to Himalaya as Himalaya was the King of Mountains. He begged Himalaya to send a river to the land. The King of Mountains was surprised that the land is facing this much trouble.

Himalaya said, "My daughter Ganga can help you. But thing is she is no longer with me. She is in a place where the Gods stay. She is very naughty so if I ask her she will not come. Why don't you ask her ?"

Without any option left, Bhagiratha raised his hands and begged, "Oh Ganga! You only can help the people on earth now. Please come down."

Ganga had seen the suffering of the people and the animals on the land. She was about to come down but then she realized something. “If I jump from such a great height, I’ll be coming down with such force, that the earth will be washed away," said Ganga.

Bhagiratha was worried. He asked Himalaya for the advice. Himalaya told Lord Shiva can help in this matter, please go to him. He is the Lord and he can catch Ganga and let her flow gently to the earth.

Bhagiratha went to Shiva and prayed to him. He explained him the situation. Shiva agreed to help.
They both stood on a high peak, looked up at the heavens, and Bhagiratha called out, “Ganga, I’m ready for you. Come down.”

With a mischievous smile Ganga asked, “Are you sure you will be standing still as I come down or will you be washed away?” Shiva knitted his eye brow. Bhagairatha immediately put in a word, “Please do not get angry. You are here to help me and millions of people waiting for water.” Shiva smiled, “All right, Ganga, come down with all the force you have. I’m ready for you.”

Devas assembled in the sky to see off Ganga going to earth. Playfully, Ganga shouted at Shiva, “Here I come. Catch me if you can.” Bhagiratha watched astounded as Ganga took a plunge from the heaven to the earth below. Waters of the Ganga dropped down with a huge force. Heaven and earth were now connected with the water of Ganga.

"Ganga, where are you?" Bhagiratha cried out in alarm. "I'm here," a feeble voice was heard. "I'm trapped in Shiva’s hair." Shiva tied his hair and Ganga was trapped there. She could not come out.
Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva again to let Ganga flow out.

Shiva relented and the waters of the Ganga started trickling down the matted hair of Shiva.Bhagiratha thanked Shiva and as he got into his chariot, he asked Ganga to follow him.
Bhagiratha rode down the hills of the Himalayas with Ganga following him. As he drove, Bhagiratha kept looking over his shoulder to make sure Ganga was following him. As he took a sharp turn after crossing the hermitage of Sage Jahnu, he looked back. To his shock, Ganga was gone!

She had taken a detour to enter Sage Jahnu’s hermitage. The sage who was in deep meditation stirred as he felt his lower limbs getting wet. As he slowly opened his eyes, he found himself neck deep in the waters of Ganga who was laughing at the plight of the sage. Annoyed with her, the sage scooped the waters in his hand and drank. To her dismay, Ganga found herself pulled into the cupped hand of the sage and the next moment she was inside the sage’s tummy!

“Ganga, where are you,” shouted Bhagiratha.
“Here, King,” a feeble voice was heard, “I am in Sage Jahnu’s tummy!”
Bhagiratha went down on his knees. “O Sage, Ganga is playful. Won’t you pardon her and allow her to flow out? We have no water in our land, we need her.”
Sage Jahnu allowed Ganga to come out of his ear.

Bhagiratha turned homeward with Ganga following him. This time she didn’t take any detours.
As Ganga flowed through the region, people and animals came to her. They bowed to her and then scooped water in their hands and drank, “Oh Ganga, you saved our lives,” they said. Dried up crops revived. Plants became green. Flowers bloomed.

Wherever Ganga went, she brought joy to people, animals and plants.
As she neared the bed of ocean which had also dried up, Bhagiratha called out to her. “Flow Ganga, flow on to the bed of the ocean. Fill it with your water.”
In no time the ocean was full.

The sun was happy to see the ocean coming alive. His rays sucked water from the ocean. Clouds formed and soon it rained everywhere.
The earth got soaked in rain and put out a green carpet. People of the land hailed Bhagiratha for bringing Ganga to earth.

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Story By - Mythological Stories
Post By - Khushi

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