How did the Ganga come down to earth? King Bhagiratha did long penance to bring the Ganga down and free the souls of his ancestors. Shiva caught her in his matted hair, so her fall wouldn’t shatter the earth, and let her out in gentle streams.
The story
King Sagara’s sixty thousand sons, searching for his sacrificial horse, disturbed the sage Kapila and were burned to ashes. Only the waters of the Ganga, then flowing in heaven, could free their souls.
Generations tried and failed. Their descendant Bhagiratha gave up his kingdom for penance, and Brahma agreed to send her. But her fall would have shattered the earth. Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva, who caught her in his matted hair and let her out in gentle streams.
Ganga followed Bhagiratha across the land to the ashes, and his ancestors were freed. So hard was his effort that a great effort is still called Bhagirath prayatna, and one of the river’s headstreams is named Bhagirathi. Ganga Dussehra marks her descent, and it’s why families bring ancestors’ ashes to her.
What it teaches
Sources
- Ramayana, Bala Kanda; Bhagavata Purana.
The puja families link with this story
Questions devotees ask us
Where does the story of Descent of the Ganga come from?
It is told in the Ramayana, Bala Kanda; Bhagavata Purana. Retellings differ in small details from region to region.
What does this story teach?
What we do for our ancestors can take generations, and is worth it.