The story of how river Ganga came to Earth

The river Ganga is the holiest river in India, possibly in the world. One famous king is responsible for giving us humans this treasure. This river used to flow in the heavens, but this king was able to bring the river Ganga down to Earth. His name was Bhagiratha. He was from the Suryavansha dynasty, and thus ruled over Kosala Kingdom with his capital at Ayodhya. He was the son of King Dilipa I. Bhagiratha was able to bring down the river Ganga and liberate his ancestors, a task that had been passed for five generations.

It took years for Bhagiratha to achieve what he wanted, but a valuable gift from Devi Parashakti opens a path for us all….The path of liberation of the pitrus.

River Ganga is considered as a river which is there in the higher lokas. It was there with the kamandalu of Brahma; means, this is the energy, this is the water energy of the Existence. Brahma means a Creator, the energy which creates the whole Existence. If you see Brahma, you can see four things with Him, one is the kamandalu – means the water energy, another one is the palm leaves – Veda, knowledge, wisdom and aksha mala – means japamala. Aksha mala represents the vibrations, sounds. Then the swan will be there – hamsa vahana. The swan – hamsa represents continuous meditation. Ganga is the water energy of Brahma. She was there in His kamandalu.

Bhagavan Paramashiva darshan

Bhagavan Brahma appears and gives darshan and he says – “Yes, I can send the River Ganga to the planet Earth. No problem. But be very clear – can planet Earth hold River Ganga’s speed? First, do something about that. Arrange for it. Then I will send the Ganga.”

Then, again King Bhagiratha starts doing penance, doing tapasya. After the tapasya, Bhagavan Paramashiva appears. Then King Bhagiratha explains “Now Lord Brahma accepts to send the River Ganga to planet Earth. But He says the whole planet Earth will be washed away. Planet Earth cannot withstand the speed of Ganga. Please do something, You have to protect us, You have to take care of us.”

Paramashiva says, “Alright, I will take care. Don’t worry. Tell Bhagavan Brahma to send River Ganga. I will take care.” Then again King Bhagiratha meditates.

Now Lord Brahma appears and says, “I am ready to send. But devatas are not ready to depart with River Ganga. They like to take baths in Ganga every day. It is their life source. Ganga is not simple water. It is an energy. By bathing in that only every day they rejuvenate their body and mind.”

Then King Bhagiratha says, “Alright, I will arrange all the facilities for devatas to stay on the planet Earth. Just on the banks of River Ganga, I will create cities where all Gods and Goddesses can live and have baths every day and have their regular routine as they have in the other loka, as they have in the Brahma loka.”

Then King Bhagiratha comes and does tapasya towards Himachala, the Hima hills, Himaparvatha, the Himaraj. Himaraja appears and asks, “What do you want?”

Creating path for Ganga

Then King Bhagiratha starts building the whole city throughout the route in which Ganga is supposed to travel. He meditates on every hill and takes permission. He prays to every hill. Every hill says “Yes, I will give the way for Ganga”. So, the whole route is cleared.

Then he goes and prays to Lord Kalabhairava, who is the in-charge of city Varanasi. Kalabhairava appears and says, “What do you want?” “ Please give us the way to Ganga. You should receive Ganga and give us the way.”

Kalabhairava says, “Surely, I will give. Don’t worry. But this is such a holy city. Tell Ganga to take a full Pradakshina of this city and go, do Pradakshina of this city and go.” And Ganga accepts that… Bhagavan Kalabhairava’s command and she takes the U-turn, means the Uttar Vahini. She is called Uttar Vahini in Kashi.

Then the King started meditating towards Lord Vishnu. And Bhagavan Vishnu appeared, “What do you want?” The king shares “I wanted the Ganga to come down to the planet Earth. Unless you agree, unless you give blessings it will not be possible. Please bless me.”

Bhagavan Vishnu says, “Alright I bless you. Ganga will come to the planet Earth. She will come just out of My feet.” Then He says a beautiful one more sentence“Whomsoever has realized the Vishnumaya, means the Universal Consciousness, whatever water comes out of their feet will be Ganga.” From this word only, the tradition of pada puja starts. Pada puja of Enlightened masters starts from this tradition.

Coming down of Ganga

Here King Bhagiratha is sitting, sitting, sitting waiting for Ganga for one kalpa. What has happened? Already she has started, but not landed here. What happened?

Again, he meditates towards Paramashiva, Paramashiva appears and says, “Yes, she’s there in my head. Now what do you want me to do?”

Bhagiratha says, “Please just send her a little bit. Don’t hold the whole thing.” Then Shiva says, “Oh, is it so. Alright, then just He moves one hair; just He does, only one hair moves and from that one hair gap just Ganga comes out and lands on the Himalayas.