Baal Kaand | Ayodhyaa Kaand | Aranya Kaand | Kishkindhaa Kaand | Sundar Kaand | Yuddh Kaand | Uttar Kaand
 

Home | V-Raamaayan | Baal Kaand

Previous | Next

Sarg 42-Bhageerath's Efforts for Gangaa

Vishwaamitra Jee continued his story of Gangaa - "After the death of Raajaa Sagar, Anshumaan was appointed as the King of Ayodhyaa. He was very religious. He ruled for some time, then handed over his kingdom to his son Dileep and went to do Tap on Himaalaya. He did Tapasyaa for 32,000 years, then he died and went to Swarg so he achieved only the fruits of his Tapasyaa. What worried Anshumaan before, now worried Dileep too. 

Raajaa Dileep did several Yagya and ruled for 30,000 years but couldn't think of any way for the Mukti of his ancestors. So he also handed over his kingdom to his son Bhageerath who was also very religious, and went to Indra Lok.

Now Bhageerath started making efforts to bring Gangaa Jee on Prithvi. Since he didn't have any child,  he handed over his kingdom to his able ministers and went for Tap. He went to Gokarn Parvat and started doing Tap. He did Tap for thousands of years standing upraising his hands and amidst five fires (Panchaagni or four fires in four directions and one Sun fire from above).

Brahmaa Jee got pleased with his Tap, appeared with Devtaa, and said to Bhageerath - "O Raajaa Bhageerath, I am very pleased with your Tapasyaa, ask for any Var." Bhageerath said - "I wish to do Tarpan for Raajaa Sagar's sons with Gangaa water, so that they can go to Swarg for ever, and I want a son so that my family can extend." Brahmaa Jee said - "So be it. You will succeed in your mission but this Gangaa, the elder daughter of Himvaan is full of snow, only Shiv Jee can tolerate it, this Prithvi cannot tolerate her downfall. I see nobody else except Shiv Jee who can control the force of flow of Gangaa Jee; so first you please Shiv Jee. And you will have a son too." And Brahmaa Jee went away to his Lok.

Sarg 43-Gangaa Comes on Prithvi

Vishnwaamitra Jee continued his story - "Now Bhageerath started doing Tap to please Shiv  standing on his big toe and fasting for one year. Mahaadev Jee got pleased with his Tapasyaa and said to him - "I will fulfill your wish. I will sustain the daughter of Himvaan Gangaa on my head." Immediately Gangaa fell on Shiv Jee's head from the sky. She was under the impression that she would take Mahaadev to Rasaatal Lok by drifting him. But Shiv Jee knew her intentions so he held her in his Jataa (hair). She made many efforts to come out of his Jataa to go on Prithvi but all in vain. She went round and round in Shiv Jee's hair for many years.

Raajaa Bhageerath again did Tapasyaa to please Shive Jee to release Gangaa from his head. After that Shiv Jee released Gangaa Jee towards Bindu Lake on Himaalaya. She came out in seven streams from that lake. Her three streams became known as Hlaadinee, Paavanee, and Nalinee (Nalinee is called Brahmputra) which flowed towards East; Suchakshu, Seetaa, and Sindhu (in Indus Valley) flowed towards West. The seventh stream Gangaa followed Bhageerath's Divine chariot. [That is why she is called Bhaageerathee too.]  Thus Gangaa came from Heaven to Shiv's head, then to Earth and then followed Bhageerath. (See Gangaa on Prithvi)

To see Gangaa on Earth many kinds of Earth's living beings appeared. All kinds of reptiles, fishes, tortoises were jumping in her waters. Devtaa, Gandharv etc were also looking at this beautiful scene. Because of the shine of their ornaments the whole sky shone bright as if several Suns have arisen in the sky. Rishi Muni considered this water as holy water, so they did Aachman from that water. Many Devtaa who were born on Prithvi because of their sins, took bath in that waters, washed their sins away and went to their former Lok. Even many Gandharv, Yaksh, Apsaraa followed the chariot of Bhageerath. Her water was flowing somewhere deep, somewhere shallow, somewhere straight and somewhere in curves, somewhere falling and somewhere in surges.

Thus all the Devta, Rishi, Gandharv, Siddh, reptiles, fishes, serpents, Apsaraa etc were going along with Gangaa.

Now from where this Gangaa was flowing, Jahnu Muni was doing Yagya, so she carried away all his Yagya material with her water. Jahnu Muni got very angry at this and he drank all water of Gangaa. Devtaa and Gandharv etc worshipped Muni and honored him to be her father. Then only Muni got pleased and released her waters from his both ears. That is why she became the daughter of Jahnu Muni and was called Jaahnavee. Then Gangaa came to ocean and from there she went to netherworlds. Then she came to Rasaatal and the place where Sagar's 60,000 sons were burned. As Gangaa water flowed upon that place, all 60,000 sons of Sagar got Mukti." Thus Vishwaamitra narrated the story of Gangaa.

Sarg 44-Gangaa Known as Bhaageerathee

Vishwaamitra Jee further said - "Bhageerath arrived in Paataal Lok with Gangaa Jee and gave Mukti to his great grandfathers. Brahmaa Jee came and said to Bhageerath - "Because of your efforts Raajaa Sagar's 60,000 sons now have gone to Swarg Lok. Till this water remain in the ocean, they will also live in Swarg. And from today Gangaa will be known as the daughter of yours, because only you have brought her on Prithvi. From now onward she will be known as "Divine Gangaa", "Bhaageerathee", "Tri-Pathgaa" (since it flowed into three worlds - Swarg, Bhoo Lok and Rasaatal) like names. Your great great grandfather Sagar could not bring her on Prithvi, your grandfather Anshumaan also could not bring her, nor your father Dileep who was like me in Tap also failed, only you were so fortunate to bring her here. You have become worthy of my abode by doing this. There is no need to find any auspicious time to take bath in her and to offer Tarpan in a proper way." So Bhageerath did the Tarpan from her water and came back to Ayodhyaa.

Hey Raam, Whoever will tell and hear this story of Gangaa Jee, he will enjoy all pleasures of wealth, children, Dharm and go to Swarg. Now the evening is approaching so your do your daily chores, and meditate on Gaayatree.

Home | V-Raamaayan | Baal Kaand

Previous | Next