Hindu Article-Descent of Ganga

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Descent of Ganga

 

CHENNAI: The sanctity of River Ganga is beyond compare due to its

divine origin— from the big toe of Lord Vishnu. Adi Sankara in his

hymn, the Bhaja Govindam assures that one can keep Yama (god of

death) at bay by sipping a few drops of Ganga water, which is

interpreted to mean that it confers liberation. According to the

Puranic tradition the river was brought down to the Earth by the

marathon effort of Bhagirata to liberate his forbears and hence the

river is also known as Bhagirati.

 

In his discourse, Sri P.R.Vaidyanatha Sastrigal said the Vishnu

Purana described the descent of Ganga to the world in the context of

elaborating the lineage of King Sagara. Sagara had two wives Sumati

and Kesini. They were childless for long and with the blessing of a

sage 60,000 sons, who were given to bad ways, were born to Sumati.

Kesini had one son named Asamanjasan whose son Amsuman was destined

to bring good name and fame to the line.

 

The celestials prayed to Sage Kapila for intercession as the sons of

Sagara were bent on destroying the performance of sacrifices thereby

depriving them of their offerings and he promised them that they

would meet their end soon. Sagara desired to perform the Aswamedha

sacrifice to establish his supremacy. As was the custom he let loose

the sacrificial horse and asked his 60,000 sons to guard it. But the

horse was stolen without their knowledge and taken to the nether

world.

 

Tracing the marks of the hooves of the horse they dug through the

ground and found the animal tied near the spot where Kapila was in

meditation. Hastily concluding that he had stolen the horse they went

to attack him. When the sage was disturbed in his meditation, he

opened his eyes in anger and all of them were reduced to ashes.

 

As the horse and his sons did not return and the sacrifice had to be

completed successfully Sagara sent his grandson Amsuman next. He

reached Kapila's vicinity and immediately understood his spiritual

stature. By his courteous behaviour he got back the horse and the

sacrifice was completed. The sage blessed him saying that his

grandson Bhagirata would by his penance bring the Ganga to the Earth

to liberate his ancestors. Ganga followed Bhagiratha to the place

where the ashes of his ancestors lay and thus sanctified they were

liberated.

 

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