Bengali Ramayana - Ganga 2

[Guest guest]

Bhagirata carried on, Ganga followed. They passed

Jhanu rishi's ashrama. The hut of the rishi, built from

creepers and leaves, got swept away by the river. Angry,

the rishi swallowed up the entire river. After

sometime, Bhagiratha relaized Ganga was not there behind

him. He went and back saw the sage. Bowing down,

Bhagiratha humbly asked him if knew where Ganga was. The

sage said- "Ganga destroyed my house. I'll destroy

her. Fetch whoever you can. I'll not return her. I

have swallowed her, and she is inside me". <br>Bowing

down, Bhagiratha said "Lord, you are Brahma, Vishnu,

Maheshwar. Please release Ganga, so that I can release the

spirits of my ancestors".<br>Pleased, the rishi slit a

portion of his thigh, and Ganga gushed out. As she had

stayed in Jhanu's body, she came to be know as Jhanavi.

<br>Kandara was a rishi staying in the forests. He was a big

sinner. One day, when he was out in the forests

collecting firewood, he was struck by firewood and died.

Yamdootas came and collected his sould an dtook him to

hell. Meanwhile, the lightning had burnt off his flesh,

but his bones were still there. Crows and vultures

finding the bones, started feeding them. The crows

started dipping teh dry bones in Ganga. As soon as teh

bones touched Ganga, the rishi was released from teh

Yamdootas' cluthches and went off to Vaikuntha. <br>After

releasing Kandara, Ganga flowed into the kingdom of

Gaura(present day Bengal). He flowed by Rishi Padma's ashrama

and one part became called Padma or Padmavati (in

present day Bangladesh). As she had been in Shiva's

locks, she became know as BhairavaVahini. As she was was

going to release Sagar's sons; she came to be know as

Sagargamini. Near Padma's ashrama, seeing Ganga approach, the

Gods started blowing their conch shells (Shankhas).

That spot became know as Shankhadhwani.<br>Indra had a

dip in Ganga, that spot became known as Indreshwar.

Passing by Navadweep, they reached the spot where Ganga

was to reach teh nether world. To swiftly finish the

job, Ganga grew 60 thousand heads. She thus became

know as Shatamukhi. She flowed over the ashes, and the

60 thousands sons went heaven wards. <br>Ganga then

told Bhagiratha to go to Ayodhya and said, she would

now flow into the Ocean. This place became know as

GangaSagar. Bhagiratha returned back, Ganga flowed on.