Bala Kanda - 43 Sarga

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Bala Kanda Sarga-43

 

Om Asmadgurubhyo Namaha

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

 

After Chaturmulkha Brahma left, Bhageeratha continued his penance one more year

just by standing on tip of his big-toe. Pleased with his penance, Lord Siva

appeared before Bhageeratha and said, "I am pleased with your penance and I can

hold Himavan's daughter Ganga on my head". At this time Ganga started flowing

from the sky towards earth with great pride, and thought that Lord Siva may not

be able to bear her force. She also decided to bring along with her pathalaloka.

 

All wise, Siva could feel Ganga's arrogant intension, and he was displeased with

her purpose and decided to hold her in his matted hair and hold her there until

she was rid of her pride. Ganga fell in to Shiva's heavy matted hair and

couldn't escape from it to reach earth. For a few years Ganga was trying to

escape from Siva's matted hair. Learning that Ganga was held captive in Siva's

matted hair, Bhageeratha started Tapas once again towards Siva, who was pleased

with Bhageeratha and let out Ganga into Bindu Lake located in Himalayas, which

was created by Brahma. Ganga came out Siva's matted hair and started flowing in

the east side with 3 rivulets namely `Hladini', `Padini' and `Nalini'. On west

side she flowed in 3 rivulets named `Suchakshuvu', `Sitha', and `Sindhuvu'. The

seventh branch came along with Bhageeratha to earth, which is called

`Bhageerathi". While Bhageeratha was going in a chariot Ganga followed him in

the same direction keeping pace with him. From the sky Ganga fell on head of

Siva and from there reached earth. Before all this, in answer to Devatha's

prayer Ganga went to swargaloka and flowed in the sky. Later because of

Bhageeratha's penance, Ganga fell on Siva's head and came to earth. Ganga is

also called Thripathaga, the reason being that originally she flowed in the sky,

then the head of Shiva and finally to earth. Another reason for the name is that

she ran in three directions. Ganga was following Bhageeratha with a loud noise,

and one could see fishes and tortoises jumping in the river water. Sitting on

pushpakavimana, Devatha's were witnessing this astonishing Ganga avatharana

(Ganga creation). Water of Ganga River was shining like precious ornaments, and

she looked glowing with hundreds of sun shining in the sky. Ganga was flowing in

various styles on earth, sometimes with slow speed, other times with fast speed,

flowing in sinuous graceful curves, and occasionally straight, and also upwards

and downwards. Devarshris and Gandharvas who were living on earth were touching

auspicious Ganga water since the water was flowing from Siva's head. People, who

were born on earth due to curses, went back to heaven after taking a dip in

Ganga water as she was capable of removing sins. Whole world was taking a dip in

Ganga water with a delight and she followed Bhageeratha who was on a chariot

joyfully. During her course accidentally she disturbed Jahnu Maharishi's Yagna

vatika which angered the great Maharishi, and to punish her, He drank the whole

River. Again Bhageeratha lost Ganga whom he brought to earth with great

difficulty and he couldn't accomplish his goal due to so many obstacles along

the way. With pleadings and humble prayers from Bhageeratha, Devathas and

Rishis, Jahnu Maharishi agreed to release Ganga, again humbling her. He let her

out slowly through his ears, so that she won't run wild anymore and because

Ganga was once again released by Jahnu Maharishi, she is believed to be his

daughter and is named as `Jahnavi". Finally, to perform her duty she was brought

onto earth for, Ganga followed Bhageeratha and reached rasatalam and purified

the place where Bhageeratha's ancestor's ashes were laying. Once Ganga's waters

touched the ashes of Sagara's sons all their sins melted and they went to

heaven.

 

(To cont)

Jai Srimannarayana!

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