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Saturday : 11th July 2015

GREAT BHAGIRATHA

Saturday Story : Parag Nesarikar

This Story I will be Sharing is a Little Long Story.

How Ganga Came on the Earth !
The great here who brought down the Ganga from
the heaven to the earth. Bhagiratha has become
another name for a will of steel that never accepts
defeat.

About Bhagiratha
The eminent Kannada poet Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre wrote this song,
Gangavatarana.
The word 'Gangavatarana' means 'The Descent became not only learned but also virtuous. He
of Gangavatarana Ganga was formed in Heaven realized that a man should live not for himself,
and then came down to the Earth - to Bharat. but to do good to others.
Then there was plentiful crop. Life and civilizaWhen he was sixteen years old, his mother
tion prospered People became cultured. Nothlooked for a suitable bride for him. He married
ing is holier than the Ganga in this world.
a beautiful and virtuous princess. Then Bhagiratha was also crowned as king. His mother
You would naturally ask - "How did Ganga
guided him, his wise ministers gave him good
come to the Earth from Heaven?" It is a long
advice. So he ruled the kingdom ably and well.
story. And an interesting one.
"'Who Was Sagara?"

One day, as the king entered the royal court, he

heard the court announcers greet him: "Hail,
Emperor of Kosala! Victory to King Bhagiratha,
gem of the Sagara dynasty! Hail, 0 Son of the
great king Dilipa!"

Kosala was a kingdom in the olden days. Sixteen years old Bhagiratha was the king of
Kosala. He lost his father when he was just a
child. So his mother brought him up. She educated him. She gave him all the training needed After the royal assembly was over, the king
went to his apartment with his minister.
to make him a good king.

His head was full of the two names that he had

Bhagiratha was very intelligent. He loved his
mother very much and was devoted to her. He just heard - Sagara and Dilipa. King Dilipa was,
of course, his father. But who was Sagara? Una-

ble to control his curiosity, he asked his minis- "Sagara was ruling over this very kingdom of
ter:
Kosala. He was as good as he was mighty. His
heroism was known the world over. He had
"Who was this Sagara?"
performed ninety-nine Ashwamedha Yagas. A
"My lord, a great ancestor of yours. He was so ruler performs this Yaga to be accepted as an
Emperor. Do you know anything about this Yamighty that he performed the Ashwamedha
(the horse-sacrifice) a hundred times. And he ga? A well-bred horse is splendidly decorated
had sixty thousand children. You are a descend- and aGOLD plate is tied to his face. The plate
bears these words: 'this horse belongs to such
ent of his" - so replied the minister.
and such a king. Those who have courage may
The question was answered. But Bhagiratha
stop the horse. Otherwise they may pay tribwas still not satisfied. Instead, his curiosity in- utes and let him go further. The master sends
creased. Thoughtful persons are seldom satis- an army with the horse. If any King ties up the
fied if they do not get a clear answer to their horse, he has to fight with the army. The horse
questions. Bhagiratha came home and asked is left to roam about like this for one year and
his mother:
at the end of the year the master of the horse
performs the Ashwamedha. By that time many
"Mother, is it true that among my ancestors,
Kings will have accepted him as their master.
Sagara was a very great king?"
Sagara had become famous by performing the
"Yes, child," replied his mother
horse-sacrifice ninety-nine times. People lived
happily in his Kingdom.
"And he had sixty thousand children?"
"Sagara had two wives. Keshini, daughter of the
"Yes."
King of Vidarbha, was the first wife;
"It he had so many children, there should have
Sumati, daughter of a King by name Arishtanebeen quite a big crowd of his children, grandmi, was the second wife.
children and relatives. But we are so few - only
three persons. Why?"
"The King enjoyed great glory and splendor, but
yet he was UN-happy, because he had no chil" My dear son," the mother said, "I ought to
dren. He was very sad and worried. Finally, he
have told you about this earlier. It is good that
grew tired of life itself. He left the administranow you have asked me about it. I will tell you
tion of the Kingdom in the hands of his ministhe story of your ancestors. Let us see what you
ters, and went away to the Himalayas with his
will do after listening to it."
two wives. On the way, there was a very lovely
"Please tell me, mother," entreated Bhagiratha. spot. It was cool andSHADY, with water close
by. It was cool and shady, with water close by.
His mother began:
It was surrounded on all sides by the mountain
I do not want a Son Who Plagues the People' ranges of the Himalayas. The place was called

"Bhriguprasravana after the sage Bhrigu. Very always be carrying the lovely boy and he grew
much attracted by the beauty of the spot, the up without ever touching the ground.
king and his two wives built a cottage and
After many days, Sumati also had children. She
stayed there. Desirous of getting children, Emwas extremely happy since her wish was also
peror Sagara undertook a very strict and severe
fulfilled. Sixty thousand children were born to
form of Tapas (prayer to God). As time passed,
her. Arrangements were made for each child to
the severity of his Tapas, the sage Bhrigu apbe brought up by a separate nurse.
peared before him. Sagara and his wives
touched his feet and prayed in these words:
The palace was now buzzing with noise. It is
impossible to control the uproar in a house
O Sage, kindly grant us a boon; we want chilwith two children. Then what about sixty thoudren to continue our dynasty. Bhrigu Maharshi
sand children running, laughing, playing,
was pleased and granted them the boon. He
shouting at the same time? But there was hapsaid: "Great king, don't be unhappy. You will
piness amidst such noise. The children grew up
have children because of this 'Tapas'. One of
in discipline. They were brave and handsome.
your wives will have one son who will preserve
your race, and the other will have sixty thou- "But somehow the eldest son Asamanja grew
sand brave children who will win great fame.". up to be a bad boy. He was the emperor's first
son and everybody's favourite. The result of
The queens were very happy. But they were
this excessive affection was that he became
curious to. Know which of them would get the
very stubborn. He started ordering about eveone son and which, the many. Finally they sumrybody. He dragged his playmates along the
moned courage and asked the sage himself.
road and hurt them. He seemed to get a wicked
The sage calmly said:
pleasure in seeing those helpless children
'Choose f or yourselves.' Keshini, the elder wife, weep. His mischief went further. He began to
said: 'One son who will continue our race is
drag them along and drown them in the river
enough for me.' 'I wish to become the mother Sarayu. The helpless children, who could not
of many brave and famous children' - said the swim, would throw about their limbs wildly and
younger wife. The sage smilingly said, 'Be it so, be drowned. Asamanja would stand on the
'and went away. Sagara returned to his king- bank and watch and laugh wickedly. His evil
dom in great joy.
deeds increased day by day.
Sometime passed. Keshini gave birth to a boy. "At first, people kept quiet out of fear and hesiThe king and his subjects felt very happy. There tation. But when Asamanja's harassment inwere festivals and rejoicing in every nook and creased, all of them went to King Sagara and
corner because of the birth of the prince. The lamented thus: 'O King, if your son is allowed to
child, named Asamanja, grew up into a very
go on like this, no child will be alive in anyhandsome and smart boy. Asamanja was every- body's house in the kingdom. Please protect
body's pet child. Someone or the other would us.'

Sagara listened to the tale of misery. He was a

noble king and believed that the people's happiness was his happiness. But now his own son
was a plague to the people. He decided not to
have a son who tormented his subjects. He
called his son and mercilessly commanded him
thus:
'Asamanja, you are a traitor to my people.
You must go out of my kingdom.'

Sagara's ministers approved his idea. The one

hundredth Ashwamedha commenced. The
horse was worshipped and sent to wander, as
he liked. The entire army of Sagara followed, to
protect the horse. Amshumanta, Sagara's
grandson, was loved by all. He was made the
commander of the army. Thus the sacrificial
horse went from kingdom to kingdom. And behind him marched the armed forces of Amshumanta. Nobody had the courage to challenge
them.

Asamanja accepted his punishment joyfully. It

seems he was in fact an ascetic and had taken "Meanwhile, in Heaven, Indra trembled with
to evil ways only to get rid of his physical being. fear; he would have to give up his position to
So he felt happy when his own father banished the king who performed one hundred horsehim from the kingdom. There is a story that be- sacrifices. He lost interest in everything before going away, he brought back to life, with cause of this worry. It is always so with people
who desire power and position. Until a person
his Yogic power, all those children whom he
had killed, and sent them to their homes. Then, gets such a position, he was anxiety - to attain
practicing Yoga, he got rid of his physical body, it. After getting it, there is the anxiety to retain
that position. Indra thought of a plan to safeand attained salvation.
guard his kingship of Heaven.
"Most important in an Ashwamedha Yaga was
the Ashwa or the horse. The Yaga would be
complete only after the horse returned from
Behind the Horse - To the House of Death
his wanderings. Suppose the horse disapSagara now had another thought in his mind. peared! Then how could the Yaga be completHis children were grown up, and if they had no ed? So Indra came unseen by anyone, stole the
work to do, they might create unnecessary
horse and took him to Patala Loka, the lower
trouble, like his first son. So he thought of giv- world far below the earth. A sage by name Kaing proper work to all of his children. There was pila was performing 'Tapas' there. Indra tied up
also in his mind a certain wish. Anyone, who
the horse in his Ashrama.
performed a hundred horse-sacrifices, would
"There was much confusion in
gain Indra's position as the King of Heaven. He
had already performed ninety-nine such Yagas. Amshumanta's army when the horse was not to
If he performed one more Yaga with the help of be seen. They searched everywhere for the
all his children, he would become Indra. So
horse, but in vain. They returned to Ayodhya in
thought King Sagara.
Asamanja had a son. He was Amshumanta.

despair and narrated everything to the emper- standing. The horse too remained in the Ashor.
rama itself.
Sagara was very worded. He called his sixty
The Duty of the Descendants
thousand sons and said, 'You must find the
Many days passed, but the sons did not return.
horse wherever he be, and bring him. Also punEmperor Sagara was again very worried. He had
ish the thief.' He' sent his army with them. They
already performed the preliminary rites for the
were all young and proud on account of their
sacrifice. So he himself could not go in search of
strength. They had now a huge army also with
the horse. He sent for his grandson Amshumanthem and in addition, the father's command.
ta and said, 'Dear child, your sixty thousand unRaising loud war cries, the army went far and
cles who went in search of the horse have not
wide searching for the horse. Every forest, hill
come back till this day. Please go and find them
and mountain was searched. But the horse was
and the horse also. You must be careful and
nowhere to be seen.
judge wisely. Come back with success.' He sent
"They were angry rather than disappointed.
his grandson with his blessings.
Since they could not find the horse on the
Amshumanta started with the army, as inearth, they decided to go to the lower world.
structed by his grandfather. He was unable to
They did not know the way, but they started
find the horse on the earth though he roamed
digging the earth to make a way. They dug a big
far and wide. He finally entered Patala through
hole, and crawling in it, entered Patala. Roaring
the hole dug by his uncles. As he was wanderaloud, they roamed everywhere and began to
ing there, his eyes fell upon Sage Kapila's Ashsearch for the horse. By and by, they came to
rama and the ashes piled up like a mountain.
Sage Kapila's Ashrama and uprooted all the
The horse was grazing at a distance. There was
trees and creepers there. They had no fear of
no road ahead.
anybody - Moreover, they were so angry they
wanted to chop off everything that they saw. He was a little frightened. There was no way
As they were moving on in this manner, they beyond and there was such a huge pile of ash.
saw Sage Kapila in deep meditation. Their horse What could have happened? He was deep in
was grazing there. They thought that the sage thought. Just then he heard a voice from Heavhas stolen the horse and were pretending to en -'Child, this is the pile of ashes of your unperform 'Tapas' and were very angry. So all of cles. They were destroyed by the wrath of Sage
them rushed towards him shouting, 'Catch the Kapila.' Amshumanta felt very sad on hearing
thief. Beat him. The Maharshis 'Tapas' was dis- this. He decided to perform the funeral rites for
turbed. He started with wrathful eyes at those them so that the souls of the dead might attain
who had disturbed his 'Tapas'. The flame of an- salvation. But though he searched everywhere
ger shot forth from his eyes and burnt all those for water, there was none. He did not know
sixty thousand brothers. Only a huge pile of ash what to do and was worried. Just then he saw
could be seen in the place where they were
Garuda in the sky. As you know, Garuda is the

big eagle. He is Lord Vishnu's favourite, on

years, he also made over his kingdom to his son
whose back the Lord flies whenever He wants Dilipa."
to go anywhere. Garuda addressed Amshumanta:
Bhagiratha's mother, who was telling him the
'Royal prince, do not worry. There have died for
story, continued:
-the good of the world. They ended thus here,
suse of the curse of a sage. Their souls cannot "That same king Dilipa was your father. He too
go heaven by the ordinary funeral rites. They was always thinking about the means of bringcan get salvation only when the divine Ganga is ing Ganga from Heaven. He had also another
brought from Heaven and made to flow on this worry, as he had no children. At least, guided
pile of their ashes. Yet, first take back this horse by our kind preceptor, the sage Vasishtha, we
to your grandfather.'
worshipped the sacred cow Nandini in his hermitage. She blessed us and you were born. But
Amshumanta had no other way either. So he
your father was worried that he could not bring
returned to Ayodhya with the horse and delivGanga and help his grandfathers attain salvaered him to his grandfather. Though Sagara felt
tion. He passed away while you were still
happy on seeing the horse, he felt very sad on
young.
hearing that all of his brave and strong sons
had died at once. But since he had already per- "This, dear son, is the story of your race. And
formed the preliminary ceremonies for
also the answer to your question. You have
Ashwamedha, he controlled his sorrow, and
now heard all. And now let us see what you will
performed the sacrifice in the prescribed way. do."
But until the divine Ganga was brought down
from Heaven, his sone could not attain salvation. This thought continued to worry him. Finally, becoming desperate, he left his kingdom
to his grandson Amshumanta, saying, 'The task
of seeing that your uncles attain salvation is
yours.' Sagara then went to the forest to perform 'Tapas'.

Having said this, Bhagiratha's mother gazed at

her son, curious and eager to hear what he
would say.
Answering the Call of Duty

Bhagiratha felt as though he had been pulled

down to the earth from another world. He had
thought that the story would still continue and
he was waiting to hear it. Not only was the sto"Though he became the king, Amshumanta
ry narrated to him, but a question had been
never thought of his personal happiness. He
was always thinking of the task he had to per- posed to him. Not just a question, but a challenge too. It was not merely listening to a story;
form - he had to bring the divine Ganga, according to his grandfather's command. As he he had to shape one. He had to accomplish that
task which his father and his grandfather had
could not think of any solution, after some
not been able to do. The idea took root in his

mind that it was his duty to help his ancestors squatting cross-legged in the Padmasana posattain salvation. He touched his mother's feet ture. He prayed to Lord Brahma. There was no
and vowed thus: "Mother, I will fulfil the wish room for anything else in his mind. By his
of my elders. I will bring to the earth the divine strong 'Tapas' he desired the coming of Ganga.
Ganga and help our ancestors attain salvation. I After a few days, it was winter. Bhagiratha then
will toil for it to the last drop of my blood." His stood in the lake with water up to his chest and
mother gently stroked his head and blessed
continued his 'Tapas' with intense concentrahim: "All success to you, my son."
tion. Winter passed giving place to summer.
Then he took to a more severe kind of 'Tapas',
Bhagiratha's mind was filled with only one
the Panchagni Tapas, or meditation in the
thought -how was he to bring the divine river
midst of five fires. He stood in the midst of
Ganga down to the earth? Finally he decided to
burning fires on all four sides, with the hot sun
perform 'Tapas' to please Lord Brahma for this,
above as the fifth fire. He stood amidst these
purpose. His young wife was very unhappy on
five fires, and steadily stared at the sun with
hearing that he had decided to give up the
eyes wide open. Thus his 'Tapas' continued.
pleasures of the palace and perform 'Tapas'.
With tears in her eyes, she tried to persuade He changed his food too. During the first few
her husband to stay back. She again and again days, he had food only once a day. Later it was
asked him: "Why perform 'Tapas' at such a
once in a few days. Then it became once in a
young age? It can be done after you grow old. month. After that, he just used to drink a little
Now can't you live happily in the palace?" But water and continue his 'Tapas'. Finally the air
Bhagiratha did not yield to her words. He told was his only food. While performing 'Tapas'
her with a firm mind: "Pleasure or happiness is thus, a bright flame shoots forth from the body
not for me, unless I fulfil the great wish of my of the devotee. It is called the flame of 'Tapas'.
ancestors. Duty comes first, and pleasure next." Such a bright flame emerged from Bhagiratha
He argued with her and finally she accepted his also and it became very severe. Bhagiratha was
decision. Then he left Ayodhya for the forest. now as radiant as the Sun God himself. Unable
to bear the effects of his 'Tapas', all the gods in
Bhagiratha's Tapas
Heaven went to Lord Brahma and appealed to
Thus leaving behind him his mother, wife and him: "O Lord, it has become impossible to bear
Bhagiratha's meditation. Please protect us."
the kingdom, he went to the Himalayas. He
came to a beautiful lake there. He bathed in it, Brahma consoled them and went to Bhagiratha.
purified himself, and feeling clean, started on
Bhagiratha was overjoyed on seeing Brahma.
his 'Tapas', with the firm resolve that the divine
He prostrated before Him with great devotion
river Ganga should come down to the earth and
and worshipped Him. Brahma was pleased with
his ancestors should go to the higher worlds.
him and said: "O King, what do you desire?
His meditation was not of an ordinary kind. In
Why are you performing this 'Tapas'? Bhagithe beginning he performed meditation
ratha begged him: "My Lord, my forefathers

are in the nether world, Patala, dead and burnt even an army of difficulties, and finally achieve
to ashes. They cannot go to Heaven without
the goal.
proper funeral rites. The divine Ganga herself
Bhagiratha belonged to this third category of
has to come to deliver them from their sad
brave men. He knew how to bring down Ganga
state. So please send the divine river and help
to the earth. He was confident that it could be
me. Secondly, I have no child. My race will
done. He had only to overcome some difficulcome to an end. Kindly bless me that I may
ties that would arise on the way. Bhagiratha
have sons." Brahma replied, "You are really
was determined to accomplish his task. Accordblessed, Bhagiratha, for having performed such
ingly he began a severe 'Tapas' once again to
a severe 'Tapas'. Your wish to bring the divine
please Lord iswara. With folded hands, and
Ganga to the earth is a very noble one. I shall
standing on one leg, he meditated on Lord
send Ganga with pleasure. But when she deiswara with the deepest concentration. So a
scends from heaven to the earth, the earth canwhole year passed.
not bear her terrible force. The whole earth will
be destroyed completely. So somebody will
Pleased with Bhagiratha's devotion Lord iswara
have to control her force. It can be done only came to Bhagiratha and asked him:
by iswara, the Lord of all Worlds. None else can
do that. Therefore, persuade iswara to arrest "Dear Bhagiratha, what do you want? Why
the force of Ganga and quieten her. Then I will have you been meditating on me thus? "
send Ganga. Your second wish is also granted.
With folded hands, Bhagiratha appealed to
Your lineage will certainly continue with worthy
him: "What is it that you do not know? Lord
children. So be not worried."
Brahma has granted my prayer to send the diOn seeing Brahma, Bhagiratha had felt as hap- vine river Ganga to the earth. But the earth
py as though he had already performed his task cannot bear the force of gangas descent. Only
fully. But now he had to face another difficulty. you can control the turbulence of the descendHow was he to persuade Lord iswara to control ing Ganga. Be pleased to do so." iswara said
the turbulence of Ganga when she descended smilingly, "Yes; I will soften Ganga's descent by
my tresses."
to the earth?
So said Lord iswara and stood on a big peak
Well, men who think of difficult tasks are of
nearby, ready to receive the divine river.
three kinds. There are cowards, who do not
begin their work at all, afraid that some trouble
Taming the Ganga
may arise midway. Those who begin but later
give up the task, afraid of the difficulties that Bhagiratha's joy knew no bounds since his anxiarise, belong to the second group. So far as the ety was over. Iswara, the great God, had con-task is concerned, both these groups are use- sented to arrest the force of Ganga. Thinking
less. But there are brave people who belong to that his task was accomplished, Bhagiratha eaa third group. They continue to work in spite of gerly awaited the descent of Ganga. All the

gods of Heaven were looking on with wonder. Lord Ishwara, terrible in his anger, with Ns
Even Parvati, the wife of iswara, was there.
hands on his waist, his eyes darting fire.
Ganga decided to flow down to the earth as
Bhagiratha felt that he was ruined. Just when
ordered by Brahma. Just then she remembered
he thought that his very difficult task was comBrahma's words that no one could check her
pleted, a new difficulty had cropped up. It was
force. 'How can even iswara check me?" She
true that the proud Ganga deserved punishthought and this made her very very proud. So
ment. But if he thought it right and kept quiet,
she thought she would descend with such force
what about his task? He had no time even to
as to drag Lord Iswara along with her waters, so
think. He was a man of action-So at once he
that the gods in Heaven would have some fun.
stood with folded hands before Lord Ishwara
Ganga leaped on Ishwaras head with tremenand begged him:
dous force and at crushing speed.
The sight of the descending Ganga was most
pleasing. Many animals like fishes, tortoises,
crocodile and sea snakes also came down with
the stream of Ganga. As Ganga flowed down
with waves of white foam and the speed of
lightening, everyone gazed with wonder and
joy.

"O Lord, be kind and release Ganga. Let her descend to the earth and flow on. Let her sanctify
my ancestors and all the people on the earth."
Ishwara was pleased. He said:

"Bhagiratha, I am pleased with your devotion

and humility. Look, I will release Ganga from
my tresses. But I cannot allow her as one
stream since that will cause trouble to you. She
Ishwara felt the impact of the powerful flow.
might cause more trouble again in her pride. So
He understood that Ganga was haughty. He beI shall release her in seven separate streams.
came wild with anger. As Ganga came down on
Let three streams go to the west, and three to
him with a deafening roar, he tied her up
the east. Only one stream will follow you - With
amidst his flowing tresses so tightly that she
these words he set free Ganga.
could not slip away. Thus Ganga, who came to
engulf him with such turbulence, was checked Bhagiratha was happy that his difficulty was
and imprisoned. Arrogant people not only bring over as he wished. He considered himself lucky
suffering on themselves, but also cause trouble to have one of the seven streams of Ganga folto those who depend on them. Bhagiratha had lowing him. Again he bowed to Lord
been praying with such piety for the divine
Parameswara and set out towards the south.
mother Ganga to flow down to the earth; he Ganga now calmly followed him. Her flow now
had watched her foamy descent. In his joy that was like the dancing lively steps of an innocent
Ganga had come down to the earth, he had
girl following her father. Wherever she flowed,
closed his eyes in meditation. After a while,
she spread peace, created green foliage and
when he opened his eyes, he could not see
infused life. Sometimes rapid and sometimes
Ganga, or any flowing water. He could only see slow, she followed Bhagiratha, flowing with
playful glee. Bhagiratha walked on and on. He

10

was anxious to reach Patala, and to have the Ganga had disappeared in Jahnu's Ashrama. So
ashes of his ancestors made holy by the touch Bhagiratha thought the sage would know what
of the waters of the divine Ganga and thus fulfil had happened. He bowed to the sage with revhis task. He had already faced many difficulties; erence. He narrated his story and prayed in
so he was still rather afraid that some trouble these words: "I was coming to see you, but just
might crop up again. So he walked very fast to then Ganga disappeared. I beg of you, holy
complete his good deed as soon as possible.
sage, tell me what has happened if you know
anything." Having heard everything, the sage
Bhagiratha had now come down to the open
replied: "I myself have drunk her. I wanted to
plains from the Himalayan range. Ganga folteach her a lesson."
lowed Bhagiratha, who was now walking on
level ground, like a new bride, shy and happy, Bhagiratha did not know what to say. How
Bhagiratha was filled with happiness.
could he ask the sage to set free Ganga? But he
could not fail in his task now. So, summoning
There was an Ashrama on the way. It looked
up courage, he appealed to him: "0 venerable
very beautiful, with fruits and flowers all
sage, it is my duty to see that my dead ancesaround. Peace pervaded this Ashrama of Sage
tors go to heaven. So with great difficulty I
Jahnu. Since Bhagiratha knew the place, he enpleased Brahma and Ishwara. I brought Ganga
tered the Ashrama with devotion and humility.
down to the earth. But her childishness has
Ganga had been so far following him shyly and now come in my way. I beg of you, be pleased
slowly. But somehow after entering the Ash- to forgive her. Kindly set her free so that my
rama, she grew a little mischievous. She wan- elders may go to heaven." Moved by his prayer
dered all over the Ashrama like a small girl. The and humility, the sage let Ganga escape
entire place was filled with water and it looked through his ears and asked her to behave
properly.
as if the Ashrama would be washed away.
There was grief and confusion everywhere. But
The Earth Smiles
still Ganga was laughing like a naughty girl.
Bhagiratha felt very happy. He again bowed to
Inside the Ashrama was Sage Jahnu. He had
Sage Jahnu thanking him for his kindness, and
been meditating on God. Ganga's mischief disleft the place. He was afraid that some other
turbed him. He understood everything. He deobstacle would come up if he delayed in his
cided to teach that naughty girl a lesson. Drawwork. He directly came to the hole dug by his
ing Ganga into his palm, he swallowed her at a
ancestors.
single gulp.
Ganga had also grown more sensible by this
Bhagiratha could not see Ganga anywhere. He
time. She now understood that her own pride
was shocked. He was afraid that some other
and childishness had brought her trouble and
difficulty had come up. Where was Ganga?
shame. Bhagiratha had worshipped her with
What had happened to her?
devotion. But she had caused him physical and

11

mental suffering. She realized this. So, giving up worshipped by one and all, Bhagiratha came
her foolishness, she followed Bhagiratha into back to his capital. His mother was anxiously
the hole promptly. The whole area, which had waiting for him. He touched her feet. He had
been a huge hole earlier, now turned into a
done a great anct difficult task, facing many
vast sheet of water. Since the sons of Sagara dangers. So the mother was overjoyed. She
had dug it, it came to be known as 'Sagara', or blessed him whole-heartedly.
the Ocean.
Having thus performed a great task, which
Bhagiratha went to Patala and stood near the made everybody happy, Bhagiratha ruled over
pile of ashes there. He implored Ganga thus: "0 the kingdom for many years. He was a good
Mother, piled up here are the ashes of my an- king, and earned great fame for himself, his
cestors. Please touch these ashes, help their
dynasty and his country. That is why the acsouls attain salvation." Ganga straight rushed complishment of a very difficult task, with stuon the heap of ashes. The souls of all the sixty pendous effort, is described as a Bhagirathathousand sons of Sagara, neglected and restless like endeavor. With great difficulty, Bhagiratha
for so many years, were now made holy. Freed brought Ganga to a desert region, which had no
from sin, the souls went to Heaven. All the gods water and no green growth at all. The divine
in Heaven, who had been eagerly watching this, Ganga gavethat place clear streams and. made
were full of praise for Bhagiratha's achieveit fertile and fruitful. What was a desert bement. Bhagiratha had completed the holy task came a smiling land with plentiful crops. Thus,
of his life. So his joy knew no limit. He bowed to alongwith the ancestors, the later generations
the divine Ganga and all the gods and goddess- also could be happy and Prosperous.
es around. Everyone was full of praise for him.
This, then, is the story of how Bhagiratha
All of them also bowed to Ganga addressing her
brought Ganga to the earth. It is not just thrillby various names.
ing? Bhagiratha's devotion to duty, and his
They called her 'Bhagirathi' since she had fol- strong determination, which was not shaken by
lowed Bhagiratha like his daughter.
any kind of difficulty, shines forth in the story.
His will power, hard like a diamond, should be
She also came to be known as 'Tripathake' one
an example to US.
who flowed in three-path -since she had flowed
through three worlds Heaven, Earth and Patala.
She was called 'Jahnavi' as she had come out of
the ears of Sage Jahnu and was his daughter.
Bhagiratha, who was returning to his kingdom,
was praised by all for having thus brought
down to the earth the divine Ganga, who was
worshipped by many different names. They
hailed him as a great man and a life-giver. Thus,