Bhagiratha brings down Ganga 1.42.13, 20, 25; 1.43.2-9, 16-23; 1.44.3
Siva thought of arresting the stream of Ganga and decided to make her disappear in his cluster of matted hair in order to put down her pride. As the deep cluster of matted hair was impenetrable Ganga was unable to reach the earth. She could not get an outlet even from the edge of the matted hair. This is because Siva created an illusion that even the edge of matted hair appeared like the middle part. It is well-known from Ithihasa that Brahma himself took the illusory form of Ganga. Although there is no ego in Brahma and Siva, Siva thought, ‘Ganga is mine’. Such ego is extremely unbecoming of Siva. One who thinks Siva is different from Ganga and propitiates Ganga cannot attain salvation. But even then there was no flow because after all it was Siva’s sport. It should be noted that the relation between Siva and Visnu is that of the worshipper and the worshipped.
Bhagiratha saw that Ganga had disappeared in the wilderness of the matted hair and took to severe penance in order to secure her. Now Siva let Ganga flow towards a lake called Bindusara. Brahma created this lake in the Himalayan region.
Bhagiratha performed penance amidst five fires and asked Brahma for three boons. One, ‘Let not the race of Ikshvaku end after me and the second, let there be no break in the race for the successive generations’. He did not ask for a third boon. They say, by asking the boons Bhagiratha helped the early kings as well as the later kings of his race. Brahma went back along with the gods and groups of mantras. Gods are Ajanaja kind and groups of mantras are of karmadeva kind. Devadeva refers to the lord of the gods. ‘Taritah’ implies that Sagaras were taken to heaven like gods.
Even a drop of Ganga waters will deliver the ashes of the deceased from ghosthood, what to speak of skeletons and bodies.
How can Brahmaloka be attained? The answer is: a dip in Ganga. If washes all kinds of sins. Sinners unworthy of heaven become purified by the touch of Ganga even though they may not use any other expiatory acts.
Bhagiratha brings down Ganga 1.42.13, 20, 25; 1.43.2-9, 16-23; 1.44.3
Siva thought of arresting the stream of Ganga and decided to make her disappear in his cluster of matted hair in order to put down her pride. As the deep cluster of matted hair was impenetrable Ganga was unable to reach the earth. She could not get an outlet even from the edge of the matted hair. This is because Siva created an illusion that even the edge of matted hair appeared like the middle part. It is well-known from Ithihasa that Brahma himself took the illusory form of Ganga. Although there is no ego in Brahma and Siva, Siva thought, ‘Ganga is mine’. Such ego is extremely unbecoming of Siva. One who thinks Siva is different from Ganga and propitiates Ganga cannot attain salvation. But even then there was no flow because after all it was Siva’s sport. It should be noted that the relation between Siva and Visnu is that of the worshipper and the worshipped.
Bhagiratha saw that Ganga had disappeared in the wilderness of the matted hair and took to severe penance in order to secure her. Now Siva let Ganga flow towards a lake called Bindusara. Brahma created this lake in the Himalayan region.
Bhagiratha performed penance amidst five fires and asked Brahma for three boons. One, ‘Let not the race of Ikshvaku end after me and the second, let there be no break in the race for the successive generations’. He did not ask for a third boon. They say, by asking the boons Bhagiratha helped the early kings as well as the later kings of his race. Brahma went back along with the gods and groups of mantras. Gods are Ajanaja kind and groups of mantras are of karmadeva kind. Devadeva refers to the lord of the gods. ‘Taritah’ implies that Sagaras were taken to heaven like gods.
Even a drop of Ganga waters will deliver the ashes of the deceased from ghosthood, what to speak of skeletons and bodies.
How can Brahmaloka be attained? The answer is: a dip in Ganga. If washes all kinds of sins. Sinners unworthy of heaven become purified by the touch of Ganga even though they may not use any other expiatory acts.