Bhagirath and Ganga's Descent

In the previous blogs, "The Epic King: Sagar" and "The Wise Anshuman," we discussed the tragic fate of King Sagar's sons, who were reduced to ashes by Kapil Bhagavan because of their arrogance. This led King Sagar to send his grandson Anshuman to search for the stolen horse and his uncles. Anshuman found the horse alongside Kapil Bhagavan, who revealed the need for the Ganga's divine waters to cleanse the sins of Sagar's sons. Sagar, Anshuman, and his son Dilip attempted to bring the Ganga to Earth through penance, but they all failed. The task then fell upon Bhagirath, Dilip's son.

Now, let’s discover whether Bhagirath succeeded in bringing Mother Ganga to Earth.

Bhagirath, a determined and noble King, left his kingdom behind, entrusting it to his loyal minister. He embarked on a monumental quest—his heart set on a singular purpose: to bring the mighty river Ganga down to Earth and cleanse the sins of his ancestors and grant them Pitriloka. 

Ganga Appears

With unwavering devotion, Bhagirath engaged in intense penance, pushing the limits of his endurance until Ganga, stirred by his sincerity, manifested before him in all her divine glory.

Overcome with reverence, Bhagirath glorified her, and cried out,

" Oh! divine Mother," each word filled with emotion.

"You are born from the sacred feet of Lord Narayan, Himself! when the great Vaman Bhagavan sought just three paces of land from the demon King Bali. It was then that you took the shape of this magnificent Vishvaharup (cosmic form). This form could transcend the very boundaries of existence!"

As he spoke, through his mind's eye, he saw the divine Narayan. "With one step, the Vaman Bhagavan covered the Earth. With the second step, He covered the celestial realms, reaching the heavens. And it was Lord Brahma, accompanied by the revered seven sages, who washed your glorious feet with the pure waters from his sacred kamandalu (sacred vessel). The sacred water was You: Ganga.

Bhagirath's Humble Plea

Bhagirath knelt before Mother Ganga, he proclaimed, his voice soft and full of reverence:

“I am the son of Dilip, and I stand here as your devoted child. I beg you, embrace me with your mercy. My ancestors yearn for redemption, lost in the shadows of time. Please, descend to Earth and let your divine waters shower down upon them. Cleanse their spirits and grant them peace, so they may find their rightful place in the heavenly abode, for three generations they have been denied."

Ganga's Concern

Mother Ganga gazed down at Bhagirath with compassion and voiced her concerns, “Oh, Bhagirath,” she began,

“Do you truly grasp the fury of my descent? With the force of a thousand storms I will plunge from the heavens to the earth, and in my wake, chaos will reign. Who possesses the strength to break my fall and prevent the world from drowning in my torrential waves?"

She further said, "Why should I abandon my divine realms, drenched in tranquility, to descend into the turmoil of this sinful earth? The souls who will bathe in my sacred waters seek redemption, casting off their sins as though they were mere droplets. But tell me, dear Bhagirath, who will cleanse me of the stains that I will gather from their transgressions?"

Bhagirath humbly spoke with fervour:

"Oh, Divine Mother, there is no reason for your concern about sinfulness.

I have journeyed far and wide, and I’ve heard enlightened sages who have crossed the treacherous ocean of Maya. These Sages consistently think about the magnificent Lord Narayan, their hearts forever anchored to His divine lotus feet. When these holy beings immerse themselves in your sacred waters, the essence of their purity will flow through you, transcending all impurities."

He paused and then said:

"As for the other challenge we face, it lies within the immense power of Mahadev. I vow to seek his favour and pray with the utmost sincerity. Mother, if Mahadev grants his mercy and breaks your fall, will you, in turn, cleanse the souls of my ancestors?"

In a breathtaking moment, Mother Ganga responded with a gentle affirmation and then vanished.

Winning Mahadev

Bhagirath wasted no time and plunged into intense austerities to please Mahadev. Days turned into weeks and years as he sacrificed everything to please the Lord. Finally, Mahadev, moved by Bhagirath's unyielding spirit, descended from His abode.

"Child of Earth," Mahadev boomed, his voice a thunderous yet gentle rumble. "What is it that you seek so fervently?"

With reverence, Bhagirath fell to his knees and, with his hands in prayer, said, "Oh, Divine Lord! You know the depths of my yearning, yet you ask. My ancestors became ashes because of Kapil Bhagavan's wrath due to their arrogance. Only the pure waters of Mother Ganga can cleanse their souls. I have prayed with all my being for her to descend to Earth, and she has granted my wish. But her fall is so formidable that it threatens to shatter the very ground we walk upon. I plead with you, dear Lord, break her fall by cradling her upon your mighty head."

A smile flickered across Mahadev's lips, "So be it," He declared. 

The Thunderous Descent

Ganga surged down from the heavens with a thunderous roar, her waters shimmering like liquid silver as she rushed to the Earth. The celestial hosts gathered in awe, their eyes sparkling with anticipation for this extraordinary event. Amidst the divine spectacle, Mahadev stood resolute, his gaze steady with a smile dancing on his lips.

Bhagirath stood frozen in place, his heart racing in rhythm with the powerful descent of the holy river. With his palms pressed together in fervent prayer, he envisioned the moment his ancestors would finally cleanse their souls and secure their rightful place among the Pitris. 

Mahadev's Mystical Locks

Ganga had become proud of her powers. With a thunderous rush, she descended from the heavens, only to find herself ensnared in the thick, matted locks of Lord Mahadev. Ganga struggled fiercely, her currents swirling wildly, but the divine locks held her fast in a mystical embrace.

Watching this unfolding drama in desperation:

“Oh! Lord!” Bhagirath cried out, trembling with urgency. 

“What has happened? Will all my years of penance and sacrifice go in vain? Please, grant mercy upon us and set the mother free!”

Lord Mahadev, with a graceful nod, released Ganga, allowing her to trickle down from his matted locks. As she descended, each drop formed the shimmering lake known as Bindusar.

In a breathtaking display, Ganga divided herself into seven majestic streams, three flowing eastward and three westward, while the final stream, infused with purpose, followed Bhagirath closely. With every stride, Ganga trailed behind him like a devoted daughter following her father, determined to fulfil her sacred mission. 

The Final Destination

Upon reaching the cave of Kapil Bhagavan, Ganga poured over the ancient heap of ashes, her waters cleansing and rejuvenating. In that miraculous moment, the ancestors, freed from their earthly bonds, soared to the celestial realm meant for their Pitris.

Ganga earned her revered title as Bhagirathi, the cherished daughter of Bhagirath, who brought her to Earth. 

Summary

This blog, details the story of Bhagirath's efforts to bring the divine river Ganga to Earth. It explains how his ancestors were turned to ash and needed the purifying waters of the Ganga to reach the heavenly realm. The narrative traces the failed attempts of King Sagar and his descendants before Bhagirath undertakes the monumental task. Bhagirath engages in intense penance to persuade Ganga to descend, then prays to Lord Mahadev to break Ganga's powerful fall from the heavens. Finally, with Mahadev's intervention, Ganga flows to Earth, purifies Bhagirath's ancestors, and earns the name Bhagirathi.

Moral

Nothing is impossible if you commit to your goals and take the necessary steps to achieve them.
It is important to grasp the full context of a situation before jumping to conclusions.
Remember, arrogance can lead to defeat, while humility is a strength that can effectively resolve any challenge.

Let's Reflect

Did you desire something that seemed impossible to attain, and what steps did you take to achieve it?