A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.577

c5.577

GANGĀ. The sacred river Ganges. It is said to be mentioned only twice in the *Rig-veda*. The Purānas represent the Viyad-gangā, or heavenly Ganges, to flow from the toe of Vishnu, and to have been brought down from heaven, by the prayers of the saint Bhagīratha, to purify the ashes of the sixty thousand sons of King Sagara, who had been burnt by the angry glance of the sage Kapila. From this earthly parent the river is called Bhāgīrathī. Gangā was angry at being brought down from heaven, and Siva, to save the earth from the shock of her fall, caught the river on his brow, and checked its course with his matted locks. From this action he is called Gangā-dhara, ‘upholder of the Ganges.’ The river descended from Siva’s brow in several streams, four according to some, and ten according to others, but the number generally accepted is seven, being the Sapta-sindhava, the seven sindhus or rivers. The Ganges proper is one of the number. The descent of the Ganges disturbed the sage Jahnu as he was performing a sacrifice, and in his anger he drank up the waters, but he relented and allowed the river to flow from his ear, hence the Ganges has the name of Jāhnavī. Personified as a goddess, Gangā is the eldest daughter of Himavat and Menā, and her sister was Umā. She became the wife of King Sāntanu and bore a son, Bhīshma; who is also known by the metronymic Gāngeya. Being also, in a peculiar way, the mother of Kārtikeya (q.v.), she is called Kumāra-sū. Gold, according to the Mahā-bhārata, was borne by the goddess Gangā to Agni, by whom she had been impregnated. Other names and titles of the Ganges are Bhadra-somā, Gāndinī, Kirātī, Deva-bhūti, ‘produced in heaven;’ Hara-sekharā, ‘crest of Siva;’ Khāpagā, ‘flowing from heaven;’ Mandākinī, ‘gently flowing;’ Tri-patha-gā or Tri-srotāh, ‘triple flowing,’ running in heaven, earth, and hell.