Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.102

c7.102

2) Why Gaṅgā became Śiva's consort. Mahāviṣṇu was once engaged at Vaikuṇṭha in a pleasant talk with his wives, Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī and Gaṅgā when Gaṅgā cast lustful eyes on Viṣṇu, who, behind the backs of the other two wives returned the lustful glances. Sarasvatī could not put up with that situation for a long time. Therefore, she got up from her seat and beat Gaṅgā. Lakṣmī tried to restrain Sarasvatī lest the quarrel should become fiercer. Angered at this intervention Sarasvatī cursed that Lakṣmī be born on earth. Gaṅgā got angry that innocent Lakṣmī was thus cursed, and she in her turn cursed that Sarasvatī be born as a river on earth. Sarasvatī did not take the curse lying down, but cursed that Gaṅgā also be born as a river on earth and take upon herself the sins of the whole world. When all the three wives of Viṣṇu got themselves thus into trouble he told them as follows: “Everything has happened as it should have happened. Lakṣmī may go to the earth and be born in the home of Dharmadhvaja and grow up as his daughter, but not from the womb of his women. There you will purify the three worlds after which you will be born as the plant called tulasī, and be married by an asura called Śaṅkhacūḍa, who will be born as a part of me. And, after that you will be turned into a sacred river called Padmāvatī, and leaving the river on earth your divine form will return to Vaikuṇṭha.” And, to Gaṅgā Viṣṇu said as follows: “You will go to earth as a holy river to wash off the sins of people there. A king called Bhagīratha will be leading you to earth, and you will, therefore, be known as Bhāgīrathī also. And, you remain there as the wife of the ocean of King Śantanu. Your divine form will return to mount Kailāsa as the consort of Śiva.” As for Sarasvatī, Viṣṇu asked her to be born as a river on earth, her divine form ultimately returning to Satyaloka and then becoming the consort of Brahmā.