Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.108

c7.108

From Amśumān was born Dilipa and from him Bhagīratha. On becoming King, Bhagīratha handed over the reins of government to his ministers and began efforts to bring down Gaṅgā to earth. He did tapas for thousand years on the slopes of the Himālayas when Gaṅgā asked him to please Śiva first as he alone could face her (Gaṅgā) fall on the earth. Accordingly he pleased Śiva by his penance and Śiva agreed to receive Gaṅgā on his head. With a terrific noise Gaṅgā came down on Śiva’s head. The haughty Gaṅgā wanted to carry down Śiva also to Pātāla. Realising this ambition of her Śiva blocked her passage with the result that she wandered about in Śiva’s matted hair for many years without finding an outlet. Bhagīratha again did tapas and pleased Śiva who shook his matted head and made fall some water therefrom on earth. The water fell into Bindusaras, and flowed in seven tributaries, the first three, Hlādinī, Pāvanī and Nalinī towards the east, the next three, Sucakṣus, Sītā and Sindhu towards the west and the seventh tributary followed Bhagīratha. In this manner they progressed a great distance till they reached the āśrama of the sage Jahnu, and the haughty Gaṅgā flooded the āśrama. The sage got enraged at this and drank up Gaṅgā. But Bhagīratha pleased the sage who then let out Gaṅgā through his ears. Thenceforth Gaṅgā came to be called Jāhnavī also. Gaṅgā again followed Bhagīratha to Pātāla and made the sons of Sagara attain salvation by purifying them with her waters. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Cantos 43 and 44 ; Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 97; Devī Purāṇa, Dvitiya Skandha; Droṇa Parva, Chapter 60; Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 4 and Vana Parva, Chapter 109).