Srimadh Bagawatham - Ganga Charitram Part 2

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/11/srimadh-bagawatham-ganga-charitram-part.html

King Baghirathan postponed his coronation ceremony. Left the duties of the kingdom with his ministers and went to do severe penance. He felt that pithru karyam is more important than ruling the kingdom. Pleased with his penance, Lord Brhama appeared and allowed him to get River Ganges to flow down to Bhu Lokam.

Baghirathan approached Goddess Ganga and asked her to come down to earth.

‘I am afraid to come to earth,’ she said. ‘At the higher worlds, people do not sweat and when they take a holy dip they do not pollute me. They are also free from sins. At Earth people will polute me with their bodily fluids plus I would be forced to wash away their sins!’

‘If you are afraid of sinners then don’t come,’ said baghirathan. ‘But know that there are also Bagawathas on Earth. You can find Bagawathas only on Earth and not at Swarka Lokam. By coming in contact with them, you will retain your purity. If you wish to serve Bagawathas then come to earth.’

‘You make a good argument. I will flow down to earth but who will bear my force?’

Baghirathan the prayed to Lord Siva who readily agreed to bear the waters of River Ganges on his head since the holy waters started to flow from Perumal’s nail.

Lord Siva stood below as the water flowed on top of him. To Baghirathan’s ismay, the water stayed within Lord Siva’s locks like dew drops and not a single drop fell on Earth. Per Baghirathan’s request, Lord Siva allowed a single stream to flow out of his locks.

Even the single stream had a great force. The place where she fell on Lord Siva’s head she came to be called as Alakananda. Alakam means locks and as she made lord Siva happy by falling on his locks she is Alakananda. River Ganges flows in four direction known by names of Sîtâ, Alakanandâ, Cakshu and Bhadrâ. As she flowed down from Himalayas, she is also called as Haimavathi.

River Ganges was like a naughty young girl and she rushed in glee after Baghiratha. They soon came near the Ashram of Jhannu Maharishi. The Goddess wanted to see inside the Ashramam and she deviated her course. As she entered the ashram, the Maharishi’s sacred fire was almost put-off. The rishi then swallowed her completely to prevent flooding. Baghirathan went in search of Ganga to the Ashram of Jhannu  Maharishi. He explained his quest to the rishi. Jhannu Maharishi allowed a very small stream to flow out of his ear. As she went into him and was released from his ear, she is considered to be the rishi’s daughter and is called as Jhanavi. 

Now she flowed obediently behind Bhagirathan like his daughter and came to be called as Baghirathi. They soon arrived at Patala Lokam where she is called as Bhogavathi. As she washed away the ashes, all the 60,000 sons of Sagaran obtained good abode.

Continued On: