How Ganga Descended to Earth

Sage Vishwamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana continued their journey toward Mithila. When they approached the Ganga, Vishwamitra began narrating a story about the river—one that concerned the kings of the Solar Dynasty.

"Ganga was the eldest daughter of Himavan, and her younger sister, Uma—also known as Parvati—was Lord Shiva's wife. Sagara, an emperor of the Solar Dynasty, had two wives: Keshini and Sumati. Keshini had an intellectually disabled son named Asamanjasa, while Sumati had sixty thousand sons. Asamanjasa had a son called Amshuman, whom everyone loved.

"Once, when Emperor Sagara was planning an Ashwamedha Yagya, Indra rode away with the yagya's horse. Sagara sent his sixty thousand sons to search for and retrieve the horse. In their eagerness to find it, they caused a commotion that disturbed Maharshi Kapila’s meditation. Angered, Kapila used his spiritual power to burn Sagara and Sumati’s sixty thousand sons to ashes. Garuda, the king of birds and Sumati’s brother, found the horse, returned it to Amshuman, and advised him to complete the yagya. After that, Amshuman was supposed to bring Ganga from Svarga to Earth and free his ancestors from the curse. 

"Unfortunately, neither King Amshuman nor his son, King Dilipa, was able to bring Ganga down to Earth in order to cleanse their ancestors. Then Dilipa's son, King Bhagiratha, decided to try. He invoked Lord Brahma, who informed him that only Lord Shiva had the power to withstand the immense force with which Ganga would descend to Earth. So Bhagiratha fervently prayed to Shiva, who agreed to help Bhagiratha by controlling the speed at which Ganga would reach Earth. As Ganga descended, Shiva untied and spread his hair. After Ganga filled up Shiva’s hair, he retied it in a knot. Soon, Ganga began to flow out of Shiva’s hair at a steady speed.

"During Ganga's journey on Earth, she happened to disturb Sage Jahnu's meditation. The angry sage drank up the entire river. Upon the gods' request, Sage Jahnu let Ganga flow out of his ear. Hence, Ganga has another name: Jahnavi, meaning 'daughter of Jahnu.' Thus, Ganga came to Earth and liberated Bhagiratha's ancestors. Since this sacred river was brought to Earth by Bhagiratha, she is also known as Bhagirathi."