Ganga Saptami Vrat Katha | Legends of Ganga Jayanti

Ganga Saptami Vrat Katha

Devarshi Narada said - "O best among the gods! You have described two forms of the same Ganga. One is the Ganga brought by the Brahmin Gautama, and the other portion remained in the matted locks of Lord Shiva, which was later brought to Earth by the Kshatriya King Bhagiratha. Therefore, please narrate that particular episode to me."

BrahmaJi said - "O Devarshi! In the lineage of Vaivasvata Manu, in the dynasty of King Ikshvaku, there was a very righteous king named Sagara. He always followed Dharma and performed virtuous deeds such as charity and Yajna. King Sagara had two wives. Both were extremely devoted, but neither was blessed with a child. This caused great worry in the king's mind.

One day, he invited Maharshi Vashistha to his palace. After properly worshipping and honoring him, he asked - 'O revered sage! I have no child. Kindly tell me by what means I can be blessed with a child.'

Hearing the sorrow of King Sagara, Maharshi Vashistha meditated and said - 'O King! Along with your wives, continue to serve Rishi and other sages with devotion. By their blessings, your wish will surely be fulfilled.' Saying this, Maharshi Vashistha returned to his hermitage.

In due course of time, a perfected ascetic sage arrived at King Sagara's palace. The king respectfully welcomed and worshipped him. Pleased by the king's hospitality, the sage said - 'O noble one! I am greatly pleased with your service. Ask for any boon you desire.'

Hearing this, the king said - 'O best among sages! I have no child. Kindly bless me with a son.'

The sage replied - 'From the womb of one of your wives, one son will be born who will continue your lineage, and from the womb of the other, sixty thousand sons will be born.' After granting this boon, the sage disappeared.

In due time, as per the sage's words, King Sagara was blessed with many sons. He performed several Ashwamedha Yajna with generous offerings. Thereafter, for one such Yajna, he undertook the ritual initiation and appointed his sons, along with the army, to guard the sacrificial horse. The horse began to roam across the Earth. At that time, Devaraja Indra seized the opportunity and stole the horse, and hid it in Rasatala, where many demons resided. The princes searched everywhere for the horse but could not find it. They searched in heaven, forests, mountains, and lakes, but it was nowhere to be found.

Then Akasha Vani i.e., a divine voice said - 'O sons of Sagara! Your horse is not elsewhere but is tied in Rasatala.' Hearing this, they began digging the Earth from all directions to reach Rasatala. Tormented by hunger, they ate dry soil and continued digging. Soon they reached Rasatala. Hearing that the powerful sons of Sagara had arrived, the demons became frightened and tried to attack them. Without engaging in battle, they fled in fear and reached the place where the great sage Kapila was resting. Sage Kapila was extremely powerful and quick to anger. The demons tied the horse near his head and hid, waiting for the sons of Sagara.

When the sons of Sagara reached there, they saw the horse tied near a man who was resting. They assumed that Sage Kapila had stolen the horse to obstruct the Yajna. They decided to kill this sinner and take the horse back to their father. Some of them said - 'Let us simply untie our horse and take it. What is the use of killing this sleeping man?' Others replied - 'We are brave Kshatriya rulers. Let us punish this sinner.' Saying this, they began insulting the sage and kicking him. Enraged by their misconduct, Sage Kapila opened his eyes. The moment he cast his fiery glance upon them, all the princes were burnt to ashes.

O Narada! King Sagara, who was engaged in the Yajna, was unaware of this incident. It was you who informed him of everything. Hearing this, the king became extremely distressed and confused about what to do next.

King Sagara had another son named Asamanja. Out of foolishness, he used to pick up children from the city and throw them into the water. The citizens complained to the king. Upon learning of his son's unjust conduct, the king became extremely angry and said to his ministers - 'This Asamanja is a killer of children and has abandoned Kshatriya Dharma. He should be exiled from the kingdom.'

Accordingly, the ministers exiled him. Asamanja went to the forest. King Sagara then lamented - 'All my sons have been reduced to ashes, and my remaining son has been exiled. What will be my fate now?'

Asamanja had a son named Anshuman. Though he was young, the king entrusted him with the task. Anshuman worshipped Sage Kapila, retrieved the sacrificial horse, and returned it to King Sagara, thereby completing the Yajna. Anshuman had a highly radiant son named Dilipa, and Dilipa was blessed with a supremely wise son, Bhagiratha. When Bhagiratha learned about the tragic fate of his ancestors, he was deeply pained.

He respectfully asked King Sagara - 'O Maharaja! How can they be liberated?'

The king replied - 'O child! Only Sage Kapila knows the way.' Hearing this, Bhagiratha went to Rasatala, bowed to Sage Kapila, and expressed his wish. Sage Kapila entered deep meditation, and after completing it, said - 'O King! Perform penance and worship Lord Shiva, and with the sacred waters of Ganga abiding in His Jata i.e., matted locks, immerse the ashes of your ancestors. This will grant them liberation and fulfill your purpose.'

Bhagiratha then asked - 'O revered sage! Where should I go and what should I do?' Kapila replied - 'Go to Mount Kailasa, worship Lord Shiva, and perform intense penance. Your wish will surely be fulfilled.'

Hearing the sage's words, Bhagiratha bowed to him and set out for Mount Kailasa. Upon reaching there, the young Bhagiratha purified himself and resolved to undertake penance. Addressing Lord Shiva, he spoke thus - 'O Lord! I am but a child, and my understanding is also that of a child. You too bear the crescent moon upon Your head. I know nothing at all; therefore, kindly be pleased with my innocence. O Amreshvara! For the welfare of those who, through speech, mind, and action, have ever helped me and remained engaged in my well-being, I bow to You along with Goddess Uma. You are worthy of worship even for the Gods. May Lord Shiva fulfill the cherished desires of those ancestors who gave me birth in the same lineage and nurtured me to make me capable. I bow daily to Lord Shankara, who adorns the crescent moon upon His crown.'

As soon as Bhagiratha finished speaking, Lord Shiva appeared before him and said - 'O wise one! Ask for any boon without fear. Even that which is unattainable for the Gods, I shall surely grant you.'

Bhagiratha, having received this assurance, bowed to Lord Mahadeva and joyfully said - 'O Deveshvara! The sacred Ganga, who is the foremost among rivers and resides in Your matted locks, kindly grant her to me for the liberation of my ancestors. By this, I shall attain everything.' At this, Maheshvara smiled and said - 'O child! I have granted you Ganga. Now you should praise her.' Hearing the words of Lord Mahadeva, Bhagiratha undertook severe penance once again for the descent of Ganga and, with a controlled mind and deep devotion, offered prayers to her. Though still young, Bhagiratha, through extraordinary effort beyond his age, obtained the grace of Goddess Ganga.

Having thus obtained Ganga through the grace of Lord Mahadeva, Bhagiratha circumambulated her and, with folded hands, humbly prayed - 'O Devi! Due to the curse of the great sage Kapila, my ancestors have fallen into a miserable state. O Mother! Kindly be gracious and liberate them.'

The divine river Ganga is the benefactor of all and destroys all sins merely by remembrance. Hearing Bhagiratha's prayer, she said, "Tathastu" and, for the welfare of the worlds and the liberation of his ancestors, accomplished everything as requested by Bhagiratha. She flooded the ashes of the sons of King Sagara lying in Rasatala and filled the pits they had dug. Thus, O great sage, the account of Kshatriya Ganga has been narrated to you.

Goddess Ganga is known by many names such as Maheshwari, Vaishnavi, Brahmi, Pavani, Bhagirathi, Devanadi, and Himagirishikharashraya, meaning the one who dwells upon the peaks of the Himalaya.

Thus, the Ganga flowing to the south of the Vindhya mountain is known as Gautami or Godavari, while the Ganga flowing to the north of the Vindhya mountain is called Bhagirathi."

Brahmaji continued - "O Narada! Now listen to the account of Ganga in her form as Jahnavi." He narrated the lineage from Chandra to Budha, then to Pururava. In all the three worlds, there was none equal to Pururava in valor, adherence to Brahman, performance of Yajna, serenity, knowledge of Dharma, purity of intellect, and the destruction of enemies. Therefore, Urvashi accepted him as her husband. Pururava had seven sons, who were established in Gandharvaloka and were as handsome as celestial beings. Their names were Ayu, Amavasu, Vishvayu, Shrutayu, Dridhayu, Vanayu, and Bahvayu. Amavasu had a son named King Bhima, whose son was Kanchanaprabha, and his son was the mighty Suhotra. Suhotra's son was Jahnu, born of Queen Keshini.

Jahnu performed a great Yajna known as Sarpamedha. Once, Goddess Ganga approached him with the desire to accept him as her husband, but Jahnu declined. At that time, Ganga, in the force of her water, flooded his sacrificial arena. Angered by this, Jahnu said - 'O Ganga! I shall drink your water and render your effort futile. You shall soon face the result of your false pride.' Saying this, he drank the entire Ganga.

As Jahnu drank the entire Ganga, great turmoil arose throughout the creation. At that time, all the Gods and Maharshi humbly entreated Jahnu, seeking forgiveness for Goddess Ganga and requesting him to release her. Accepting their prayers, Jahnu brought forth Goddess Ganga once again from his ear. From that time onward, she became renowned in the world as Jahnavi, the daughter of Jahnu.

The day on which Rajarshi Jahnu drank Ganga and later released her from his ear was the Vaishakha Shukla Saptami Tithi. Therefore, this Tithi is celebrated as Ganga Saptami or Ganga Jayanti."