10 - The story of the birth of Ganga

Narada said — О best of those well-versed in the Vedas, I have heard the charming story of the goddess Pruthvi but I would now like to listen to the story of birth of Ganga you kindly narrate the same. The goddess Ganga has the form of Vishnu and also is known by the name of Vishnupadi (the one who emerged out of the feet of Vishnu). How did she emerge over the land of Bharata because of curse of Sarasvati and during which period did she reach her at whose request and prayers, she had to arrive here. She happens to be the remover of the sins absolutely sacred and is meritorious. 

Narayana said —  There was a king born in the solar race who was known by the name of Sagara who had two beautiful wives named Vaidarbhi and Saivya. The king was quite truthful who always believed in truth, spoke truth and was truthful in the performing Brahma. He was the best of the kings and was born in Satyayuga. 

From his queen named Saivya a girl was born besides a son named Asamanjasa, who was the promoter of the race. 

His wife named Vaidarbhi meditated upon Shiva with the desire of having a son. By the grace of Shiva, she was conceived. After the lapse of a hundred years, a block of flesh was born of her. On looking at it, she started meditating upon Shiva and then started crying. 

Shiva then appeared in the form of Brahmana and the block of flesh was broken, out of which sixty thousand sons emerged. 

All those sons were quite valorous, strong and possessed the lustre of the suns of the summer season. After sometime, with the rage of sage Kapila, all the sixty thousand of them were reduced to ashes, the king's mind was filled with grief and in that condition his life came to an end. Thereafter Asamanjasa perfonning tapas for a lakh of years and he died while doing so. Thereafter his son Dillpa meditated for a lakh of year for the same purpose. 

His son Anshuman meditated for a lakh of years for getting Ganga on earth and he also had to meet with the same fate. 

And extremely intelligent son named Bhagiratha was born to Dillpa who was a great Vaishnava, devoted to lord Vishnu, quite meritorious and was eternal and everlasting. 

He meditated upon lord Krishna for a lakh of years and ultimately he had an audience with lord. At that point of time the lustre of crores of suns of the summer season was emerging out of the body of the lord. He had two arms and was holding a flute in his hand. He was of tender age and appeared in the form of a cowherd, in order to grace his devotees, he had taken to this fonn. О sage, lord Krishna happened to be the complete parabrahman. He can take to any form. At that point of time all the gods including Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were adoring him. The sages too bowed their heads in reverence to him. He is always unattached, witness of all, invisible one, beyond Prakruti and is the one who bestows his grace over his devotees. The faces of lord Krishna wore a serene smile. He was clad in divine garments and divine ornaments studded with gems, over his body. Having a look at the lord, Bhagiratha bowed in reverence to him again and again, showering all the praises. Thereafter he received the boons from the lord quite easily, by which his race could be redeemed. With the very drought of the river Ganga by the lord she arrived there at the same time. Bowing in reverence before the lord, she stood there with folded hands. Finding the goddess Ganga praising him, with her mind filled with emotions, the lord said. 

Lord Krishna said — О best of the goddess because of the curse of Sarasvati you have to descend on earth in Bharata. At my command you go there and purify the sons of Sagara. With the touch of the air from your water they will get purified and reach my abode. 

My attendants taking to divine form, mounted over the divine chariots will be available there all the time free from diseases. 

All their misdeeds of many birth would turn into goods deeds and they will attain the divine form. It is ordained by Srutis that the sins earned by a human in the crores of his births, will be washed away by with the simple touch of the wind of the Ganga. By taking a bath in the waters of Ganga one earns ten time more merits. 

During ordinary days even if one has a dip in the Ganga, the sins, accumulated by him during crores of earlier births are washed away. This has been ordained by the Srutis. 

Many of the sins like Brahmahatya and several others sins committed for any purpose, are washed away by taking a bath in the Ganga. By taking a bath on the sacred days, the same merit is multiplied, which cannot be defined even by the Vedas. 

О goddess some of the people came to know about your glory from the scriptures. Even otherwise Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are not fully aware of your glory. 

О beautiful one, by taking bath on ordinary days one gets much more merit by doing so on sacred days. 

In case a Sunday falls on the first of the month, one earns great merit which is thirty time more then the ordinary day. On the day Amavasya (dark night) if one takes a bath in the Ganga he earns similar merit. Similarly, when the sun is the southern half year, one gets triple the merit and when the same is in the northern half year, one gets ten times more merit. In the four rainy months, on the full moon day, the merit accruing from taking a bath in the Ganga is beyond measure. 

On the Akshayatithi, if one takes a bath in the, he earns similar merit by taking bath in the Ganga during the four rainy seasons one gets merit which cannot be measured. While taking a bath in the Ganga on ordinary days, one gets a hundred time more merit if is the same is accompanied with dhyanam also. Similarly, similar type of merit has been prescribed for the manVaniaras and yuga. 

By taking a bath in the Ganga on the bright seventh day of the month of Magha, Bhishmastami, Ashokastami, Ramanavami, one gets double the merit. By taking in the Ganga on the Punyananda day the merit is increased. This merit is increases to ten times if one takes a bath on the Papaharana-Dasami. Like Nanda, one gets the same merit during Varuni. During Mahavaruni, one gets four time more merit which is a crores time more than the merit one earns on ordinary day. During the solar and lunar eclipses one earns ten time more merits by taking a bath in the Ganga. Similarly, by taking a bath in Arghyodaya-time, one gets hundred times more merit. As compared to others, the resolve of the Vaishnavas for taking bath in the Ganga, is quite different. 

The Vaishnavas always perform the deeds unmindful of the fruits of the same. They are always devoted to me and also desire to be so. 

The mantra of the lord after emerging from the mouth of the teacher enters into the ear of the Vaishnavas. All the Vedas describe such a person as Jivanmukta Vaishnava. 

The one who receives the Vaishnavas mantra, he redeems his hundred generation of his parents besides those of the other hundred generations of the mother, the maternal grandmother, the sister, the brothers, sister's sons, the maternal uncle, parents-in-law, wife of the Guru, sons of the Guru, the one who imparts knowledge, friends, servants, describes, maid-servants and the people who take refuge with such a person besides the people of the neighbourhood. By simply receiving the mantra of lord Krishna one is freed form the life bondage. 

The sacred places of the entire Bharatavarsha become sanctified with the touch of such a person and with the touch of the dust of a foot even the land is purified wherever the water of his feet false, it becomes a sacred place. The food which is taken without offering it Vishnu is like refuse and the water like the urine. The Vaishnavas never consume them because they consume everything after first offering it to the lord, the one who consumes food after first offering it to the lord all the holy places are sanctified with the touch of such a person. The people who sip the Charnamruta of lord Vishnu daily, all their sins are driven away in the same way as the serpents flee at the sight of Garuda. All the three worlds are sanctified with the single look of such people. 

The Sudarshana-chakra of lord Vishnu always protects them. They become emotionallу listening to my glory and the tears of joy and ecstasy flow from their eyes always. Such people are known to be the best Vaishnavas. Such of the people who adore me better then their own sons and leave their house hold to my care, they are known as the best Vaishnavas. 

The entire universe from here to the Brahmaloka emerges from him and I happened to be the lord of everyone, such of the Vaishnavas who are aware of all this, are considered to be the best. 

The innumerable and crores of globes besides Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva merge in my body at the time of dissolution. Such of the people who are aware of all this are known to be the best Vaishnavas. О goddess I possessed the best of lustre and for bestowing grace on my devotee I am invisible, uncondemed, beyond Prakruti and all the elements of nature emerge from me and finally merge in me. The people who are aware of this, are the true Vaishnavas. 

Thus speaking before both of them lord Krishna kept quiet. Thereafter Ganga who stood before him with folded hands and bowing her head she spoke. 

Ganga said— “O lord because of the curse of goddess Sarasvati pronounced by her in earlier times and at your command, I am proceeding on earth to fulfil the desire the king Bhagiratha. 

But О lord all the sinful people will dump their store of sins over me. Then how shall I be able to purify myself. You kindly tell me. 

О lord of all, up to what time shall I have to remain in Bharata and when shall I be able to return to your sacred place of Vishnuloka? 

О lord, you are adorable by all and as such you are also aware of my other desires. О lord of the hearts of all, you kindly tell me the way out to have my desire fulfilled. 

Krishna said—О Ganga the best of the goddesses, I am quite well-aware of the desires of your minds. This salt-water ocean who happens to the form of Rudra will be your husband. 

This ocean emerged from one of my rays and you also happen to be the form of Lakshmi, the union of a good actor with a good actress is considered to be quite auspicious on earth. 

All rivers of the land like Sarasvati and other will merge in you and you alone will flow towards the ocean. You will be considered to be the sacred most of all the rivers. О goddess, you will have to stay in Bharatavarhsa for five thousand years as a result of the curse of Sarasvati. 

You will enjoy the company of the ocean there in a scheduled place because you are quite a passionate one. 

All the dwellers of Bharata would recite your name with devotion and adore you with reverence. 

According to the method of Kauthumi-s'akha. all the people will perform puja for you daily, meditate upon you and recite you stotra bowing in reverence. All of them will earn the merit of performing Ashvamedha sacrifice.

 The one who recites the name of Ganga even at a distance of hundred of yojanas, he is relieved of all the sins and achieves access to Vishnuloka. 

Hundreds of sinners will be redeemed with the taking of bath in your waters, the sin you will earn by the bathing of such sinners, will be washed out at the sight of my devotees. 

Similarly, the sin you will earn with the touch of thousands of dead bodies will be washed out with the taking of bath of my devotees in your water and reciting of my mantras by them. 

О Ganga at whichever place my name is recited, it would be relieved of all sins and that would become your abode. 

О fortunate one, wherever my glory is recited, the place would become holy place in company with Sarasvati and other holy rivers. They will remain in the heaven for such number of years as would be the number of the particles of sand of that place. 

Such of devotees who reciting my name will take bath in your water and then end their lives they would always achieve the abode of Vishnu and become the permanent attendants of Vishnu. Residing in Vaikuntha they would witness innumerable natural dissolutions. Only such of the dead bodies will be thrown in your water who are devoid of all the sins and are immensely meritorious. Till such time the ashes of such people would reside in your sacred water, they would reside Vaikuntha. 

Thereafter I shall allow him to enjoy the merits of his good deeds and thereafter provide him the salvation making him my own attendants. 

Even when unwise person ends his life touching your water he will achieve salvation and I shall make him my own attendants. If anyone meets with the end of his life at some other place reciting your name, I shall bestow on him the salvation. 

Irrespective of being the place where one meets to the end of his life, I provide him with salvation who recites my name as long as the period of a Brahma's existence is counted. 

The one who adores me with devotion daily and consumes the food first offering to me a part up it, (he is redeemed and) his death at a holy place or any other place is of no consequence. Such a person easily purifies all the three worlds and becoming like me, surrounded by my attendants, mounts over a plane and reaches Goloka. 

О virtuous one the relatives of all my devotees proceed to Goloka and occupy the gems studded thrones. 

Whether one is learned or a fool, remaining in any condition if one meets with the end of his life, he is freed from the bondage of birth and death because of the company of my devotees he keeps. 

Thus speaking to Ganga lord Krishna spoke to Bhagiratha thus, “You adore the Ganga with reverence and devotion.” 

Thereafter Bhagiratha with his mind filled with devotion performed dhyanam according to the Kauthumi-sakha and recited stotras for Ganga again and again. Thereafter Bhagiratha bowed in reverence to the Ganga and lord Krishna thereafter disappeared from the scene. 

Narada said— О best of those who are well versed in the Vedas, you kindly tell me the way Bhagiratha adored Ganga, the stotra he recited, the dhyanam he performed and the sequence of his meditation. 

Narayana said— After taking bath and getting free from all the daily routines, one should clad himself in two clean garments and wash his feet. Sipping water, he should adore with devotion Ganesha, Surya, Agni, Vishnu, Shiva and Parvati. 

Ganes'ha should be adored for the remover of obstructions, one would adore Ganesha for destruction of the sins, Surya should be adored for self purification. Agni should be adored for salvation. Vishnu should be adored for achieving knowledge. Shiva should be adored and for seeking prowess and intelligent, Parvati should be adored because by adoring her these dities are pleased and the devotee gets the desired fruits and by ignoring them, one meets with disappointments. 

О Narada according to the Kauthumi-sakha. The dhyanam performed by Bhagiratha is going to be narrated by me, you listen to it carefully. 

She has the complexion of the jasmine flowers and is the remover of the sins. She is the one, which appears from the body of lord Krishna and is pure like him. One should meditate upon the Ganga possessing these qualities. She is pure like fire and is clad in sanctified garments. She is adorned with ornaments studded with gems. She has the lustre like the hundreds of full moons of the winter season. She wears a serene smile over her face and is always youthful. The lady of the scriptures, is quite dear to Narayana, the fortune can never get separated from her. Her hair is beautifully arranged and she wears a garland of jasmine flowers. Her forehead is decorated with a red spot surrounded by the small spots of sandal-wood paste. This adds to her beauty. Her temples are beautifully decorated with kasturi; she is decorated with several paintings; her lips are like the ripe wood apples.

 The lines of teeth are dazzling like the pearls; the face is beautiful and the eyes are charming with curly eye-brows. 

The both the breasts are stiff and are of the size of the apple, the pelvic region is developing and quite stiff. The thighs resemble the trunk of the banana tree. 

The pair of feet looked like the lotus flowers and were adorned with ornaments and plastered with vermilion. The redness of the feet of the goddess excelled the beauty of the Mandara flower studded in the crow of Indra. The gods, the siddhas and the sages always stand before her offering arghya, the black-wasps with usually reside over the crowns of the king’s hover-around the auspicious feet’s of the goddess who bestows salvation to the truth seekers and also the heavenly pleasures to the devotees. 

Thus the adorable, the best, bestower of boons, the one who showers the grace over her devotees, the granter of the abode of Vishnu, is known as Vishnupadi. I bow in reverence to the chaste Ganga like this. 

О Brahmana thus meditating upon the Ganga flowing in three streams, one should adore her by sixteen methods. 

The sixteen methods, include the offering of seat, padya, arghya, water for bathing, sandal paste for plastering, essence, lamp, naivedya, betel, cook water, clothes, ornaments, garland, fragrance (scent), sipping water and the beautiful bed are the sixteen types of offerings made to the goddess. 

After offering all these with devotion, one should stand with folded hands and offer the prayers. By doing this one gets the merit of performing Ashvamedha sacrifice. О Narada, now I tell you about the stotra prescribed by Kauthuma, which is in the form of a conversation between Vishnu and Brahma, which removes all the sins and brings welfare. You listen to it. 

Brahma said—О lord, the lord of Laksmi, О graceful one, О lord Vishnu, I bow in reverence to you. I intend to listen from you the stotra of Ganga which relieves one of all the sins and bestows merits. 

Narayana said—I bow in reverence to the Ganga which emerged from the music of lord Shiva played by him when Krishna and Radha were engaged in love-sports. 

At the beginning of the universe she resided in Goloka in the Rasamandala, in the vicinity of lord Shiva. I bow in reverence to her. 

In the Radha festival when all the cowherds and cowherdcsses assembled at the time of full moon day of Kartika, you were born. 1 bow in reverence to Ganga. 

You are crores of yojanas in width and are a lakh of times more in length and pervades the Goloka. I bow in reverence to the Ganga.

You are sixty lakh yojanas in width and four time in length surrounding Vaikuntha. I bow in reverence to Ganga. 

You are twenty lakhs yojanas in width and four times in length surrounding the Brahmaloka; I bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

By becoming three lakh yojana in width and five times more in length, you surround the Shivaloka. I bow in reverence to Ganga. 

By becoming six yojana in width and ten times more in length, you move with the name of Mandakini around Indraloka. I bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

Becoming a lakh of yojana in width and seven times more in length you move around the Dhruvaloka. I bow in reverence to Ganga. 

Becoming a lakh of yojana in width and six times more in length you covered the abode of moon. I bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

By becoming seven thousand yojanas in width and double its length, you surround the solar region. 

I bow in reverence to Ganga. By becoming a lakh of yojanas in width and six times more in length you surround the Salyaloka. I bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

By becoming ten lakh yojanas in width and five time more in length you surround the tapoloka, 1 bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

By expanding yourself to a thousand yojanas and seven times more in length you surround the janoloka. 1 bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

By expanding yourself to a thousand yojanas and seven times more in length, you surround the Kailasa mountain. I bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

Expending ten yojanas in width and ten times more in length, you surround the Patalaloka and are known by the name of Bhagavati. I bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

You are the one who is spread in width by a Kosa and your span is not reduced at any stage and you are known by the name of Alakananda. I bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

In the Satyayuga you were white like the milk. In the Tretayuga you had the complexion of the moon, in the Dvapara you had the complexion of the Sandal-paste. I bow in reverence to the Ganga. 

In the Kaliyuga you maintain the lustre of the pure water which is not available anywhere else and you maintain the glory of the heaven on earth. 

In the Puranas as well as the Vedas, you are unparelled in glory. You are bestower of grace and remover of the sins. I bow in reverence in the Ganga. 

Brahma the Grandfather removes the crores of sins of Brahmahatya with the touch of a drop of your water. The glory of the same Ganga has been recited in twenty-one verses which are quite auspicious, remover of the sins and are meritorious. 

The one who adoring the goddess Ganga, recites this stotra with devotion, he always gets the merit of performing Ashvamedha sacrifice. There is no doubt about it. 

Similarly, a man without a wife gets her. The sick one is relieved of and the one who is bound in the bondage he is freed from the same. 

Even if a fool recites the Ganga-stotra after taking a bath in the early morning, he is filled with wisdom and attains glory his bad dreams turn into good dreams and he attains the merit of taking a bath in the Ganga.

Narayana said—О Narada, Bhagiratha offered this prayer to the Ganga and visited the place where sixty thousand sons of Sagara were destroyed. 

With the touch of the wind by the water of Ganga all the son of Sagara were redeemed and they proceeded to Vaikuntha. Since Bhagiratha brought the Ganga on earth. She was therefore known by the name of Bhagirathi. 

I have thus narrated to you the auspicious story of the Ganga which awards merits and salvation. What more do you want to listen from me. 

Narada said—What happened when Radhika and Krishna both were turned into water with the music of Shiva? What were the good deeds performed by the people present there at that point of time? You tell me everything in detail. 

Narayana said—On the full moon day of Kartika, Sri Krishna organised a beautiful festival where in the adored Radha and lived with her in the Rasamandala. 

After having been adored by lord Krishna, Radha was also adored by Brahma and other sages who also prayed to her. In the meantime, the goddess Sarasvati playing on vina started issuing sweet notes which increased the ecstasy of lord Krishna. 

Thereafter Brahma was pleased and presented him a bead garland of gems. Besides the Chudamani (gem) which was the essence of all the gems and was difficult to get in the universe. 

Lord Krishna on the other hand presented the kaustubha gem to Radha besides a beautiful garland of gems. 

Lord Narayana presented the beautiful garland of forest flowers, while Lakshmi presented the Kundalas of the shape of Makara (crocodile). The illusion or Maya who happens to be the Mula-Prakruti and is known as Ishani bestowed on her the devotion of Vishnu. 

Dharma on the other hand bestowed the great glory besides the devotion in dharma, the god Agni presented her the sanctified garments and the wind-gods presented her nupuras (anklets) studded with gems. 

In the meantime, Brahma too having been influenced by the dance of lord Krishna started singing the praise of the lord together with lord Shiva. On listening to the music and songs, all the gods present there with filled with ecstasy and fell unconscious but they regained consciousness after a moment and looked at the Rasamandala and the entire area was submerged in water. Both lord Krishna and Radha were no where to be seem. Thereafter the cowherds, the cowherdesses, the gods and the Brahmanas started crying loud. 

At the point of time Brahma went in deep meditation and with his divine vision he came to know about the factual position. He said both Radha and Krishna have turned themselves into water. Thereafter Brahma and other gods’ prayer for the lord saying, “O lord you appear before us in human form. This is the great desire with us.” 

In the meantime, a divine voice was heard from the sky which was quite sweet, clear and pleasant. It was heard by all. The voice pronounced “O gods I am the supreme soul and to shower my grace on my devotees I take to human form and this prowess of mine always remains. What will you do now by looking at our bodies. 

The Manus, the humans, all the sages and the Vaishnavas get purified with the reciting of my mantra and will reach my abode. 

О gods, if you are really interested in looking at me then ask Shiva to honour my words at that very place. O Brahma you are yourself the teacher of the universe, you ask lord Shiva to create the tantra sastra as part of the Vedas, which should contain several of the unprecedented mantras, stotras dhyanam, method of adoration, mantras and kavachas. All these should be contained therein. Forming the mantra and kavacha for me, they should be kept secret and those who are opposed to me should not be bestowed with the knowledge of the same. Only one in a thousand humans would be my true devotee reciting the mantra. Therefore, such of the people who will be purified with my mantra, will arrive in my abode. If they are unable to reach my abode they will reach and Goloka. A such the entire protected globe of Brahma would become of no consequence. 

There are five types of creatures in universe created by Brahma. They are those who live on earth, live in heaven, are living Patala, live in brahmaloka and those of the Vaishnavas who live in my abode. In case lord Mahadeva promises to creates such a s'astra in a firm manner, then you will surely by able to see my image. 

Lord Krishna kept quiet while remaining in the sky after speaking thus. Finding this, Brahma, the lord of the universe, felt delighted and prayed to lord Shiva to take up the job. 

On hearing the words of Brahma, Shiva who is the store of all knowledge, took the waters of Ganga in his hands and took a vow for creating the scriptures. 

He said: “At the command of lord Krishna I shall compose a word on the illusion of Vishnu in the form of mantras providing the gist of the Vedas. In case anyone tells a lie holding the water of Ganga in his palm, he remains in the kalasutra hell up to the age of lord Brahma. 

О Brahmana, in the assembly of gods in Goloka, Shiva took this vow and both Radha and Krishna at once reappeared. 

Finding them there the gods offered prayers to the lord and delightfully started the festival again. 

After some time, lord Shiva composed the Sastradipa. Thus I have narrated to you all the details which are quite secret and are difficult to get. 

This is the Ganga that flowed in the Goloka from the limbs of Radha and Krishna and is the one who provides salvation to all and provides all the riches. By the grace of lord Krishna, she could travel from place to place. This sacred Ganga who is the form of lord Krishna is adored by all the people of the earth.