11 - The story of Ganga

Narada said—Where shall the Ganga proceed after the lapse of live thousand years in the age of Kali; you please tell me. 

Narayana said—The Gainga descended on earth because of the curse of Sarasvati and after the completion of her time she would go back again to Vaikuntha. After the end of the curse of Ganga, Sarasvati, Padmavati and Laksmi too will disown the earth and revert to the abode of Vishnu. Thus lord Vishnu has three spouses named Ganga, Sarasvati and Laksmi. Tulasi happens to be the fourth one. 

Narada said—Why did Ganga emerge from the feet of lord Vishnu? How did she reach the Kamandalu of Brahma and Shiva? О best of the sages you tell me, how did Ganga become the beloved of Vishnu. 

Narayana said—In the earlier times Ganga was present in Goloka in the form of water, this Ganga had emerged from the bodies of Radha and Krishna. 

The Ganga happens to be the goddess of water and she took to different forms on earth and was adorned with different types of gems studded ornaments. 

Her face was like the lotus flower of winter season and she was very beautiful. She was youthful and adorned with gem-studded ornaments. Her complexion resembled the molten gold and the moon of winter season was of no consequence before her lustre— 

She had a thick glow over her body and this was her pure Sattvika form, his body was fleshy and thick. Both the breasts were quite beautiful to look at the regions were also stiff and round; both the eyes looked charming with curly eye brows. She had the curly locks of hair and wore a garland of jasmine flowers. She had a spot of red vermilion over the forehead surrounded by spots of Sandal-paste. Her cheeks were decorated with paintings with kasturi, the lower lip resembled the beauty of the blossomed flowers of lotus at the noon. The teeth were quite beautiful and were shinning like the seeds of pomegranate. She was clad in beautiful divine garments. 

Thus wearing a feeling of shyness in her mind she went to lord Krishna. Her face was filled with delight and a great desire in mind therefore keeping a piece of clothe over her face, she started staring at the lord without winking for a moment and looked like extracting the nectar of his face delightfully.

She was so much engrossed in enjoying the beauty of the face of the lord that she seemed as having been fainted. Her body was filled with ecstasy. At the same time Radhika also appeared there with thirty crores of cowherdesses and wore the lustre of crores of moons, over her face. Her face became red in anger and the eyes were turned like the red lotuses.

The complexion of her body resembled that of the jasmine flower and her walking resembled that of the intoxicated elephant, she was adorned with the ornaments studded with gems and invaluable garment studded with jewels. She was clad in two costumes sanctified by Agni together with waist-band. 

Her lotus-like feet were quite tender and had the lustre of the blossoming flower. They were painted with red paint over which lord Krishna had offered with arghya. Thus displaying her beautiful feet by walking she was adorned with the best of the gem. Thereafter she got down from the throne. Her friends were moving the fly-whisks. 

Her face was adorned with a red spot surrounded by tilakam of a sandal-paste. She was having the lustre of the burning flames and was having the complexion of vermilion. 

The lower half of her body was looking quite beautiful and she was wearing the long garland of lowers surround the neck. Her eyes were wavering and she herself was trembling. Her beautiful lips were fluttering in anger. 

She arrived and occupied the seat besides the gems studded lion-throne of lord Krishna. The entire assembly of lord Krishna was filled with the associates of Radha. 

Finding her their lord Krishna got up from his seat and welcomed her in Sweet voice and started talking to her. 

Thereafter the cowherds getting nervous bowed in reverence to him thereafter they started offering prayer with devotion. They started praising lord Krishna. 

Suddenly she got up and adored the lord and feeling panickly, she enquired about his welfare quite humbly. 

In panic the throat, the lips and the tongue of Ganga dried up. she stood there meekly and she mentally took refuge under the feet of lord.

Lord Krishna then mentally entered her heart and delighting her protected her. She felt satisfied with the blessing of the lord. 

Thereafter the Ganga looked at Radhika who was occupying the throne with glow appearing on her body. She was quite pleasant to look at and was possessing her divine lustre. 

She happened to be the mother of innumerable Brahmas, the primeval creator. The eternal Radha appeared quite youthful like a girl of twelve years. 

There was no other lady comparable to her in beauty and virtues in the universe. She was quite peaceful, attractive beyond measure, free from beginning or end, chaste, image of welfare, possessing divine beauty, charming, possessing the fortune of having a husband, the queen of beauty and the best of beautifies in the universe. 

She was the better-half of lord Krishna and no one could compare with her in lustre age, glory and the one who is adored by the husband of Mahalaksmi. Her influence and her beauty were pervading the entire assembly of the lord. She was accepting the betel offered by her friends. 

She herself was beyond birth, though she happened to be the mother of all. She was the fortunate one, arrogant, proud, the lady of the life of lord Krishna and was the form of his beloved Lakshmi. 

The mind of the Ganga never felt satisfied even after looking at Radhika again and again. She continued to stare at her without winking her eyes. 

О sage, in the meantime the modest and polite Radhika smilingly spoke the sweet words to lord Krishna. 

Radhika said—О lord of my life who is this image of welfare seated besides you and looking at me with a smile. Her eyes are getting red having been influenced with passion. She is almost getting fainted, while looking at you. Her body is getting emotional and she is looking at you covering her face with a cloth. You always become passionate while looking at me but when inspite of my presence in the Goloka such an undesirable thing is happening. 

You had been misbehaving with me again and again. I had been forgiving you because of my love for you and that the ladies in the universe always have a tender mind.

 O lord of the gods, if you behave like this, you leave the Goloka with her. Otherwise you will be in trouble. 

Because earlier also I had found you in the sandal-wood grove together with Viraja but I forgave you at the instance of my friends. 

At the uttering of my words you had discarded her. Thereafter the same Viraja looking at an end of her life was turned into a stream. 

 That the stream is now a crore of yojanas in width and four time more in length and is flowing displaying your glory. 

When I left for home, you again went to her abode and started crying in grief reciting her name as Viraja. Thereafter the Yogini reappeared from the yogic waters and adorned with beautiful ornaments she gives her adoration. 

Thereafter you embraced her tightly and in planted your semen in her. Thereafter the seven oceans emerged out of her. The second time you were caught in compromising pose with a cowherds named Gopi. Here also you left her hearing my voice. 

Thereafter Shobha ending her life entered into the lunar region and her body was turned into a great splendour. Thereafter expressing your heart-felt grief, you distributed the lustre of her body to the gems, gold, the wise people, faces of damsels, the kings, best of clothes, silver, sandal pasted, water" fresh buds, flowers, fruits, cooked milk, the well-cultured royal families and the temples of gods. 

Then I found you in the company of a cowherds Prabha in Vrundavana. On hearing my words, you concealed her. But Prabha ended her life and entered into the solar region and her body was turned into a terrific lustre. 

While crying you distributed her lustre and with shyness and getting panickly from me, you gave it over the fire, kings, group of people, gods, thieves, Nagas, Brahmanas, sages, ascetics, fortunate ladies and glorious people. Thus distributing the lustre, you again started crying. Again during performing of Rasamandala at the time of spring season, you painted your body with the paste and wearing the auspicious garland, you enjoyed the company of the cowherdes Shanti. 

О lord, both of you were lodged in the gem studded palace which was illuminated with the lamps of gems. You were serving fragrant betel to each other. 

О lord, at that point of time, on hearing my words, you concealed her but in panic Santi ended her life and entered into your body. 

And her body was converted into the best of virtues. Thereafter crying in pain of separation, you also divided her and distributed her to lord Vishnu, Laksmi, your devotees, your Vaishnavas, ascetics besides Dharma and the people following dharma. Thereafter I found you in the company of a cowherdesses named Kshama; at that point of time you were altired in the best of the costumes and were wearing a long garland of flowers and painted with the fragrant paste of sandal-wood. 

You were enjoying the company of the damsels on the flower beds which were scented with the sandal-paste and were adorned with all the ornaments studded with gems. Thereafter both of you went to sleep because of the new union. At that point of time I myself woke you up. You just remember this. 

At that time, I took away your Pitambara, the charming fluid, long garland of forest flowers, kaustubha gems and the most valuable ear-rings. But at the instance of my friends I returned to you all the things. О lord, because of that shyness you were turned black and you also look the same today. 

Kshama felt ashamed and ended her life entering the earth; her body was turned into the best of virtues. 

Thereafter shedding tears of love, you distributed it among Vishnu, Vaishnavas. Those devoted to dharma, the weak people, the ascetics, the gods and the men of letters.

О lord, I have narrated all this to you. Now what more do you want listen to from me? I am quite well aware of all your virtues. 

Thus speaking Radha having the eyes like the red lotus spoke to Ganga, who in shyness was standing there casting her head downwards. 

At that point of time Ganga the Siddhayogini realising the truth of the matter, converted herself into the form of water and entered the river. 

Thereafter Radhika the Siddhayogini realised the situation and started sipping the water with folded hands from the river Ganga. 

The Siddhayogini Ganga came to know all the secret by her yogic powers and she took refuge under the feet of lord Krishna. 

Thereafter Radhika searched for Ganga in the Goloka, Vaikuntha, Brahmaloka and all other continents of the globe but she could not find her anywhere. 

Every place was devoid of water and the lotuses of the Goloka were dried up and the aquatic animals met with their death. 

Thereafter the necks, lips and the tongues of all the gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva besides Ananta, Dharma, Indra, Surya, Manu, humans, the gods, the siddhas and the sages were dried up. All of them arrived in Goloka to take refuge and bowed in reverence to lord Govinda. He happened to be the best of all, most/adorable, the giver of boons, the greatest of all because of boons, the lord of boons, one who is competent to bestow boons, the lord of all, unattached, formless, having no refuge, invisible, devoid of enthusiasm, having no fear, the one who moves at will, having definite form and the one who appears on earth for the welfare of his devotees, truthful, lord of truth, witness of all, eternal, the best, lord of all the best people and the supreme soul. All of them bowed in reverence to him and started pleasing him; they were bowing down having their hearts filled with devotion. Their voices were choked and tears were flowing from their eyes. The hair of their bodies were standing on end. All of them offered their prayers to lord Krishna. 

At that moment Parabrahman who also, appears in the form of a flame and is the cause of all the causes, was seated on the gem-studded lion throne with his body adorned with ornaments studded with best of gems. 

The Gopas were fanning with the fly-whisks of white colour. The lord was busy with witnessing the divine dance and music of the Gopis. 

Clad in the best of clothes, a hundred crores of cowherds, surrounded the lord from all sides. The body of lord Krishna was plastered with the paste of sandal-wood and was adorned with the ornaments studded with gems. His complexion resembled the fresh clouds. He appeared of tender age, wearing a yellow lower garment. He appeared in the form of a cowherd of twelve years. The pleasant form of lord Krishna was worth observing. He was having the beauty of crores of gods of love and the cowherdesses were continuously staring at him. 

Adorned with the ornaments made of the best of gems, the cowherdessess were looking at the beautiful face of lord Krishna and Radha, who was the lady of his life and was resting her head against his chest. He was chewing the betels offered by them. Such type of lord Krishna who happens to be the lord of all the gods, was present in the Rasamandala. All the gods, the sages, the humans, the siddhas, the ascetics arrived there to meet the lord. They were totally surprised. 

 Then after making mutual consultation, they requested lord Brahma to place their difficulties before the lord. 

Brahma on listening to the words of the gods flanked by Vishnu on the right side and lord Mahadeva to the left, reached before lord Krishna enjoying the pleasure of the Rasamandala. All of them were clad in similar types of garments, while lord Krishna was seated on the lion-throne holding the flute in his hand while his neck was adorned with a long garland of forest flowers. His crown was decorated with the feathers of the peacock and the kaustubha gem. He looked quite charming and was seated in a peaceful mood. All the Gopas were wearing ornaments of similar nature and had similar lustre, age, glory, clothes, form, figure and beauty. All of them were filled with all riches and were complete in all respects.

It was difficult to judge by looking at them as to who was the lord and who was the servant. Even Brahma fell difficult to judge them because in a moment everyone had his face filled with glory, while at another moment it disappeared. Somewhere Krishna alone could be seen, while sometimes he was seen with Radha and sometimes without her. 

Finding Radha in the form of Krishna and Krishna in the form of Radha, no one could distinguish between the males and females. Even Brahma failed to do so. Thereafter Brahma meditated upon Krishna in his mind with devotion and started offering prayers to him. Thereafter at the command of the lord, Brahma opened his eyes, lie could find only lord Krishna resting his head on the breast of Radha. 

He was surrounded by his attendants. The gods looking at him, bowed in reverence again and again, offering their prayers. 

Realising his intentions the lord who happens to be the chief of the souls, the lord of all the yajnas said to Brahma. 

The lord said— “O Brahma the lord of Kamala, come here, О lord Mahadeva, you come; let all of you meet with welfare. 

О virtuous one, you have arrived here to take back Ganga with you, but Ganga getting terrified has taken refuge under my feet. 

Radhika intends to drink her up coming closer to me therefore I am handing over Ganga to you. All of you should take Ganga out of this- place and be relieved of all the fears. 

Hearing the words of Lord Krishna, Brahma started praising Radhika who is adorable by all creatures and the beloved of Sri Krishna. 

Brahma, the reciter of all the four Vedas from his four heads, started praising Radha with devotion from all the four mouths. 

Brahma said—О goddess, Ganga was born from the limbs of lord Krishna and also of yours. Both of you had arrived in the Rasamandala. With the music of lord Shiva, you felt impressed and thereafter she appeared as water from both of you. Therefore, being the part of your body as well as of lord Krishna she happens to be your daughter. She will receive your mantra and adore you. She will be the spouse of lord Vishnu who-is four-armed and shall move on earth only in the form of day. Where the saltish ocean is, there will be her husband. 

О goddess, Radha who is in Goloka pervades everywhere and you happen to be her mother. This surely is your daughter. 

On hearing the words of Brahma, Radha gave her consent with a smile. Thereafter Ganga reappeared from the feet of lord Krishna and drawing a veil over her head, she stood there before the gods in shyness. Thereafter Ganga, the goddess of waters, emerged from the body of the goddess. A small pot of that water was stored by Brahma in Kamandalu. 

Thereafter Brahma initiated Ganga into the mantra of Radha highlighting the stotra, kavacha, the form of adoration, dhyanam and the rites prescribed in the Samaveda. The chaste Ganga adored Radha by the same method. 

О sage thus Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Ganga and Tulasi are all the goddesses and they purify the entire universe. 

Thereafter lord Krishna narrated to Brahma the entire story of Kala which is difficult of access to the unwise people. 

Lord Krishna said: О Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, you accept Ganga and I am going to tell you the ancient story about Kala. 

All of you including the gods, the sages, the ascetics, siddhas and mendicants will remain here in the Goloka unattracted by the cycle of birth and death because the entire universe has been plunged into water because of dissolution. 

О Brahma, all the chief gods residing in the universe have merged into my body because except the Vaikuntha everything else has been submerged in water. 

All of you should go to Brahmaloka and engage yourself in the task of new creation. Thereafter Ganga will also depart from this place. I am also starting creation in other globes together with Brahma. Therefore, you should all proceed at once in the twinkling of my eye. The age of Brahma has come to an end. Therefore many of the Brahmas have completed their age and their numbers cannot be counted. 

Thus speaking Krishna, the lord of Radhika, retired to the inner apartments and all the gods left the place and engaged themselves in the work of creation. Thereafter Ganga too proceeded on to the globes besides Goloka, Vaikuntha, Shivaloka, Brahmaloka and all other places where lord Krishna had desired her to proceed. Because of the emergence of the Ganga from the feet of the lord Vishnu, she was known as Vishnupadi. Thus, I have narrated the entire story of Ganga which bestows welfare, salvation and is the form of the lord. What else do you want to listen to?