River Ganga or the Ganges is a major river of the Indian subcontinent, associated in myth and reality with the land and people of India as well as neighboring countries like Bangladesh. In Hinduism, the river Ganga is personified as Goddess and holds an important place in the Hindu religion. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that bathing in the river Ganga causes the remission of sins and facilitates the attainment of salvation or nirvana. This deep-rooted truth is proved by the fact that people travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganga at Varanasi or other places located on the banks of this holy river. Some of these sacred places, located on the Ganga, are Varanasi, Haridwar and Prayag (Allahabad).

The first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, aptly summarized the importance of River Ganga in the hearts of the Indians, in general, and Hindus, in particular.

"The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her
people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes
and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her
defeats. She has been a symbol of India's age-long culture
and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever
the same Ganga".


The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her
people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes
and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her
defeats. She has been a symbol of India's age-long culture
and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever
the same Ganga.
- Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India, born
in Allahabad on the Ganges.

The Ganga is a major river of the Indian subcontinent, associated in myth and reality with the land and people of India as well as neighbouring countries like Bangladesh.

Answered by Jitendra , an ibibo Master, at 2:20 AM on October 05, 2008

Ganga, the River Goddess is the only living goddess in the Hindu pantheon. There are numerous stories regarding the birth and origin of this goddess. According to the beliefs, Ganga descends on the earth to rinse away the sins of the mankind. Ganga is the sacred river and has been referred to in the various ancient texts of Hindus. It is believed that Ganga used to flow in the heaven and sanctify gods with her holy waters.

River Ganges is repeatedly invoked in the Puranas, the Vedas, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The story of Ganga's descent on the Earth appears slightly different in Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas. According to one story, Ganga is also considered as the sister of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva being one of the two daughters of Himavat and Meru. According to another legend, Indra had asked for Ganga to be given to heaven to calm the Gods with her cool waters.

One story states that the sacred water in Brahma's Kamandalu (water-vessel) is personified as a maiden, Ganga. Another legend tells that Brahma had respectfully washed the feet of Vishnu and collected this water in his Kamandalu. Being the part of the Kamandalu of Lord Brahma, Ganga is one of the Shaktis of the supreme Goddess Mahamaya Adishakti.

Ganga Origin - Story of Bhagiratha
This is the most popular story regarding the origin of river Ganga. The story goes far back when King Sagar magically acquired sixty thousand sons. Once, King Sagar organized Ashwamedh Yagna, a ritual of worship for the benefit of the kingdom. Jealous Indra planned a mischief and stole one horse from the place. King Sagar sent all his sons all over the earth to look for the horse. They found the horse in the nether-world standing next to Kapila Muni, a meditating sage. The youths, were disrespectful and caused his penance to be disturbed. The sage reduced them to ashes with his withering look.

The souls of these young men wandered as ghosts as their final rites had not been done. On repeated repentance and requests by the descendants of King Sagar, Kapila Muni finally relent that King Sagar's sons would attain mukti (liberation), if their wicked remains are cleansed by the water of the goddess Ganga. Generations of King Sagar did penance to appease Brahma but without success and finally after much praying, pleading and tapasya by Bhagirath - seventh generation of King Sagar, Ganga reluctantly consents to descend to earth.

With this, Ganga found herself insulted and decided to sweep the whole earth with her powerful fall. Troubled, Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva to control the Ganga's descent. Lord Shiva steps in the way and trapped Ganga in his hair. Shiva made the river fall gently through his long hair onto the Himalayas. As Ganga moved to the nether-worlds, she liberated the unfortunate souls of King Sagar's Sons. Since then Ganga is sanctifying the mankind with her divine waters.

Answered by Yogeshwar , an ibibo Specialist, at 8:39 PM on October 01, 2008

Ganga is personified in Hinduism as a goddess: Maa Ganga (Mother Ganga). Hindu legend makes her the foster-mother of Karttikeya, who was actually a son of Shiva and Parvati.

Several places sacred to Hindus lie along the banks of the river Ganga, including Haridwar and Varanasi. It is believed that taking a dip in the river will wash away one's sins, and that having one's ashes disposed of in the Ganga after death may improve one's next life or even allow Moksha to be attained sooner. Devout Hindus make pilgrimages to bathe in the Ganga and to meditate on its banks.

According to the mythological legend, Brahma collected the sweat of Vishnu's feet and created Ganga. Being touched by two members of the Trimurthi, Ganga became very holy.

Several years later, a king named Sagar magically acquired sixty thousand sons. One day, King Sagar performed a ritual of worship for the good of the Kingdom. One of the integral parts of the ritual was a horse, which was stolen by the jealous Indra. Sagar sent all his sons all over the Earth to search for the horse. They found it in the Underworld next to a penitent sage Kapila. Believing that the sage had stolen the horse, they hurled insults at him and caused his penance to be disturbed. The sage opened his eyes for the first time in several years, and looked at the sons of Sagar. With this glance, all sixty thousand were burnt to death.

The souls of the sons of Sagar wandered as ghosts since their final rites had not been performed. When Bhagiratha, one of the descendants of Sagar by a second wife, learnt of this fate, he vowed to bring Ganga down to Earth so that she could sweep away the ashes to heaven.

Bhagiratha prayed to Brahma that Ganga come down to Earth. Brahma agreed, and he ordered Ganga to go down to the Earth and then on to the Underworld so that the souls of Bhagiratha's ancestors would be able to go to Heaven. The vain Ganga felt that this was insulting and decided to sweep the whole Earth away as she fell from the Heavens. Alarmed, Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva that he break up Ganga's descent.

Ganga arrogantly fell on Shiva's head. But Shiva calmly trapped her in his hair and let her out in small streams. The touch of Shiva further sanctified Ganga. As Ganga travelled to the Underworld, she created a different stream to remain on Earth to help purify unfortunate souls there.

Because of Bhagiratha's efforts Ganga descended on to earth and hence the river is also known as Bhagirathi.html, and the term "Bhagirath prayatna" is used to describe valiant efforts or difficult achievements.

Another name that Ganga is known by is Jahnavi. Story has it that once Ganga came down to earth, on her way to Bhagiratha, her rushing waters created turbulence and destroyed the fields of a sage called Jahnu. He was angered by this and drank up all of Ganga's waters. Upon this, the Gods prayed to Jahnu to release Ganga so that she could proceed on her mission. Pleased with their prayers, Jahnu released Ganga (her waters) from his ears. Hence the name "Jahnavi" (daughter of Jahnu) for Ganga.

Answered by Vipan Thapar , an ibibo Master, at 1:24 PM on September 29, 2008

Ganga, the River Goddess is the only living goddess in the Hindu pantheon.
This is the most popular story regarding the origin of river Ganga. The story goes far back when King Sagar magically acquired sixty thousand sons. Once, King Sagar organized Ashwamedh Yagna, a ritual of worship for the benefit of the kingdom. Jealous Indra planned a mischief and stole one horse from the place. King Sagar sent all his sons all over the earth to look for the horse. They found the horse in the nether-world standing next to Kapila Muni, a meditating sage. The youths, were disrespectful and caused his penance to be disturbed. The sage reduced them to ashes with his withering look.

The souls of these young men wandered as ghosts as their final rites had not been done. On repeated repentance and requests by the descendants of King Sagar, Kapila Muni finally relent that King Sagar's sons would attain mukti (liberation), if their wicked remains are cleansed by the water of the goddess Ganga. Generations of King Sagar did penance to appease Brahma but without success and finally after much praying, pleading and tapasya by Bhagirath - seventh generation of King Sagar, Ganga reluctantly consents to descend to earth.

With this, Ganga found herself insulted and decided to sweep the whole earth with her powerful fall. Troubled, Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva to control the Ganga's descent. Lord Shiva steps in the way and trapped Ganga in his hair. Shiva made the river fall gently through his long hair onto the Himalayas. As Ganga moved to the nether-worlds, she liberated the unfortunate souls of King Sagar's Sons. Since then Ganga is sanctifying the mankind with her divine waters.

visit /www.iloveindia.co

Answered by Jyothi , an ibibo Master, at 11:33 AM on September 29, 2008

Ganga is a river Goddess.

This is the most popular story regarding the origin of river Ganga. The story goes far back when King Sagar magically acquired sixty thousand sons. Once, King Sagar organized Ashwamedh Yagna, a ritual of worship for the benefit of the kingdom. Jealous Indra planned a mischief and stole one horse from the place. King Sagar sent all his sons all over the earth to look for the horse. They found the horse in the nether-world standing next to Kapila Muni, a meditating sage. The youths, were disrespectful and caused his penance to be disturbed. The sage reduced them to ashes with his withering look.

The souls of these young men wandered as ghosts as their final rites had not been done. On repeated repentance and requests by the descendants of King Sagar, Kapila Muni finally relent that King Sagar's sons would attain mukti (liberation), if their wicked remains are cleansed by the water of the goddess Ganga. Generations of King Sagar did penance to appease Brahma but without success and finally after much praying, pleading and tapasya by Bhagirath - seventh generation of King Sagar, Ganga reluctantly consents to descend to earth.

With this, Ganga found herself insulted and decided to sweep the whole earth with her powerful fall. Troubled, Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva to control the Ganga's descent. Lord Shiva steps in the way and trapped Ganga in his hair. Shiva made the river fall gently through his long hair onto the Himalayas. As Ganga moved to the nether-worlds, she liberated the unfortunate souls of King Sagar's Sons. Since then Ganga is sanctifying the mankind with her divine waters.

http://www.iloveindia.co m/spirituality/goddesses/ganga/lege nds.html

Answered by Arle Rambabu , an ibibo Master, at 12:52 PM on September 28, 2008

Ganga is the god of river ganges

Puranas declare that the sight, the name and the touch of Ganga absolves one from all his sins and that bathing in ganga bestows blessings of the highest order. Not only those who bathe in Ganga obtain swarga, but also those, whose bones, hair, etc., are left in the river. All the land over which Ganga flows is regarded as hallowed ground

For more visit :

http://spirituality.indiatimes .com/articleshow/12159637.cms

Answered by Ashish Yadav , an ibibo Wizard, at 6:48 PM on September 27, 2008

well,Ganga is the god of river ganges

Puranas declare that the sight, the name and the touch of Ganga absolves one from all his sins and that bathing in ganga bestows blessings of the highest order. Not only those who bathe in Ganga obtain swarga, but also those, whose bones, hair, etc., are left in the river. All the land over which Ganga flows is regarded as hallowed ground

http://spirituality. indiatimes.com/articleshow/121 59637.cms

Answered by Debashis , an ibibo Master, at 6:45 PM on September 27, 2008