The Descent of Goddess Ganga

Invited to a storytelling gathering,  I knew at once I wanted to relate the myth of how the sacred Indian river Ganges, considered  a living female deity in the Hindu tradition, came to Earth. 

The descent of Goddess Ganga

Lord Vamana crossing the earth and planets

The great journey of Ganga to the Earth began when a young Brahmin boy interrupted a sacrifice by King Bali, ruler of the Universe. 

Bali agreed to give this captivating boy the charity he begged for. Only three paces of land by the measurement of his own small steps; what could be the harm? Suddenly the Brahmin boy grew to immense proportions. He revealed himself as Lord Vamana, an avatar of Vishnu.   

With his first step he traversed the Earth and the lower planets. With his second step he covered the heavens, until the toenails of his foot pierced a hole in the covering of the Universe. Through that hole rushed the pure waters of the causal ocean. Thus, Ganga was born.

Innumerable universes float in the causal ocean. Ganga flows through the hole in our Universe made by Lord Vamana’s toe. She pierces through the layers of covering; millions of miles of ethereal air, space, water, fire and earth. Ganga emerges in the higher planets of our universe, home of the celestial demi-Gods. Her sacred waters, the Milky Way, arch across the heavens. Ganga passes Druvaloka, or the polestar and the constellation of the seven sages.

Shiva catches Ganga in his hair

King Bhagirath had been fasting and praying in the Himalaya for Ganga to descend from heaven to relieve him and his ancestors of past karma.

Goddess Ganga appeared before him in the form of a beautiful woman and asked, When I fall to the surface of the earth, my waters will strike the earth with great force. Who will sustain that force?

The blue throated one, mighty Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared and captured all of Ganga in his thick matted hair as she launched herself onto earth. 

Caught in the infinite swirls and whirls of Shivas hair, Gangas force was softened and made more sacred by her direct contact with Shiva. Ganga struck the earth at safely at Gaumukh in the high Himalaya. Finally, her holy waters began to flow on Earth.

This telling of the myth is inspired by a charming movie which I recently enjoyed, documenting the course of the river Ganges from sea to source.

 Mother Ganga : documentary

Here is some beautiful atmospheric music to accompany the tale: