HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Ganga"

Word

Ganga

Sanskrit

गंगा

IAST

gaṅgā

In General

The most sacred river for Hindus. It is believed to be brought down to earth from swarga. A holy dip in the river Ganga is believed to absolve all from the accumulated sins. Haridwar, Prayag, Kashi, Gaya are some of the holy places on the bank of Ganges. River Ganga is one of the seven holy rivers. Kumba Mela and Ardha Kumbha Meda take place on the bank of Ganges

Ganga originates in the Himalayas at Gaumukh and flows into the bay of Bay of Bengal. Ganga flows from high up in the Himalayas, through the plains of Northern India, and empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Purana

Once sage Kapila cursed 60,000 sons of King Sagara into ashes for their arrogance. After a long period Amsuman, a grandson of Sagara went to Kapila, recovered sacrificial horse in search of which the 60000 princes went there earlier. Kapila Blessed Amshuman and Amshuman completed the Aswamedha Yajna started by his grandfather Sagara. Then the grandson of Amsuman, namely Bhagiratha on becoming King, decided to free his Ancestors from the curse of Sage Kapila. He was told that if the river Ganga of swarga is made to flow over the ashes of his ancestors, then they will be freed from the curses of Sage Kapila. Bhagiratha did tapas for thousand years on the Himalayas to bring Ganga from heaven to Patala and Earth. Ganga had no choice, but the force of Ganga was so heavy that earth cannot sustain it. Lord Siva came to the rescue and accepted Ganga in the matted hair. Then the flow of Ganga was reduced to the accepted level and she flowed the course as wished by Bhagiratha.

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