Bhagiratha and the descent of the Ganga
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King Bhagiratha's penance brings the heavenly river down to earth, and Bhagwan Shiva catches her in his matted locks.
Source: Valmiki Ramayana (Bala Kanda) and the Puranas
Festivals
- Ganga Dussehra
- Ganga Saptami
The lesson
Perseverance: a near-impossible effort is still called a 'Bhagirath prayas'.
To free the souls of his ancestors, King Bhagiratha performs long penance to bring the Ganga from heaven. The Ganga's fall would shatter the earth, so Bhagwan Shiva takes her into his hair and releases her gently. Bhagiratha leads her across the land to the sea. The river at its source is still called the Bhagirathi.
The great rock relief at Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is widely read as this story.