At the time when Uma, the radiant daughter of the mountains, became the beloved wife of the great Lord of the gods, Shiva, the sacred river goddess Ganga too came to be cherished by Shambhu. Desiring to free himself from any faults, Shiva, together with Uma, especially gazed upon the goddess Ganga at that auspicious moment. Because Shiva abided in the very essence of rasa—the sublime taste of life—he created the supreme rasa, drawn by his appreciation, affection, and gentle inclination toward women, as well as his own purity. Among all, O best of sages, Ganga became the most beloved. For reasons of her own, she emerged from the path of Shiva’s matted locks, yet Shambhu kept her, who had entered his hair, concealed within. Uma, knowing that Ganga was held upon her husband’s head, could not endure the sight of her remaining there, time after time. Out of indignation, Gauri spoke to Bhava, saying, "Send her forth!" But Shiva, a connoisseur of rasa, did not release the supreme rasa. Reflecting on the fact that her husband was keeping the goddess within his matted locks, Uma spoke privately to Vinayaka, Jaya, and Skanda. She confided, "This lord of the gods, enamored, does not abandon Ganga; and she, being dear to Shiva, how could she forsake her beloved today?" Thus, after much consideration, Gauri spoke to Vinayaka. She said, "Neither by gods, nor by asuras, nor by yakshas, nor by siddhas, nor even by you, nor by kings or others, can the Lord be made to abandon Ganga. I will again perform austerities, or go to the supreme mountain Himavat; or, with pure brahmins cleansed of sin, I will undertake penance. If they supplicate, perhaps Ganga, who abides in the matted locks, might reach the earth." Hearing his mother’s words, Vinayaka, the remover of obstacles, replied, "Let me consult with my brother Skanda and Jaya; this is fitting. Let us act so that my father releases Ganga from his head." Meanwhile, O Brahman, a terrible drought arose. For twenty-four years among mortals, fear overtook all living beings, and the world of moving and unmoving creatures was devastated. Yet, except for the auspicious ashram of Gautama, which fulfilled all desires, destruction reigned. Long ago, wishing to create both stationary and moving beings, I performed a divine sacrifice; the mountain where it took place became renowned by my name and is ever known as Brahmagiri. Upon that best of mountains, the sage Gautama always resides, dwelling in his supremely holy ashram on the excellent and auspicious Brahmagiri. There, neither afflictions, nor diseases, nor famine, nor drought, nor fear, nor grief, nor poverty are ever heard of. Except in that ashram, O son, nowhere else are offerings or ancestral rites performed; nor is there a giver, a priest, or a sacrificer. Whenever the sage Gautama gives and offers oblations, at that very moment, the gods ascend to heaven; it happens in no other way. Even among the gods or mortals, the sage Gautama is renowned as the priest, the giver, and the enjoyer—so do all people know him. Hearing of this, all the sages dwelling in various hermitages came to take leave of Gautama’s ashram—those ascetics rich in austerity. To all those who arrived, Gautama cared for them with devotion, as for disciples, sons, and fathers. He served each according to their wishes, with proper order and in a manner suited to each. By Gautama’s command, the sacred herbs, mothers of the world, were once more worshipped by him, along with Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara. Those herbs are born, gathered, and flourish at that time, all by the power of Gautama’s austerity. All his wishes, conceived in his mind, are fulfilled in abundance; every day Gautama greets the arriving sages with humility, asking, "What shall I do for you—as for sons, disciples, or servants?" For many years, he nourished them all as a father. As the sages dwelt there, Gautama’s fame spread throughout the three worlds. Then Vinayaka spoke to his mother, brother, and Jaya, saying, "Mother, in the abode of the gods, the twice-born Gautama is praised: ‘What the hosts of gods could not accomplish, Gautama has done.’ Thus I have heard, O goddess, of the power of the Brahmin’s austerity; that sage could move this Ganga, dwelling in the matted locks, O mother. By austerity or by other means, after worshipping the three-eyed one, he alone could dislodge her, my father’s beloved, from the matted locks. Here, a plan must be devised: let the Brahmin request her, so that by his influence, the greatest river descends from the head." Having spoken thus to his mother, Vinayaka, with his brother and Jaya, went to where Gautama, the slender bearer of the sacred thread, resided. After dwelling for a few days in the circle of Gautama’s hermitage, the lord of obstacles addressed all the Brahmins there, saying, "Let us go to our own abodes and pure hermitages; we have been nourished by Gautama’s food. Let us ask the sage Gautama." Thus deliberating, the eminent sages asked Gautama, and he restrained them individually, with affectionate wisdom. With hands joined in reverence and humility, Gautama said, "I sit here and serve at your feet, O eminent sages. The desire to serve you, as one would a son, always abides in me; it is not proper for me to attend to other hermitages, O divine sages of the earth.