King Dilīpa was deeply troubled, his mind absorbed in a single, pressing concern: How could he bring about the descent of the sacred Ganga? How might he perform the water-rites for his ancestors, and how could he deliver them from their suffering? These questions occupied his every thought. As he pondered ceaselessly, steadfast in self-control and devoted to righteousness, a son was born to him—a supremely virtuous child named Bhagīratha. Dilīpa, radiant in his splendor, ruled his kingdom wisely and performed many great sacrifices, his reign lasting thirty thousand years. Yet, despite all his efforts, he found no way to secure the deliverance of his ancestors. At last, overtaken by illness and the inexorable law of time, Dilīpa passed away. By the merit he had accumulated, he ascended to the world of Indra, having anointed his son Bhagīratha as king. Bhagīratha, a royal sage of great righteousness, ruled as a mighty king. Though he had no offspring, he longed for both progeny and the welfare of his people. Entrusting the kingdom to his ministers, he set his heart upon the great task of bringing down the Ganga. With unwavering resolve, he journeyed to Gokarna and began severe austerities. For a thousand years, Bhagīratha stood in penance, arms raised, practicing the fivefold austerity, eating only once a month, and mastering his senses. His penance was so terrible and so profound that, when it was complete, the blessed Lord Brahmā, creator and lord of all beings, was greatly pleased. Appearing before Bhagīratha, Brahmā spoke: “O King Bhagīratha, I am pleased with your steadfast austerity. Ask for any boon you desire.” Standing with palms joined, Bhagīratha, radiant and mighty, addressed the Grandsire of the worlds: “If you are pleased with me, O Blessed One, and if my austerity has borne fruit, may the sons of Sagara receive the waters of the Ganga. May their ashes, once moistened by her sacred stream, grant them and their ancestors the highest heaven. I ask this boon for the sake of my lineage, so that the line of Ikshvaku may not perish.” Brahmā replied with auspicious and gentle words: “Great indeed is your desire, O Bhagiratha, enhancer of the Ikshvaku line. So let it be. But know this: the eldest daughter of Himalaya, the Ganga, must be sustained, for the earth cannot endure her descent unaided. Only Shiva, the trident-bearer, is fit to bear her upon his head. Appoint him for this purpose.” Having given his blessing, Brahmā addressed Ganga as well, then departed to heaven with all the gods and the hosts of Maruts. After Brahmā’s departure, Bhagiratha pressed his thumb upon the earth and performed worship for a full year. When the year was complete, the great Lord Shiva—Umāpati, Paśupati—appeared before him and spoke: “I am pleased with you, best of men. I will do what pleases you. I shall bear the daughter of the mountain-king upon my head.” Then, the eldest daughter of Himavat, honored by all the worlds, assumed an immense and tempestuous form. From the sky, the Ganga descended in a mighty torrent and fell upon the head of Shiva. The goddess, difficult to restrain, considered her course with pride and force. But recognizing her arrogance, Shiva became angry and resolved to check her. The sacred river fell upon his holy head and was caught within the cavern of his matted locks, which resembled the Himalayas themselves. There, Ganga strove mightily but could not reach the earth. Trapped within the tangled mass of Shiva’s hair, she wandered for many years, unable to find an exit. At last, pleased by the supreme austerity of Bhagiratha, Shiva released Ganga from his locks toward the Bindusaras lake. As she was freed, the river divided into seven streams. Three—Hladini, Pāvani, and Nalinī—flowed eastward, while Suchakshu, Sita, and Sindhu went to the west. The seventh stream followed behind the chariot of Bhagiratha, who mounted his divine vehicle and led the way. The mighty Ganga surged forward, descending from the sky and from Shiva’s head to the earth, with Bhagiratha following closely. The waters thundered as they fell, filled with fish, turtles, and dolphins. The earth shone with their arrival. Hosts of divine sages, Gandharvas, Yakshas, and Siddhas gathered to witness this wondrous descent. From the heavens, they watched as the Ganga flowed from the sky to the earth, accompanied by flying palaces shaped like cities, horses, and noble elephants. The gods themselves moved about in boats, marveling at this supreme and miraculous descent of the sacred Ganga into the world.