O Rama, when the time came for the descent of the sacred Ganga, she poured down from the heavens, landing upon the head of Shiva. This divine river, difficult for anyone to restrain, paused to consider her course as she settled atop Shiva’s matted locks. Recognizing her pride and unchecked force, the blessed Lord Hara became angry and, with great resolve, decided to conceal her within himself. The mighty Ganga tumbled upon the holy head of Rudra, but in the deep caverns of Shiva’s matted hair—locks as dense and formidable as the Himalayas themselves—she struggled in vain to find a way to reach the earth. For many years, Ganga wandered, unable to escape from the tangled mass of Shiva’s hair. Then, one day, a sage performing supreme austerities beheld her there. Pleased by her presence, that ascetic’s devotion moved Lord Hara. Thus, Shiva released Ganga from his locks, directing her toward the lake called Bindusaras. As she emerged, her waters divided into seven sacred streams. Three of these—Hladini, Pavani, and Nalini—flowed eastward as auspicious waters of Shiva. The other three—Suchakshu, Sita, and the mighty Sindhu—turned westward. The seventh stream followed the path of Bhagiratha, the royal sage, who rode ahead in his divine chariot. Ganga, in her resplendent form, surged forward, descending from Shiva’s head to the earth, with Bhagiratha following closely behind. As she fell, the river roared with a fierce and wondrous sound, teeming with crowds of fish, turtles, and dolphins. The earth gleamed where her waters landed. Hosts of divine sages, Gandharvas, Yakshas, and Siddhas gathered to witness this miraculous descent. They watched in awe as Ganga flowed from the sky to earth, accompanied by celestial palaces shaped like cities, horses, and noble elephants. The gods, assembled in boats, marveled at this supreme event—the descent of Ganga into the world. Eager to behold the sight, the powerful hosts of deities gathered, their ornaments shining brilliantly as they flew through the sky. The heavens themselves glowed like a hundred suns, filled with clouds, dolphins, serpents, and restless fish. Lightning flashed as the pale, surging waters split into thousands of streams. The sky was adorned with flocks of swans, resembling autumn clouds. Sometimes the river rushed swiftly, sometimes she meandered, sometimes she spread wide and broad. In some places, her waters surged upwards; in others, they flowed gently and slowly. At times, the waters clashed against themselves, rising and falling, always returning to the earth from the head of Shankara. Wherever Ganga’s pure and radiant waters fell, they shone with brilliance. The sages and Gandharvas dwelling on earth touched these waters, declaring them sacred. Those who had fallen from heaven to earth due to curses performed ablutions in Ganga’s waters, becoming free from impurity. Their sins washed away, they were filled with auspiciousness. Regaining their purity, they rose again to the sky and returned to their own celestial realms, while the people of earth rejoiced, delighted by the radiant river. Having bathed in the Ganga, all were purified. Bhagiratha, the royal sage, mounted his divine chariot, proceeding ahead while Ganga followed. All the gods, sages, Daityas, Danavas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, great serpents, and Apsarases followed in his wake, drawn by the glory of Ganga’s passage. All creatures of the water, pleased and joyous, followed her as she moved wherever Bhagiratha led. The best of rivers, destroyer of all sins, continued on her way. Eventually, they reached the sacrificial ground of Jahnu, the great sage performing sacred rites. There, Ganga, in her exuberance, flooded his sacrificial ground. Angered by her impetuousness, Jahnu performed an extraordinary feat: he drank up all the waters of Ganga. The gods, Gandharvas, and sages were astonished by this act. They honored Jahnu, the great-souled one, and pleaded with him to accept Ganga as his daughter. Pleased by their words, the radiant sage released Ganga once more from his ears. Thus, she became known as the daughter of Jahnu, and is called Jahnavi. Again, Ganga followed Bhagiratha’s chariot, and at last, she reached the ocean. To fulfill the purpose of Bhagiratha’s great vow, she entered the netherworld. Bhagiratha, ever vigilant, led her carefully onward. There, he beheld the ashes of his ancestors, reduced to dust and bereft of consciousness. With the pure and sacred water of Ganga, he washed the heap of ashes. Freed from their sins by the touch of Ganga, his ancestors ascended to heaven, their purpose fulfilled. Having completed the descent of Ganga, the story continues. Bhagiratha, following the sacred river, reached the ocean and entered the depths of the earth where his ancestors had been reduced to ashes. As the ashes were immersed in the holy waters of Ganga, Brahma, the lord of all worlds, appeared and spoke these words to the king.