Sri Rama hearing the story of the descent of river Ganga while travelling from Girivraja to Mithila

Girivraja to Mithila: Sri Rama hearing the story of the descent of river Ganga:

(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 35 to 44)

Sri Rama with Vishwamitra

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Rama camping on the bank of river Ganga between Girivraja and Mithila, and hearing the story of the descent of river Ganga from sage Vishwamitra.

• Sri Rama camping on the bank of river Ganga: Sri Rama camped on the bank of river Ganga while travelling with sage Vishwamitra from Girivraja to Mithila. After bathing the sages kindled the ritual fire and offered oblations to the manes and devas as per the custom.

• Sri Rama hearing the story of the descent of river Ganga: Sri Rama heard the story of the descent of river Ganga from sage Vishwamitra in details. The story ends with the great penance of king Bhagiratha to bring river Ganga to earth and redeem his sixty thousand ancestors from the curse of sage Kapila. Sri Rama became spellbound to hear the entire story and the night passes as if in a moment.

Story of the descent of river Ganga:

• Sri Rama hearing about descent of Ganga: While Sri Rama was going from Siddhashrama to Mithila with sage Vishwamitra and other sages, He camped at the bank of river Ganga and heard the story of the descent of river Ganga from Vishwamitra. Covering many earlier incidents, sage Vishwamitra finally came to the penance of king Bhagiratha.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 35)

• Tapas of Bhagiratha for thousands of years and pleasing Brahma: Delegating the kingdom to ministers, king Bhagiratha engaged in tapas at Gokarna. Raising his hands, sitting amidst the five fires, taking food only once a month, and with controlled senses, he practised severe tapas for thousands of years. Then Bhagavan Brahma became pleased and arrived there with the devas to give boon. Knowing about the wish of Bhagiratha to bring Ganga to earth, Brahma told him that Hara (Shiva) needs to be involved here as He is the only one capable of bearing the descent of Ganga, which the earth cannot endure.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 42)

• Tapas of Bhagiratha on Shiva to bear Ganga: Then Bhagiratha performed tapas on Lord Shiva for one year. Shiva was pleased and told Bhagiratha that he will bear Ganga on his head during her descent.

• Descent of Ganga on the head of Shiva and getting locked: Then Ganga assuming a huge form and unbearable speed descended on the auspicious head of Shiva. Devi Ganga thought that taking Shankara with her streams, she will enter the patala. Coming to know about her egotism, Shiva became angry and restrained Ganga on his head. Ganga tried hard to free herself but was not able to do so. She went round and round the matted hairs of Shiva for many years.

• Penance of Bhagiratha on Lord Shiva to free Ganga: Not seeing Ganga descending from the matted hairs of Shiva, Bhagiratha again sat down for performing austere penance. Shiva became pleased and released Ganga from his head.

• Seven streams of Ganga emerging: Shiva released Ganga on Bindu Sarovar. Seven streams emerged from her. Hladini, Pavani and Nalini are eastward flowing Ganges. Sucakshu, Sita and Sindhu are westward flowing Gangas, and the seventh stream followed Bhagiratha who was sitting on a divine chariot.

• Jahnu muni drinking Ganga and later releasing her: While following Bhagiratha, Ganga inundated the yagya sthala of Jahnu muni, who became angry and drank off all the waters of Ganga. The devas were astounded and pleaded the muni to release Ganga considering her as his daughter. The muni was pleased and released Ganga from his ears. Therefore Ganga was considered as the daughter of Jahnu muni and came to be known as Jahnavi.

• Bhagiratha leading Ganga to nether world and liberating ancestors: Thereafter king Bhagiratha lead Ganga to ocean and then to the nether world where the ashes of his ancestors were lying. Ganga washed away the ashes with her pure water and liberated the sixty thousand ancestors of king Bhagiratha from their curse.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 43)

• Ganga came to be known as Bhagirathi: Lord Brahma was pleased with Bhagiratha and told that due to his acts Ganga will become renowned in the world as Bhagirathi.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Bala Kanda - 44)

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