A sacred river originating from the foot of Vishnu, brought from heaven to earth, and flowing in multiple streams.
गंगा (gaṃgā) [Printed book page 1-501] Gaṃgā (I) — a R. source of, sacred to Hari;
1 brought to
the earth from Heaven; a mahānadī from the Himalayas.
2 Originating from the foot of Viṣṇu and watering the
region of the moon falls from heaven into Brahmā's city;
issuing from the nail of the great toe of Hari's left foot;
Dhruva holds her in his crown; the seven sages perform
austerities with her waters; issuing again from the moon she
falls on Sumeru and thence to the four quarters of the earth;
hearing of her, the desire to go to Gangā, see, touch, bathe in
her waters — all purify a person; falling in four directions,
takes the names of Śītā, Alakanandā, Cakṣu and Bhadrā.
3 Effort made by Amśumān, Dilīpa and Bhagīratha and
hence her name Bhāgīrathī. Held up by Hara and then let;
flowed in seven streams through several territories in the
four directions, sanctifying the regions and the people
there.
4 Its waters drunk by Janhu, and let out by his ears
and hence called Jānhavī.
5 The seed cast off by Śiva in the
Page1-502+ 48 sky was borne by Gangā and was swallowed by Agni;
phoetus left on the Himalayan slopes became gold, which
was utilised in building the yagñaśāla at Naimiṣa. At her
confluence with Yamunā (s.v.) was the
avabhṛta of the sacri-
fice of Prajāpatis. On its banks Bharata performed horse-
sacrifice.
6 Here Yudhiṣṭhira had his
avabhṛta bath after
Rājasūya.
7 Here were done funeral rites of the dead children
of Draupadī.
8 Here again Parīkṣit observed vow of fasting
unto death.
9 Visited by Balarāma.
10 The Sagaras sent to
heaven by the Ganges waters.
11 Gangā as devī.
12 Originally of three-fold path, the Chāyāpathā being in
the nakṣatramaṇḍala;
13 addressed by Agni to bear Rudra's
garbha, Gangā accepted the task and gave birth to Kumāra.
14 Gangā refilled the ocean, after Agastya drank it dry.
15 Manu put the growing fish in; washed off the city of
Hastināpuram; contains 3(1/2) crores of tīrthas; forms the cure
for all ills; released in seven streams by Śankara, three to
the west, three to the north and one Bhagīrathī, sacred in
Kanakhala.
16 Wife of the ocean;
17 Tripathagā;
18 a consort of Śiva,
served by Trayambaka and other gods.
19 Fit for śrāddha;
20 the right side of the Veda;
21 particularly sacred at three
spots — Gangādvāra, Prayāga and Gangā sāgara-sangama.
22 Page1-503+ 25 [
Footnote: 1) Bhā. VII. 14. 29, VIII. 4. 23, Br. II. 16. 11, 24.] [
Footnote: 2) Vā. 42. 39-49: 71. 5.] [
Footnote: 3) Vī. I. 9. 103: II, 2. 334: 8. 108-13, 120-2: III. 14. 18 IV. 4. 26-30: 18-28.] [
Footnote: 4) Bhā. IX. 9. 1-13: Br. III. 13. 118: 55. 51: 56. 38-54.] [
Footnote: 5) Bhā. IX. 15. 3: Br. III. 66. 25-6: 73. 117: M. 12. 44: 121. 26.] [
Footnote: 6) Bhā. IV. 7. 63-4: Vā. 2. 17-18: 72. 28-32. Br. II. 16. 11 and 24. Bhā. VII. 14. 29; VIII. 4. 23 Vā. 42. 39-40: 71. 5. Bhā. IX. 9. 1-13. Br. III. 13. 118: 55.51: 56. 38-54. M. 15. 3. Br. III. 66. 25. 6: 73. 117: M. 12. 44: 121. 26. Bhā. IV. 7. 63-64. Vā. 2. 17-18: 72. 28-32. Bhā. IV. 2. 35. IX. 20-25: 22. 19: X. 10. 4.] [
Footnote: 7) Bhā. X. 75. 19.] [
Footnote: 8) Ib. I. 8. 1.] [
Footnote: 9) Ib. 3. 43; 4. 10; 12. 28; 18. 3.] [
Footnote: 10) Ib. X. 78. 20.] [
Footnote: 11) Ib. IX. 9. 14.] [
Footnote: 12) Ib. I. 19. 15.] [
Footnote: 13) Br. II. 18. 26-42, 50-52:] [
Footnote: 14) Br. III. 7. 355: 9. 4: 10. 30-5: 14. 84: 37. 5: 54. 49: IV. 9. 78.] [
Footnote: 15) Br. III. 63. 167.] [
Footnote: 16) M. 1. 23: 13. 25: 36. 5: 50. 78: 102. 5-6: 106. 57-8; 114. 20: 121. 38-41; 133. 23: 183. 107: 186. 10; 192. 11; 239-18.] [
Footnote: 17) Vā. 13. 35: 30. 32 and 92: 45. 95:] [
Footnote: 18) Vā. 2. 7; 51. 21, 46; 58. 88.] [
Footnote: 19) Vā. 42. 39-40: 71. 5.] [
Footnote: 20) Vā. 77. 68.] [
Footnote: 21) Vā. 98. 117: 99. 63: 104. 13, 27, 77: 106. 67: 111. 16.] [
Footnote: 22) M. 106. 53.] [ID=3964]