Ganga's Descent

The Legend of Ganga's Descent

King Sagara performed the Ashwamedha Yagna, a ritual where a horse is allowed to roam freely, and if captured, the king must wage war to reclaim it. Indra, fearing Sagara's growing power, stole the horse and hid it in the hermitage of Sage Kapila.

Sagara's sixty thousand sons searched for the horse and, finding it near Kapila, accused the sage of theft. Angered, Kapila cursed them, turning them to ashes. Their souls were condemned to wander until liberated by the waters of the Ganga.

A descendant of Sagara, King Bhagiratha, performed severe penance to bring the Ganga, a celestial river, down to earth to purify his ancestors' souls. The force of Ganga's descent was so great that it threatened to destroy the earth.

Bhagiratha prayed to Shiva to mitigate the impact. Shiva agreed and caught the Ganga in his matted locks, releasing it in gentle streams onto the earth. The waters flowed to the ashes of Sagara's sons, liberating their souls.

Ganga is revered as a purifying force and a symbol of salvation. Bhagiratha's efforts made it possible, and thus the river is also known as Bhagirathi. This story highlights themes of devotion, redemption, and the power of purification.