River Ganga ( Goddess Ganga) in Indian Mythology

 Who is Ganga? Why is the Ganga River revered as a goddess? What significance does the goddess Ganga hold in Indian mythology? Read the complete story of Goddess Ganga in Indian mythology on a blog post available in both English and Hindi languages.

From the Satya Yuga to the Kali Yuga, Ganga has been both a harbinger of destruction and a savior. It is due to her benevolent deeds that a thousand names are attributed to her. Behind these thousand names of Ganga lies a remarkable saga - Bhagwati Ganga.

In this creation, nothing is more sacred than Ganga. It is not only a destroyer of sins, sorrows, diseases, and afflictions but is also hailed as the bestower of liberation and salvation. During the final moments of a person's life, Ganga takes them into her refuge. Today, we are narrating the tale of Ganga, who descended with her divine glory in the three worlds - Swargalok, Dhartilok, and Patallok. During Ganga's journey through these three worlds, some experienced salvation, while others faced destruction. Some were relieved of their suffering, while others attained liberation. However, the most significant event was the proliferation of Ganga's benevolent deeds, leading to numerous names for her in the scriptures.

It is believed that despite their close relationship with divine beings, the Asuras, due to their constant adherence to the path of unrighteousness, were separated from the deities. Nonetheless, even after this separation, the Asuras, especially guided by their guru Shukracharya, continued to fight for their rights. The Trimurti – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva – did not show partiality, providing the Asuras with numerous boons and treasures. However, they concealed one thing from them, the divine substance Ganga, which had been under the command of Lord Brahma for ages. Perhaps, due to Ganga's divine power, neither the Asuras nor the deities were familiar with it, except for the Trimurti. Therefore, it was known that if the Asuras gained control over Ganga's power, they would establish their unrighteous dominance over the entire creation. Consequently, the Trimurti never revealed anything about Ganga to the Asuras and patiently awaited the command of the Adi Shakti.

When the appropriate time arrived, Adi Shakti appeared before Lord Brahma and said, "Now is the time for Ganga to come out of your command, Brahmaji. Send her to Swargalok first, and later, she will flow through Dhartilok and Patallok over time." Following Brahma's orders, Ganga began to flow in Swargalok. As soon as Ganga arrived in Swargalok, a divine radiance and brilliance spread among the deities. In a way, her power had grown even more, and the glory of Ganga had commenced in the celestial realms. Every deity bathed in the Ganga acquired a new energy. Ganga, in Swargalok, started eliminating the sorrows and sufferings, bringing well-being to the celestial beings.

However, Narada, unable to digest this fact, went to Shukracharya, the guru of the Asuras, and informed him about the events in Swargalok. Now it was certain that there would be a conflict. On hearing Narada's report, Goddess Parvati complained to Shiva about Narada, who could not digest anything positive. Shiva replied, "Devi Parvati, Devarishi Narada resides in the minds of the Trimurtis. Whatever is in our minds is known to him. Therefore, consider this event as a divine play that will unfold in the future."

On the other side, Shukracharya learned about the situation and understood that the deities had deceived him. He did not share Ganga with the Asuras and kept her hidden. Therefore, he directly went to Brahma and requested him to instruct Ganga to go to Patallok as well. Initially, Brahma explained that Ganga would manifest in both Dhartilok and Patallok after Swargalok, but Shukracharya, stubbornly insisting, eventually compelled Brahma to give the command. However, Brahma always made it clear to Shukracharya that nothing could happen before its destined time. Nevertheless, Shukracharya, driven by his determination, initiated his game.

Shukracharya, using his intelligence, changed his appearance and stole Ganga water from Swargalok, taking it to Patallok. Meanwhile, in Patallok, there was a demon king named Andhakasura preparing for his wedding. Shukracharya used cunning tactics, making Andhakasura believe that bringing Ganga to Patallok would be better than marrying an ordinary maiden. Initially considering Ganga as an ordinary woman, Andhakasura was amazed when his guru revealed the miraculous power of Ganga water. The Asura guru filled Andhakasura's mind with the enchanting image of the beautiful Ganga, and eventually, Andhakasura became a devotee, influenced by Ganga's power.

Afterward, Shukracharya continued his plan, inciting other demon kings to bring Ganga to the lower realms. During this time, when Bali was the king, Vamana Avatar, the dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu, took a step into space with one foot, and Ganga, along with Vishnu's divine foot, went to Patallok. There, she was known as Patal Ganga. Subsequently, Tarakasura arrived, and after his demise, Ganga played a crucial role in liberating his three sons. In Treta Yuga, for the salvation of Sagara's sons, Ganga descended to Earth and was then called Bhagirathi. Post-Treta Yuga, in the Dvapara Yuga, Ganga's glory was deeply engraved, and in the Kali Yuga, her miracles continued to be showcased.

 

Hindi Roman Ganga ki kahani 

Ganga ki kahani. Ganga kaun hain? Ganga devi ke bare mein padhiye. English to Hindi translation from Indian mythology stories. Hindi to English translation seekhyen from Purono ki kahani se jo Indian mythology stories mein darz hai.English & Hindi mythology stories blog post 

"Satya Yuga se lekar Kali Yuga tak Ganga ne kisi ka sanhaar kiya to kisi ka uddhar. Ganga ke unhi kalyankari karyon ke karan unke ek hazaar naam padte chale gaye. Ganga ke unhi ek sahasr naamom ke peeche ki adbhut katha hai - Bhagwati Gange.

Is srishti mein Ganga se adhik pavitra aur kuch nahi. Ye paap, santap, dukh, roga, peeda nashini to hai hi sath hi sath inhe mukti aur moksh dayini bhi kaha jata hai kyun ki manushya ke ant ke samay mein yahi Ganga, prani ko apni sharan mein le leti hai. Aaj hum unhi Ganga ki katha kehne ja rahe hain jo apni divyata ke sath swargalok, dhartilok aur patal lok, teeno lokon mein avatarit hui. Ganga ki is teeno lokon ki yatra ke dauran kisi ka kalyan hua to kisi ka sanhaar. Kisi ke dukh door hue to kisi ko mukti mili. lekin ek sabse badi ghatna ye ghatit hui ki Ganga ke in paropkari karyon ke chalte unke kai naam padte chale gaye puranon mein Ganga ke ek sahasr naam hai. Hum unki naamon ke peeche ki katha aapke samne prastut karne ja rahe hain.

Mana jata hai ki asur, bhaale hi devi devtaon ke sage sambandhi the, lekin inke sada hi adharm path par agrasar rahne ke karan inhe devi devtaon se alag rakha gaya. Parantu iske pashchat bhi inhone kabhi apni asuri pravritti nahi chhodi aur devtaon se ladte-jhadte rahe. Asuron ke guru Shukracharya ne sada asuron ka saath diya aur unke adhikar ke liye ladte rahe. Tridev, Brahma-Vishnu aur Mahesh ne bhi asuron ke saath kabhi koi pakshapat nahi karte huye unhe anekon varadan aur nidhiyan pradan ki kintu ek vastu unse chipa li gayi aur wo tha dravya Ganga, jo yugon se Brahma Ji ke kamandal mein sthit thi. Kadachit Ganga ki daivi shakti se ab tak koi bhi asur aur devata parichit nahi the, siway tridevo ke. Aur isliye unhe ye jnat bhi tha ki yadi kisi bhi tarah asuron ko Ganga ki shakti prapt ho gayi to vo poorni srishti par apne adharm ka varchasv sthapit kar lenge isliye aaj tak tridev ne kabhi Ganga ke bare mein asuron ko bhank tak nahi lagane di aur adi shakti ke aadesh ki pratiksha karte rahe.

Uchit samay ane par ek din adishakti Brahma Ji ke samne prakat hui aur kaha ki 'Ab Ganga ke aapke kamandal se bahar aane ka samay ho gaya hai, Brahmaji, isliye aap use swargalok bhej dijiye, kalantar mein yahi Ganga, dhartilok aur aur raja Bali ke samay patal lok mein nivas karegi.' Brahma Ji ke aadesh ke anusaar Ganga, swarg mein behne lagi. Jab vo aayi, to devi devtaon mein ek tej aur chamak aa gayi. Ek prakar se unki shakti mein ab aur bhi vriddhi ho gayi thi, devlok mein Ganga ki mahima shuru ho gayi. Ab har dev, Ganga mein snan kar ek nayi urja prapt kar leta tha. Ganga, devlok mein shok aur peeda ko samapt kar devtaon ka kalyan karne lagi. Lekin Narad Ji ko ye baat pachhi nahi aur unhone jakar asuron ke guru Shukracharya ko bata diya ki ab devtaon ke bal aur bhi badh gaye hain. Narad ne ghoshit kiya ki ab asuron ko majboot devtaon ke saamne koi sanshaya nahi hai. Asuron ka guru Shukracharya sada unke saath raha aur unke adhikar ke liye ladte raha.

Is bich ek asura ka naam Andhakasura patal lok ka raja tha. Andhakasura apne vivah ki taiyari mein laga tha. Shukracharya ne chaturayi se kaam liya. Shukracharya ne Andhakasura ko samjhaaya ki idhar udhar kisi asur kanya se vivah karne se achha hai Ganga ko patal lana. Pahle to Andhakasura ne Ganga ko koi sadharan yuvati samjha, lekin jab guru ne use Ganga jal ka chamatkar dikhaya to Andhak bhi chakit rah gaya. Asur guru Shukracharya ne Andhakasura ke dimaag mein sundar Ganga ki chhavi bhar di taki Andhak kisi tarah Ganga ko praapt kar le. 

Is bich swarglok mein devtaon ko Andhakasura ke iraade ka pata chala. Ganga ko patal bhej di gayi jahan Andhakasura ne use approach kiya. Ganga ne apni divy shakti ka istemaal kar Andhakasura ko haraya aur ant mein jab Andhakasura uske paas gaya to Andhakas, Ganga ki shakti se prabhavit ho kar ek bhakt ban gaya. Iske baad Shukracharya agle daitya rajaon ko badha kar Ganga ko neeche lane ke liye bhadaakaya jisme Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad aur Bali bhi shaamil the. Raja Bali ke samay Vamana Avatar mein Lord Vishnu ka ek ang antariksha mein gaya jisse Ganga, Vishnu ke pad ke saath patal lok mein gayi aur ise patal Ganga kaha gaya. Iske baad Tarakasur ka prakat hona tha. Usse harane ke liye Lord Shiva ke tej aur ang ki avashyakta thi. Lekin Shiva ke tej aur ang ko Ganga ke alawa aur koi bhi sambhal nahi paaya. Is prakar Ganga ne Shiva parivaar se bhi jud gayi aur Maha Yoddha Tarakasur ka vadh hua aur uske teen putron ka vadh aur Ganga ke dvara mukti mili. Uske baad Tretayug mein Sagar putron ke uddhar ke liye Ganga dharti par aayi aur Bhagirathi ke saath-saath Janhu Rishi ki putri bhi kahlaayi."