Why was Mother Ganga captured in Shiva's locks? (Image Source: Freepik)
Religion Desk, New Delhi. In Hindu religion, Ganga has been given the status of not just a river but a mother. But, have you ever wondered how Alaknanda (Ganga) flowing in heaven got absorbed in the locks of Mahadev? Behind it lies an exciting story of sacrifice, penance and saving the universe.
The story begins with King Bhagiratha of the Ikshvaku dynasty. His ancestors (60,000 sons of Sagar) were not able to get salvation due to the curse of Kapil Muni. The only solution for the peace of his soul was the water of Mother Ganga. According to the Bal Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, Bhagiratha performed rigorous penance for thousands of years to bring Ganga to earth.
When Shiva broke Ganga's ego
Pleased with Bhagiratha's penance, Ganga agreed to come to earth, but a big problem arose. The speed of Ganga was so tremendous that if it had fallen directly from heaven to earth, the earth would not have been able to bear its speed and would have fallen into the abyss. According to Shiv Purana, Ganga was a little proud of her speed, she thought that even Mahadev would be swept away in her flow.
When Bhagiratha saw this crisis, he took refuge in Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva knew that it was necessary to control the speed of Ganga. As Ganga fell down from heaven with full arrogance, Lord Shiva spread out his huge locks.
Ganga captured in matted hair
As soon as Ganga fell on Shiva's head, she became completely entangled in the web of his dense locks. Lord Shiva captured her in his locks in such a way that she could not find her way out. For many years, Ganga kept wandering in the locks of Shiva's hair. According to Shiv Purana, this was a leela of Mahadev so that Ganga's ego could be shattered and the earth would be saved from the cataclysm.
According to Vishnu Purana, on praying to Bhagiratha again, Lord Shiva opened a lock of his locks and a thin stream of Ganga flowed on the earth, which we know as 'Bhagirathi'.
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