Srimadh Bagawatham - Ganga Charitram Part 1

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/11/srimadh-bagawatham-ambarisha-charitram_24.html

Descent of River Ganges:

 

During Trivikrama Avataram, Perumal’s feet which reached Satya Lokam was wworshiped by Lord Brhma. Brhma poured water from his water pot to wash Perumal’s Thiruvadi but the water was enough only to wash a small portion of one single nail. This water due to its contact with Perumal obtained holy characteristics and started to flow as a river. In Satya Lokam the river is called as Vishnu Padi. She then flows down to Dhruva Mandamalam where Dhruvan takes holy dips as the water had emanated from the feet of Lord Sriman Narayana. The river then continues downwards and flows in Swarka Lokam. At heaven called Swarka Lokam she is called as Mandakini. For many years she did not descend further and remained at Swarka Lokam.

In the Ishvaku Dynasty was a king called Sagaran. He was named as Sagaran because his step mother tried to poison him while he was in the womb of his mother. Due to the blessings of Rishi Ruchikar, he was not affected by the poison. Hence he came to be called as Sagaran which meant ‘with poison’.

He had two wives. One of his wives had 60,000 sons while the other wife had only one son called as Asamanjam.

Asamanjan was the crown prince but he tormented young children by pushing them in to River Sarayu. The country people asked the king to choose between them and Asamanjan. Sagara Chakravarthi banished his son Asamanjan.

Asamanjan was very happy to leave the kingdom. To the surprise of everyone, he brought back all those children who had been drowned in the river. Asamanjan did not wish to rule the kingdoma and in order to make his father excuse him from his duties he played as if he was tormenting the children. Asamanjan left to live in the forest where he spent his time in meditation. He left behind one son called as Amsuman who was Sagaran’s favourite.

Once Sagaran decided to do an Ashwamedha Yagam. Devendran wished to prevent the king from completing the yagam. Devendran stole the sacrificial horse and left it near Sage Kapila’s ashram in Patala Lokam. The king sent his 60,000 sons to find the horse. The 60,000 sons located the horse at Patala Lokam but mistook Sage Kapila as the horse thief. They rushed towards the Sage in anger and they were reduced to ashes by their very thoughts. 

King Sagaran then sent his grandson to locate his 60,000 sons. Amsuman found the horse at sage Kapila’s ashramam but unlike his uncles, Amsuman approched the Sage with humility. After paying obeisance, he sought the Sage’s permission to take the horse with him. He also found mountains of ash and bones and realized that his uncles had perished. Garudazhwar was also present there since Sage Kapilar is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Garudazhwar instructed Amsuman to make the River Ganges enter Patala Lokam and the ashes of Amsuman’s ancestors by coming in contact with her, will attain good abode.

After Amsuman went back with the horse he was unable to bring Ganges as he was burdened with the duties of the kingdom. Every king in the Ishvaku lineage faced the same predicament till the time of Baghirathan. 

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