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Sarg 42 - Bhageerath's Efforts for Gangaa

After the death of Raajaa Sagar, Anshumaan was appointed as king. He was very religious. He ruled for some time, then handed over his kingdom to his son Dileep and went to do Tap on Himaalaya. He did Tapasyaa for 32,000 years, then he died and went to Swarg. What worried Anshumaan before, now worried Dileep too. 

Raajaa Dileep did several Yagya and ruled for 30,000 years but couldn't think of any way for the Mukti of his ancestors. So he also handed over his kingdom to his son Bhageerath [Dileep had a son named Bhageerath] who was also very religious. and went to Indra Lok.

Now Bhageerath started making efforts to bring Gangaa Jee on Prithvi. Since he didn't have any child,  he handed over his kingdom to his able ministers and went for Tap. He went to Gokarn Parvatand started doing Tap. He did Tap for thousands of years standing upraising his hands and amidst five fires (four fires in four directions and one Sun fire from above). 

Brahmaa Jee got pleased with his Tap, appeared with Devtaa, and said - "Raajan, I am very pleased with your Tapasyaa, ask for any Var." Bhageerath said - "I wish to do Tarpan for Raajaa Sagar's sons with Gangaa water, so that they can go to Swarg, and I want a son so that my family can extend." Brahmaa Jee said - "You will succeed in your mission but this Prithvi cannot tolerate the downfall of Gangaa, only Shiv Jee can tolerate it. I see nobody else except Shiv Jee who can control the force of flow of Gangaa Jee; so first you please Shiv Jee. And you will have a son too." And Brahmaa Jee went away to His Lok.

Sarg 43 - Gangaa Comes on Prithvi

Now Bhageerath started doing Tap standing on his big toe and fasting for one year. Mahaadev Jee got pleased with his Tapasyaa and said to him - "I will fulfill your wish. I will sustain Gangaa Jee on my head." Immediately Gangaa fell on Shiv Jee's head from the sky. She was under the impression that she would take Mahaadev to Rasaatal Lok by drifting Him. But Shiv Jee knew her intentions so He held her in His Jataa (hair). She made many efforts to come out of His Jataa to go on Prithvi but all in vain. She went round and round in Shiv Jee's hair for many years.

Raajaa Bhageerath again did Tapasyaa to please Shive Jee ans release Gangaa. After that Shiv Jee released Gangaa Jee towards Bindu Lake on Himalaya. She came out in seven streams from that lake. Her three streams became known as Hlaadinee, Paavanee, and Nalinee (is called Brahmputra) flowed towards east; Suchakshu, Seetaa, and Sindhu (in Indus Valley) flowed towards west. The seventh stream Gangaa followed Bhageerath's divine chariot. [That is why she is called Bhaageerathee too.] 

Her water was flowing somewhere deep, somewhere shallow, somewhere straight and somewhere in curves, somewhere falling and somewhere in surges. Devtaa, Gandharv etc were looking at this beautiful scene. Rishi Muni considered this water as holy water, so they did Aachman from that water. Many Devtaa who were born on Prithvi because of their sins, took bath in that waters, washed their sins away and went to their former Lok. Even many Gandharv, Yaksh, Apsaraa followed the chariot of Bhageerath.

Where this Gangaa was flowing, Jahnu Muni was doing Yagya, so she carried away all his Yagya material with her water. Jahnu Muni got very angry at this. He drank all water of Gangaa Jee. Devtaa worshipped Muni and told her lineage. Then only Muni got pleased and released her waters from his both ears. At this Devtaa said - "From today Gangaa will be known as your daughter." [And since then she has been called as Jaahnavee]. Then Gangaa came to ocean.

Then she came to Rasaatal and the place where Sagar's 60,000 sons were burned. As Gangaa water flowed upon that place, all 60,000 sons got Mukti.

Sarg 44 - Gangaa Known as Bhaageerathee

Bhageerath arrived in Paataal Lok with Gangaa Jee and gave Mukti to his great-grandfathers. Brahmaa Jee came and said to Bhageerath - "Because of your efforts Raajaa Sagar's 60,000 sons went to Swarg Lok. Till this water remain in the ocean, they will also live in Swarg. And from today Gangaa will be known as the daughter of yours, because only you have brought her on Prithvi. People will call her Bhaageerathee. From now onward she will be known as 'divine Gangaa', 'Bhaageerathee', 'Tripathgaa' (since it flowed into three worlds - Swarg, Bhoo Lok and Rasaatal) like names. Your fathers, grandfathers made lots of efforts to bring her on Prithvi but failed. Only you were fortunate to bring her here. There is no need to find any auspicious time to take bath in her and offer Tarpan in a proper way." So Bhageerath did the Tarpan and came back to Ayodhyaa.

Hey Raam, Whoever will tell and hear this story of Gangaa Jee, he will enjoy all pleasures of wealth, children, Dharm and go to Swarg. Now the evening is approaching so your do your daily chores, meditate Gayatree.

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