KAILASA Library/Who is THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM - The many dimensions of THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM/BhagirathaSign in
Who is THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM - The many dimensions of THE SUPREME PONTIFF OF HINDUISM BHAGAWAN SRI NITHYANANDA PARAMASHIVAM

Bhagiratha

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Goddess Ganga descending upon a crocodile-like makara before sage Bhagiratha
  • Bhagiratha was a king of the Ikshvaku dynasty who brought the River Ganges, as the river goddess Ganga, to Earth from the heavens.
  • When he became prince of Sagara Dynasty, learning the awful end of his forefathers, who were unable to attain region of gods, with a sorrowful heart made over his kingly duties to his minister, and went for practicing austerities to Himalayas.
  • He did penance for a thousand years on the advice of his guru Trithala, to please Ganga, to gain the release of his 60,000 great-uncles from the curse of saint Kapila. Ganga told him if she will descend from the sky to the earth, the force of her fall will be difficult to sustain.
  • She asked him to obtain the favour from Paramashiva, as no one except Him wii be able to sustain her. He then did severe penance for Paramashiva and requested Him such. Paramashiva granted him the boon, which eventually led to descent of the Goddess Ganga in the form of the river Ganges, to the earth, filling the sea.