Ganga: Mythological Stories And Studies That Unveil The Source Of The Holy River

According to Hinduism, Ganga is the holy river that descended from heaven from the strands of Lord Shiva. It is one of the famous mythological tales associated with the origin of the largest river in India. Have you ever wondered about the source of the river? Have you ever thought about visiting the point of origin of the Ganga?

This article shares answers to your queries and offers insight into the source of Ganga, one of the most frequently asked questions. Many Hindus pray Ganga River because Goddess Ganga manifested herself as a water body to help humanity flourish. Other people also believe that its water has magical healing and medicinal properties. Here are a few facts about the river you must know.

What Are The Two Sources Of Ganga River?

Dr Robert Svoboda calls himself the first Westerner to graduate from a college of Ayurveda. He has written 12 books and shared a reel about the source of the holy river.

According to him, the water body is formed in Devprayag when Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers join each other. While Bhagirati is named after King Bhagirat, who according to famous mythological tales was tasked to bring the celestial Ganga from the heavens to Earth.

Alaknanda means a little girl with curly locks that represent the flow of the river. It travels to Mana Village in Uttarakhand to meet the Saraswati River. If you have to trace the origin of the Ganga, you have to trace the origin of the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers.

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Both rivers have origination points in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand. According to a report published in National Geographic, the Bhagirathi River has a source in Gomukh, where the Gangotri Glacier ends. The Alaknanda River is formed when water from the Bhagirath Kharak Glacier and Satopanth Glacier meet.

Most people believe Gomukh is the source of the Ganga River, where the water is crystal clear. Being a part of the largest river system in India, the water of the river finally flows into the Bay of Bengal.

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Source Of Ganga: Mythological Stories

According to Ramayana and other ancient Hindu texts, Goddess Ganga and Parvati were sisters born to Lord Himavat, the king of the Himalayas. Ganga was a celestial water body that flowed in the heavens.

In one of the legends, when Lord Vishnu incarnated as Vamana and put his left foot forward to end this universe, his toenail dug a hole in the soil. From the hole emerged a clear stream of water that later came to be called the Ganga River.

Legend Of Lord Shiva And The Ganga River

Before Goddess Ganga was supposed to descend to Earth, all Devas were worried about the volume of water and swift flow that could do more harm than good to humans. The only way to prevent it was to find something that regulates the force of the celestial water body.

Therefore, Lord Shiva asked Goddess Ganga to reside in his bun. He let loose only a few locks, through which water descended from heaven to Earth. It is believed that if Lord Shiva would let loose all his locks, water from rivers can create havoc on this planet.

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According to another tale, King Bhagiratha pleased Lord Brahma who ordered Goddess Ganga to descend on Earth. He was cautioned that the planet was not equipped to handle the force of the celestial water body. On the other hand, Ganga was furious and decided to destroy the Earth using the force of water.

The confused king went to Lord Shiva, who decided to tie Ganga in his hair. In an attempt to free herself, Ganga tried to drown the God. However, his locks were tightly wrapped around Ganga, so she had to stop trying. He let loose seven locks through which the celestial water descended to Earth into seven rivers that later became the Ganga River.

The seven streams of Ganga came to be known as - Janhvi, Mandakini, Bhagirathi, Rishiganga, Alaknanda, Bhilangana, and Saraswati (Is Saraswati River A Myth Or Lost River).

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