Chapter 13 - The coming of Ganga

CHAPTER XIII Sri Mahadeva said:- O my child, please listen to me: I deseribe before you how Sati dividing Herself into two came to the womb of Menaka as the daughter of Himalaya. (1) O sage, At first Ganga of white lusture emerged. one part of Her own. In order she remained in liquid form. (2) Out of to stay on the head of Sambhu, After that the absolute Gauri became the wife of Samkara and due to her love she accupied the half of Mahesa's body. (3) O magnanimous one please listen how Ganga came in to existence, hearing to which a sinner is liberated from the sin such as slaying of Brahimin. (4) Sumeru's daughter Mena, the wife of the king of the mountains (Himalaya) got Mahesvari as her daughter in the next birth. (5) Ganga was born from the womb of Himalay's wife, the chaste and she nowrished the pretty, daughter of lovely eyes. (6) Ganga with white complexion, beautiful having a lotus like face was born in the middle of the third day of bright fort-night in the month of Vaisakha. (7) Having heard the news of the birth of his daughter possessing thus eyes with dark outer corner with four hands, Himalaya became very anxious. (8)

103 He performed holy rites, presented gifts lavishly to the Brahmins. In the father's house She grew like the digit in the moon during the bright fortnight, the natural swelling of the river in the rainy season. One day when Himalaya was with his daughter hamber in the inner Narada, the son of Brahma came to see Ganga knowing Her as Bhagavati born out of Her own portion, whom Siva was worshipping at Kamarupa. Himalaya having seen him saluted him, washed his two feet and offered him water and asked him humbly. (9-12) Himalaya said:- o sage, due to good luck the Gods enjoy Now I see you Brahmin, how have you come here ? (13) your visit. Narada said:- I heard from the public that the most beautiful daughter has been born in your house. I have come to see her. (14) Himalaya said, O my good luck. I salute thee as you, the inaccessible to Gods have come to see her. (15) Narada said, You are praiseworthy, successful and full of all fortune as your daughter is inaccessible to even Gods. (16) Sri Mahadeva said,- Having told thus to Himalaya out of pleasure, the sage brought Her to his own lap affectionately from the lap of her father. Having seated Ganga, the purifier of three worlds in his lap the sage said, "I am fortunate enough. At that time his body was horribilated. Then the delighted sage

104 Narada said to Himalaya, Do you properly know your daughter or not" ? (17-19) Himalaya said,- O the best among the sages I only know that she is my daughter possessing pretty limbs and auspicious symbols. Besides these I do not know her special qualities. (20 & 21 a) Narada said, O magnanimous one. She who is the premordial being, subtle and was Sati, the daughter of Daksa in the past in her own portion has been born as your daughter to get Hara as Her husband again. (21 b & 22) She is named as Ganga, the destroyer of all sins, the deliverer of the world and destroyer of heinous sins. (23) ◊ great mountain, Her marriage with Siva will definitely take place in heaven which was fixed earlier. (24) To bring back Her to heaven Brahma, the grand father of the world will visit you and request you carefully. Then you offer Her, the beautiful one, to Brahma Taking Her to Heaven he will give away pretty-faced, daughter of Mena to Siva by inviting Him properly. (25-27 a) Himalaya said,- You are the knower of the past, present and future. You see everything direct through your wisdom As this has been arranged by Brahma, it will not be eye. fruitless. So what shall I do ? The wish of the Lord will not be in vain. (27 b-29 a)

105 Mahadeva said,- Thus said by Himalaya the sage quickly went out the abode of Lord Brahma, the Grand Father of all the worlds. Having saluted Him the magnanimous and delighted sage said, "O Lord, Sati has been born again as beautiful Ganga by Her own portion in the abode of Himalaya, Devi as Umor would also be born in her full manifestation. (29 b-31) Brahma said, I know truely that she has been born now in the house of Himalaya by her own portion as Ganga the purifier of the three worlds. She was the wife of Mahesa in the past Now she is proceeding towards Mahesa. (32 & 33) But Having got herback Siva would enjoy eternal pleasure. when Hara was dancing delightedly on the earth holding the body of Chaya Sati on his head, at that time Hari himself cut the body of Chaya-Sath which was kept on Siva's head for the protection of the world. For that guilt Sankara is angry with us. So what can I do ? How will Siva be pacified ? (34-37 a) Narada said, 0 Brahma, please listen to the remedy by which Mahesa will be pleased with us. Go to Himalaya, the king of Mountains, the munificent well-versed with religious doctrines and approach him with Indra and other Gods beg to get Ganga. ren He present you Gange, no doubt. (37 b-39) Then Then bringing Her to heaven, perform a pompous ceremony and inviting Siva there you offer Him Ganga carefully. (40

106 As Chaya-Sati was placed on his head similarly Ganga, in liquid form shall get a place there. Then only Lord Mahesvara will be pleased. (41 & 42 a) Brahma said,- O my son, you live long as you advised us rightly if this happens Sambhu will be pleased. O my son, go to the Gods at Indra's abode quickly and tell them everything, so that they will come to me. (42 b-44 a) Sri Mahadeva said, Having said thus by Brahma, Morada went gladly where all the noble Gods headed by Indra were present. (44 b & 45 a) Narada said,- O the king of Gods, I have come from Brahmaloka and my noble-minded father has deputed me to you. In the earth Sati is born as Ganga, the purifier of three worlds in her half-portion in the house of Himalaya. To bring Her to Svargapura Brahma will discend on the earth. O the best among the Gods, you also come quickly to fallow him. Gods said,Oh the best among the sages what are you telling? Sati herself has been born the earth ? O sage, whether you have communicated the message to Mahesa or not ? (45 b-49 a) Narada said,- Bring her to heaven then I'll go to Sankara. O Gods, come quickly to Brahma. Sri Mahadeva said,- Having said 'get as you like' the Gods went to Brahma pura. The Gods whose lotus-faces were like full blown out of happiness saluted to the noble hearted Brahma, the master of the universe and

107 said with folded hands, "O Lord, what are your command ?" (49 b-51) Brahma said,- The great goddess Sati has been born as Ganga in the house of Himalaya. In her other habf-portion she will be born as Uma there. her to heaven. You Indra and your colleagues such as Kuvera, Varuna, Soma, Surya, Agni, Marut, along with wise Narada follow me quickly. (52-54) So now we will go there to bring Sri Mahadeva said,- O the best among the sages, having accepted thus the Gods headed by Indra went to Brahma and then with great sage Narada went quickly to Himalaya desiring to get Ganga. (55 & 56) Last night Ganga, knowing the attempts of gods said to Himalaya in dream. (57) In the last part of the night he saw in dream a Goddess of white complexion with three eyes sitting on a crocodile appeared in front of him. She said, "O my father, I am your daughter, the only primordial nature. I was also the daughter of Daksa Prajapati as Sati who left her husband Siva in her father's sacrifice. Siva overwhelmed with my separation is practising penance at Kamarupa to get me back as his wife and I also became your daughter being prayed by you. (58-61) So now I have been born in your house in half of my portion. By the other half I'll be also your daughter. (62)

108 The Gods headed by Brahma will come to take me. With your permission I'll go to heaven with the Gods and will get Sambhu as husband presented by the noble-hearted Gods, So do not grieve of me out of at all due to infatuation. (63 & 64) O my father, I assured you earlier, so that you need not think of me. Having said thus to Himalaya in dream she disappeared and then Himalaya woke up and deliberated everything that was intimated by Ganga. (65 & 66) Himalays, give up the illusion which overtook you earlier. By that time all the Gods headed by Brahma came to the abode of Himalaya having saluted Gods asked, "O Gods, why did you come and please tell me what ever you like ?" (67 & 68) Gods said, "O the king of Mountains, You are considered as the greatest giver of the worlds. So we have come to you for begging. Thus hearing their speech and recapitulating the happenings in the dream and the information communicated to by Naraja. Taking these in to consideration Himalaya said to the Gods, " Why have the Gods, the rulers of three quarters come for alms ?" Please tell me now what shall I give you ?" (69-72) Brahma said,- O my child, Listen to me. why these Gods have come to your house (73) • I am telling you Sati, the daughter of Daksa, the absolute Nature will decorated with various gems accepted Siva, the Lord of three worlds as her husband. (74)

109 Daksa with evil mind always was engaged in blaming Siva. O Himalaya, he started a great sacrifice to humiliate Siva. (75) He invited all gods such as I and Visnu except Sati and Siva out of illusion. (76) Hence being indignant of his attitude goddess wanted to go to Daksa's house but was prohibited by Mahesa, (77) Sambhu did a crime due to the self-conceit of an authority of the husband. For that reason Sati angrily went to Daksa's house leaving Siva there. (78) Daksa also overwhelmed with illusion began to blame Siva. So having left Siva as well as other culprits goddess, the eternal, absolute, full of Brahma disappeared being overwhelmed with illusion leaving a shadow like a dead body. (79 & 80) Being afflicted with that sorrow Siva, the lord of three worlds danced on the earth holding the shadow body on his head. (81) Looking the entrance of the earth into the nether region the gods said to Visnu, "Please protect the three worlds". (82) Then Lord Visnu, the super human cut the body of the Chaya-Sati slowly by the Sudarsana wheel. (83)

110 With the separation of the body the Great God became sad. O the lord of the mountains He is still angry with us till now. (84) That goddess, the daughter of Daksa has been born by her own portion in your house as Ganga, the mistress of three worlds. (85) As Siva's previous wife she will be revived to Siva. Only Sankara is still in such state of indignation till now. (86) So if you hand over your daughter to us then, taking her to heaven and performing a great vite we will get complete satisfaction by offering her to Mahesa. You will offer the next goddess who will be born also as your other daughter to Sambhu. Please offer her to us. Taking Her we will offer her to Sambhu. (87-89) Himalaya said - A daughter does not reside in her The daughter is meant for others, father's house forever. not for one's own. (90) I know many things like this. Still the unbearable sorrow will come to my mind at the separation of Ganga. (91) Sri Mahadeva said O magnanimous one, Himalaya having said thus and taking Ganga on his lap wept too mudi with eyes full of tears. (92)

111 "O my father, you give up sorrow for me Ganga said You offer me to Brahma, so that I will go to heaven. (93) I am not far away from you nor you are far from me. You are a devotee. I am accessible to devotion and I shall always remain close to you. (94) Having said thus and saluting to her father the daughter of Himalaya approached Brahma to get her lord of the evil spirit as husband. (95) Here ends the thirteenth chapter called the coming of Ganga of Sri Mahabhagavata Upapuranam.