The Legend of Ganga ..... Ramayana an Epical depiction-11 : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Legend of Ganga

Ramayana an Epical depiction-11

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Millennium Post, New Delhi (15-03-2020)

            Later addressing Rama as Ramachandra, Vishvamitra narrated the legend of how and why River Ganga became a three-way travelling three-path river in its entirety. He said that “in ancient days Lord Shiva married Parvati and spent hundred divine years. However, in spite of spending so many years together Shiva had no son in Goddess Uma. All the gods including Brahma pondering over this were afraid that the son likely to be born after a lapse of so many years to Uma with the yogic act of copulation with Shiva, all the three worlds together also may not sustain his magnetism. They mentioned to Lord Shiva that the worlds cannot bear his progeny born out of his radiance and requested to bestow his grace on them. The Devatas further requested Shiva to perform a Great Vedic Ritual Penance along with Goddess Uma in union with Vedic Postulates of Yoga. Later Shiva may retain his brilliant seed within his own radiance and thus protect the universe. By doing so said the Devatas, that, all the three worlds will feel happy”.

            “Lord Shiva affectionately assured the Devatas that he will do as requested by them. He said that he and his wife Uma will bear their sperm in their virility and will not allow them to be mixed and hence let the Devatas and human beings may be blissful. Then Devatas said that the radiance which was already stirred up when discharged will be endured by earth. Then Shiva discharged his glittering semen with which the earth together with forests and mountains got it disseminated by seeing which the Devatas got scared. When they felt that the earth was unable to bear the burden of radiance requested the Fire-God and Wind-God that they together takeover it. Then the Fire-God entered that great radiance of Shiva converting it into a great mountain of ice. It became a divine forest of stems equivalent to sun and fire in its magnificence. In due course it became Saravana. Highly brilliant Kumara Swamy emerged out of it. Since he was born through fire god from the great radiance of Shiva he was known as son of fire and since he was born in Kritika stars he was also called as Kartikeya”.     

Parvati cursed Devatas

            “As all this happened as per the plan and desire of Devatas, Uma wife of Shiva became annoyed over them and cursed them. She said that, ‘I, who was desirous of having a son was prevented by you and therefore you shall be infelicitous to beget children through your wives. From now onwards your wives shall remain infertile’. Later she also cursed the earth and said that its appearance shall be strange and it would be wife of many and also, she will not have any happiness of having children. Shiva uncomfortable with the sorrow of Devatas and unable to convince his wife Uma, proceeded to northern peak of Himalayas for penance and settled there”.

            After narrating the story of Parvati, Vishvamitra started narrating about the story of Ganga, its earthly course, her begetting Kartikeya, Kritika stars breastfeeding the boy, gods naming the boy as Kartikeya and his appointment as Chief of Divine Armies. 

The story of Kumara Swamy

            Vishvamitra narrated as detailed: “After Lord Shiva left to Himalayas with his wife Parvati for holy penance, all the Devatas along with sages and also along with Indra approached Lord Brahma.  They told him that Lord Shiva who was earlier dispensed with the responsibility of Chief of Army for divine forces divested it and engaged in penance along with Goddess Uma. In the interest of the welfare of three worlds, they requested for a suitable replacement to Shiva. Responding to their request and referring to the curse of Parvati, Lord Brahma said that, Uma’s curse that Devatas cannot have children is unambiguous and impossible to overcome. He said that for the time being that has to be set aside”.

            “Referring to the request of appointment of Chief of Army for Divine Forces, Brahma said that, the Fire-God will be begetting an enemy destroying son through Ganga and he would become the Chief of Army. Brahma further said that the son born to Ganga will also be acceptable to Parvati who will treat him as her own son. On hering these words from Brahma, the Devatas worshiped him and proceeded to Mount Kailash and met Fire-God and requested him to beget a son through Ganga. Then the Fire-God approached Ganga and expressed his desire to have a son with her. She readily agreed and adopted a divine form preparing herself to reach Fire-God, who on seeing her trickled throughout her with his radiance. Then he drenched River Ganga with the radiance of Shiva which he contained till then. With this the entire River Ganga radiated tremendously”.

            “River Ganga then said that she was unable and incapable to bear the rampant passion of Fire-God and all her body parts were weakening and were being burnt with the fire of Shiva compounded with that of Fire-God. On seeing the miserable condition of Ganga, the Fire-God suggested her to lay away the embryo at the bottom side of Himalayas. Accordingly, River Ganga ejected the radiant embryo in the place suggested by Fire-God. That place where it was ejected became a place of gold and silver. In the process copper and iron also generated and the residue became tin and lead. Thus, the embryo on reaching the earth evolved into various other elements. The actual place where the embryo was laid down on Himalayas became a glittering gold all through. From then onwards the Gold was renowned as Jatharupa.

Birth of Kumara Swamy

            “Then all the Gods headed by Indra, who were told by Brahma, that the boy born there would become the Chief of Army for Divine Forces, evinced interest in him, and motivated Kritikas to breastfeed him. Agreeing to the breastfeeding they put a condition that the boy shall be recognized as their son for which the Devatas accepted. The boy who was named Skanda later became Kritikananda and Kartikeya. Human beings worship the boy as Skanda only. The boy sucked the breasts of all the six Kritika stars simultaneously and became a six-faced boy to do so. He became an adolescent soon. He triumphed over the army troops of monsters by his own valor. The devatas and all the divine bodies together anointed him as the Chief of Divine Army”.

            Thus, Vishvamitra in detail narrated the legend of River Ganga to Rama and Lakshmana.