Research source

The Ganges, the Jumna, and the Godavari are said to be the holiest of all rivers

Date of account: Published 1914
Source: Folk Lore Notes. Vol. I—Gujarat
Reference: Folk Lore Notes. Vol. I—Gujarat · selected passage 13
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-25

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Source passage

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The Ganges, the Jumna, and the Godavari are said to be the holiest of all rivers. There are a number of beliefs about the origin of the Ganges. One of them is that the Ganges is the stream caused by King Bali washing the feet of Vaman (the Dwarf incarnation of Vishnu). [425] Another story relates that the god Brahma was exhausted by overwork at the time of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. The gods, therefore, created water from their own lustres, and gave it to Brahma in a gourd, to be used in a similar contingency. When Vishnu in his Vaman avatar (or Dwarf incarnation) bestrode the heavens with a single step, Brahma washed his toe in the water from this gourd. A stream was thus created called Swarga-ganga and brought down to the earth by Bhagirath, the grandson of Sagar. When the Ganges fell from the heavens, it was supported and held fast by God Shiva in his jata or matted hair. It was released by his loosening the hair, and in its course, inundated the sacrificial ground of King Jahnu. The latter, being angry, drank up its waters. On the entreaties of Bhagirath, he released the stream by tearing off his thigh.

Historical context

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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