78 Abode of Gods
•to the Ganges, "Of all the great rivers on the surface of the globe,
none can compare in sanctity with the Ganges, or mother Ganga
as she is affectionately called by the devout Hindus. From her
source in the Himalayas to her mouth in the Bay of Bengal, her
banks are holy and grand. Each point of junction of her mainstream
with a tributary has special claims to sanctity. Having legends
hallow each part of her course and from the names of her
tributaries and of the towns along her banks, a whole mythology
might be built up to die and be buried as the river bank in the
last wish of millions of Hindus." Ganga has been the most
sacred of rivers, visited by the crowding myriads of India, who
pray to her to have their sins washed away in her magic waters.
Gangajal has medicinal efficacies also. Akbar used to drink it
daily.
The legend
The mythological legend about Ganga-avtarani—'descent of
•Ganga'—forms the subject of many a ballads, folktales, stories and
other interesting classical literature. As per narration available,
Sagar, a descendent of Ikshavahu clan was the king of Ayodhya.
He had two wives—Keshain and Surnati. He was issueless for
several years; therefore, he performed several penances to
please Rishi Bhrigu who granted his wish and blessed him with
a son through Asmanjas and sixty thousand sons through Sumati.
When the sons grew young they formed themselves into a strong
.army. The king decided to conquer the world for which Asva-
medha Yajna was held. The young princes marched into Indra's
territory who in order to teach them a lesson diverted the
Asmedha horse towards Fatal where Kapil Muni was meditating.
The victorious princes, blinded by power entered Patal-lok and
disturbed the sage who was in a trance. The Muni looked in
.anger and no sooner his eyes fell on the princes they were
reduced into ashes. Sagar waited in vain for the return of his
•sons and when his patience broke down he sent his grandson
Ansuman to find out the whereabouts. Ansurnan was a patient
investigator. At long last he found the cause of disappearance
and the measure for the deliverance of his sixty thousand uncles.
He returned to Ayodhya and narrated the incident. Sagar
beseeched him to undertake the task of bringing down Ganga