The Sacred Devotion of King Bhagirath – How Ganga Came to Earth
King Bhagirath was not only a mighty ruler but also a deeply devoted soul. He was among the revered ancestors of Lord Ram. His unwavering faith and dedication played a divine role in bringing Mother Ganga to earth.
There came a time when Bhagirath became deeply concerned about the salvation of his ancestors. He feared they would not attain liberation at the feet of God. Troubled by this thought, he approached his holy master and shared his worries.
His Guru told him,
"If Mother Ganga descends to earth from Brahm-Lok, your ancestors will be freed from their sins. Not only them, but countless others who bathe in her waters will also be cleansed of their karmic debts."
Bhagirath humbly asked his Guru,
"How can I bring Mother Ganga down to this earth?"
The Guru replied,
"Chant her holy name—‘Om Gangeh Namah’—with devotion and dedication. Call her sincerely until she grants you her divine vision."
Bhagirath followed his Guru's instructions with full faith. He began to chant the sacred name of Ganga with deep devotion. After some time, Mother Ganga appeared before Bhagirath in a divine vision and said,
"I am pleased by your devotion. What do you seek from me?"
Bhagirath bowed and requested,
"Mother, please come down to earth. Let your sacred waters wash away the sins of my ancestors, and also help purify the people of this world."
Mother Ganga smiled and replied,
"Bhagirath, your devotion has moved me, and I accept your request. But before I come, I need answers to two concerns:"
Bhagirath was silent. He didn’t know how to answer these questions. He humbly asked,
"Mother, I do not have answers. Whom should I ask?"
Ganga replied,
"You can seek answers from the Almighty or the Trinity—Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva. I suggest you call upon Lord Shiva. But you must again chant with devotion to invoke him."
Bhagirath accepted this with a bowed head and began chanting the sacred name of Lord Shiva. His sincere devotion moved Lord Shiva, who granted him a divine vision and said:
"Bhagirath, your devotion has pleased me. Ask what you wish, and I shall grant it."
Bhagirath explained everything—how Ganga had agreed to come but was held back by her concerns.
Lord Shiva smiled and said,
"I already know, Bhagirath. Call her now in my presence."
Bhagirath once again called upon Mother Ganga. She appeared, and Lord Shiva turned to her and said:
"You are worried about the force of your descent. I will bear your power. I will hold your flow in the locks of my hair. You shall reside on my head, and from there, your stream will gently flow down to earth."
Ganga was overjoyed. One of her greatest concerns was resolved.
Then Lord Shiva addressed her second concern:
"You are worried about remaining pure after people bathe in you. I bless you with this—when saints, sages, or devotees who chant the name of God touch you with their purity and devotion, you will become pure again. Their holiness will cleanse you."
Lord Shiva also revealed something even more divine: 
"You will flow in three forms—
Thus, Bhagirath’s deep penance and unshakable devotion bore fruit, and his ancestors were freed from their karmic burdens.
It is said that the Mandakini form of Ganga is the source of many spiritual lakes at sacred places. Whenever saints or spiritually aligned people,
while chanting the holy name, come in contact with the Mandakini, Ganga is purified again by their devotion.
This sacred story is not just a tale from the past—it is a timeless reminder of how true devotion, humility, and chanting of the holy name can move even the divine. Bhagirath’s unwavering resolve brought Mother Ganga to earth, offering salvation to his ancestors and generations to come.