Dear friends,
I have read slightly different stories about Ganga and Parvati connected with Maha Bali in the Brahma Purana.Also about Gouthami Ganga. I thought the same can be shared with you.
Sincerely,
Gopala krishnan 16-3-2011.
Reposted by R. Gopala Krishnan after editing and updating on 22-8-2020. In Kerala Onam celebration starts today.
1 Mahabali story in short.
There was a king of the Daitya named Bali. He was powerful and invincible. He was also righteous and truthful. The gods could not bear to see Bali's prosperity. So well did Bali rule that disease, drought and evil disappeared throughout the three worlds.
Mahabali attacked Devalokam and defeated the Gods. In desperation, the gods approached Vishnu. Please do something about Bali, they requested.
"There is no difference between Bali and the gods so far as I am concerned"- replied Vishnu.. Bali is devoted to me. I cannot therefore fight with him. But I will think of a way so that his kingdom might be taken away from him and given to you.
Vishnu decided to be born as Aditi's son. The son was a dwarf. This was the Vamana avatara (dwarf incarnation) of Vishnu.
In the mean while Bali proposed to organize a horse sacrifice. Shukracharya was the chief priest. The dwarf also arrived to witness the yajna among sages and other great people.
Shukracharya realized that the dwarf was none other than Vishnu. He told Bali. "I suspect that this dwarf is Vishnu in disguise. He must have come here to ask you for something. Please do not grant him anything without first consulting me"
Certainly not, replied Bali. It is good fortune indeed that the great Vishnu has come to my house. WHAT IS THERE TO CONSULT YOU ABOUT? I shall grant Vishnu whatever he wants.
Bali went to the dwarf to ascertain what the dwarf wanted. The dwarf (Vishnu) expressed the wish that he might be given as much of land as might be covered in three of the dwarf's paces.
This wish Bali readily granted. But no sooner than the wish had been granted, the dwarf adopted a gigantic form. He places one foot on Bali's yajna and the second on Brahmaloka.
Where will I place my third step? Demanded Vishnu. There is no more space left in the entire universe. Find a place for my third step. Bali smiled and said"Place it on my Head".
Vishnu was charmed at Bali's generosity.. He granted Bali the wish that Bali would hold the title of Indra in a future manvantara.
He then appointed Bali king of the underworld. But Indra's kingdom of heaven, which Bali had conquered, was returned to Indra. HERE MY VARIATION OF STORY BEGINS.
2. Origin of Ganga
Brahma was observing all these actions by Upendra (dwarf)sitting in Brahmaloka. When Vishnu placed his second foot on Brahmaloka, Brahma felt that he should welcome and worship the foot. He used holy water from his kamandalu to wash the foot.
The water spilled over from the foot and fell on the mountains. There the water divided into four.
Vishnu accepted the flow that went northwards.
The flow that went westwards returned to Brahma's kamandalu.
The flow that went eastwards was gathered up by the gods and the sages.
But the flow that went southwards got entangled in Shiva's matted hair. This water was the river Ganga.
3. King Bhagiratha and sage Gauthama bring Ganga water from matted hair of Lord Siva
Part of the water of the Ganga that got stuck in Shiva's matted hair was brought down to the Earth by Bhagiratha. The remaining part was brought down by the sage Goutama.
My note- Sage Gouthama brought part of Ganga is a new information to me
4 Parvati desires to remove Ganga from Siva's matted hair.
Parvati was married to Shiva, but Shiva seemed to be fonder of Ganga than of Parvati. Parvati resolved that a way has to be foundout to remove Ganga from Shiva's hair. She tried requesting Lord Siva, but Shiva refused .
Then there was a terrible drought on the Earth, which sustained for fourteen years. The only place that was not affected by the drought was the sage Goutama's hermitage. Other people also gathered in the hermitage to save themselves from the drought and Goutama welcomed them all.
5 Lord Ganesha devise a method to help his mother
Ganesha thought that he might be able to devise a way to free his mother of the Ganga problem. He went and began to live in Goutama's hermitage.
Ganesha cultivated the acquaintance of the other sages and became quite friendly with them.
One of Parvati's companions was Jaya. Ganesha asked Jaya to adopt the form of a cow and eat the grain in Goutama's fields. And the moment she was struck, she was to lie down on the ground and pretend to be dead.
6 Jaya falls down as if dead
Goutama noticed that a cow eating up his grain. He tried to drive away the cow by striking with a blade of grass. As soon as he did this, the cow uttered a shrill bellow and fell down on the ground.
Ganesh and the other sages came running to see what had happened. They discovered that, a cow had been struck down dead by sage Goutama. They therefore refused to stay in an ashrama where such a sin had been committed.
Goutama tried to restrain them. Please do not go away and forsake me, he said. Tell me how I may perform penance.
7 Ganesha ask Gouthama to bring down Ganga from Siva's matted hair
You have to bring down Ganga from Shiva's hair, replied Ganesha. When that water touches the dead body of the cow, your sin would be forgiven. Ganesha was so friendly with the other sages that they all accepted his solution. Goutama also agreed to do the needful.
8 Sage Gouthama pray to Lord Siva
Accordingly, Goutama went to Mount Kailasa and began to pray to Shiva. Shiva was pleased at Goutama's tapasya and offered to grant a boon.
Goutama naturally wanted the boon that Ganga might be brought down to the Earth. Shiva agreed.
9 Ganga becomes Gouthami
It was thus that Ganga was brought down to the Earth by sage Goutama. Ganga has four tributaries in heaven, seven on the Earth and four in the underworld. Since it was Goutama who brought Ganga down to the Earth, the river is also known as Goutami Ganga.
My note- The disliking of Paravati of Ganga story is new to me
10.1. Maninaga –son of Ananta
We know about Ananta- the great snake. Ananta had a son by name Maninaga. We know the snakes are all afraid of Garuda their enemy.
Maninaga once began to pray to Shiva. Having pleased Shiva, he obtained the boon that Garuda would be able to do him no harm. Armed with this boon Maninaga started to wander around freely and did not run away even when encountered Garuda.
10.2 Garuda captures Maninaga
Garuda found this to be exceedingly strange. Although he could not kill Maninaga, he captured him and kept him imprisoned in his own house.
11 Nandi inform Lord Siva about missing of Mani naga
We know about Nandi- assistant of Lord Shiva. Nandi told Shiva-"Lord, what has happened to Maninaga? We have not seen him for some time. I hope that Garuda has not done him any harm". Shiva of course knew what had happened. He advised Nandi to pray to Vishnu.
12. Nandi approaches lord Vishnu to order Garuda to release Maninaga
Nandi was ordered to please Vishnu and then ask for the boon that Maninaga might be freed from Garuda's imprisonment. Nandi did this and Vishnu asked Garuda to release Maninaga.
13. Garuda pleads with Vishnu
Lord, Garuda told Vishnu, this is very unfair. Other masters treat their servants very well. They give their servants gifts. See how Shiva has sent Nandi himself to rescue Shiva's devotee Maninaga.
YOU NEVER GIVE ME ANY GIFTS. MOREOVER, WHEN I OBTAIN SOMETHING ON MY OWN, YOU ASK ME TO RELINQUISH IT.
Is this proper on your part? It is on me that you ride when you go out to fight the demons. They get defeated because of my prowess. And yet it tickles your ego no end to think that you have defeated them yourself.
13.1 Vishnu places his little finger on Garuda
Vishnu smiled and replied, Garuda, you are quite right. You have become thin and lean from bearing my weight. It is quite true that I can defeat the demons only because of your prowess. You have a lot of strength. Why don't you bear the weight of my little finger and demonstrate your strength?
Vishnu placed his little finger on Garuda's head. So heavy was the finger that Garuda was crushed against the ground.
13.2 Garuda feels his stupidity
Please forgive me, said Garuda. I have been very stupid. I am an ignorant ass and you are the lord of everything. I have been completely flattened by the weight of your little finger. Please tell me how I may regain my old self.
14 Mani Naga is released and Garuda is taken to Lord Siva
Vishnu asked Nandi to take Garuda to Shiva. Shiva would find a way of restoring Garuda's old appearance. Maninaga was released and Nandi took Garuda to Shiva.
Shiva asked Garuda to bathe in Goutami Ganga. This would make his appearance normal again.
Garuda did this. Not only was his old appearance restored, he became stronger and swifter than he used to be. The place where Garuda bathed is a tirtha known as GARUDATIRTHA.
MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT- Sri Dilip kumar Raveendran had earlier posted in US Brahmins Group as series Brahma Purana. This article has inputs from his posting with my additions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I am R. Gopala krishnan, 76, a Kerala Iyer retired from BSNL Kerala Circle Trivandrum, as Asst General Manager and now settled in Chennai. I feel it is a good story to tell kids also.
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