On a chariot Bhagirath left, with Ganga coming behind him. The Gods showered flowers on his and blessed him.
Bhagirath reached the Sumeru mountain. This was range of mountains with numerous peaks and equal number of tunnels in its base. Flowing through the base of the mountain, Ganga got lost in the montain, in an underground cave, and could not find a way out.
Looking back, Bhagirath could not see Ganga behind him and he retraced his way back. He started praying to the river and asked for her help. He prayed to her saying she had come to the earth to give salvation to his ancestors, and how would that be possible if she remained in the Sumeru mountains.
Ganga said she was not able to find a way out. She asked Bhagirath to bring Airavat there, who was Indra's elephant. If Airavat tore down the mountain and made a way, Ganga would be able to come out.
Bhagirath went back and started praying to Indra to send Airavat.
Hearing his prayer, Indra came to Sumeru riding on Airavat.
Airavat was a proud elephant. He asked Bhagirath to pass a message to Ganga. If Ganga was willing to spend a night with him, he would make way for her.
Bhagirath was shocked. He did not know what to say. Ganga knew something was wrong and wanted to know what Airavat. Bhagirath said he would not be able to utter the words. Ganga said he had nothing to worry about. Bhagirath repeated the elephant's words.
Ganga said, Go back to the elephant and tell him if he can withstand two and half waves of her, she would happily live with him for seven days.
Hearing Bhagirath's words, the elephant with his tusks, tore open the peak inside which Ganga was trapped. He formed four gaps and out of the four gaps, Ganga came out in four forms - Vasu, Bhadra, Shweta and Alaknanda.
Of these, Alaknanda stayed on the earth while the others went heavenwards.
One wave of Alknanda, Airavata was nearly dead. Addressing the river as Mother, the elephant begged for forgiveness.
Bhagirath reached the Sumeru mountain. This was range of mountains with numerous peaks and equal number of tunnels in its base. Flowing through the base of the mountain, Ganga got lost in the montain, in an underground cave, and could not find a way out.
Looking back, Bhagirath could not see Ganga behind him and he retraced his way back. He started praying to the river and asked for her help. He prayed to her saying she had come to the earth to give salvation to his ancestors, and how would that be possible if she remained in the Sumeru mountains.
Ganga said she was not able to find a way out. She asked Bhagirath to bring Airavat there, who was Indra's elephant. If Airavat tore down the mountain and made a way, Ganga would be able to come out.
Bhagirath went back and started praying to Indra to send Airavat.
Hearing his prayer, Indra came to Sumeru riding on Airavat.
Airavat was a proud elephant. He asked Bhagirath to pass a message to Ganga. If Ganga was willing to spend a night with him, he would make way for her.
Bhagirath was shocked. He did not know what to say. Ganga knew something was wrong and wanted to know what Airavat. Bhagirath said he would not be able to utter the words. Ganga said he had nothing to worry about. Bhagirath repeated the elephant's words.
Ganga said, Go back to the elephant and tell him if he can withstand two and half waves of her, she would happily live with him for seven days.
Hearing Bhagirath's words, the elephant with his tusks, tore open the peak inside which Ganga was trapped. He formed four gaps and out of the four gaps, Ganga came out in four forms - Vasu, Bhadra, Shweta and Alaknanda.
Of these, Alaknanda stayed on the earth while the others went heavenwards.
One wave of Alknanda, Airavata was nearly dead. Addressing the river as Mother, the elephant begged for forgiveness.
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