Dilipa and Raghu

Soudasa's son was Sudasa. Sudasa's son was Dilipa. Dilipa's son was Raghu.

Once when Dilipa decided to perform the Ashwamedha Yagna, young Raghu decided to follow the horse and protect it. Indra being afraid that Dilipa would take over
heaven, stole the horse. Raghu thought, Indra is known to steal horses. It must be his work. So saying, climbing into a chariot driven by a thousand horses, Raghu marched
towards heaven.

Reaching heaven, Raghu started looking around for Indra. Coming face to face, Raghu decided to fight the God. Indra was amused to see a young man
challenging him. While Indra was looking at Raghu, Raghu shot three arrows at Indra. Indra fell down from Airavata's back. Rising up, Indra shot 10 arrows towards Raghu, but Raghu cutoff those 10 arrows by shooting ten arrows.Thus the battle of arrows continued. Now, Raghu knew about the Pashupatiastra, the terrible weapon. He aimed that towards Indra; bound by its power, Indra became Raghu's captive.

With a bound Indra and the horse, Raghu returned to Ayodhya.

All the Gods were amazed at Raghu's skill. Brahma blessed Raghu saying your dynasty will be known by your name "Raghuvamsha". Raghu released Indra, after Indra promised that never would Ayodhya face famine or drought. Indra left for the heavens. After Dilip's death, Raghu became the king of Ayodhya. He led a very simple life, eating from earthenware vessels and sleeping on grass.

In Rishi Kashyapa's ashrama, there was a brahmin boy called Varadutta. Varadutta had finished his studies. When he asked his guru, what he(the guru) would like for GuruDakshina, the sage demanded an immense amount of Gold. He thought of Raghu, the great King. It was said, no one came empty-handed from Raghu's house. He asked for seven days from his Guru and approached Raghu. Raghu was drinking water at that time form an earthenware bowl. The brahmin thought, "Oh! this king is poor. He cannot afford a glass; how can he help me". Raghu, seeing the Brahmin, told him to sit asked him how he (the king) could help. On learning of his demand, Raghu told the brahmin to rest, saying that the gold would be available the next day.

On checking his coffers, Raghu saw there wasn't enough wealth. While Raghu was thinking what to do, Narada arrived there. Narada told him get the gold from Kubera, the god of wealth.

Raghu told his army to get ready to march towards Kailasha, where Kubera stayed.

Narada went to see Kubera and told him about Raghu's plan. Kubera got scared and instantly Raghu's treasury was full of Gold. He appeared before Raghu and said "I have filled your coffers. Leave me alone".

With the gold, the Brahmana reached his guru. The guru had thought of an impossible task; now he was scared. If thieves and robbers got to know, he would be killed. He told the Brahmin to leave the gold with Indra. Indra learning that the gold was Raghu was scared. He refused to touch that gold, fearing that Raghu would march back into his kingdom. The brahmin returned to his guru, who then told him to take the wealth to Kubera. Kubera got his wealth back and all were happy.

Soudasa

Bhagirath ruled Ayodhya. He had a son called Soudasa. One day when he was out hunting. He saw two tigers. These were actually a Rakshasha and a Rakshashi. The king killed one of the tigers which happened to be the Rakshasha. The Rakshashi said she would have her revenge, as her innocent husband had been killed.
The king went to the sage Vashistha and told him about what had happened. He also wanted to know how he would be relieved. Vashistha told the king to perform an Ashwamedha Yagya.
Seeing this, the Rakshashi took the form of Vashishtha and asked to eat meat. Whn the king agreed, the female demon then took the form of the cook and cooked some human meat which was served to Vashishtha.

When the sage was served this, he became furious and cursed the king to become a rakshasha.He said when you see the river Ganga you will be relieved.

So it happened and so was the greatness of Ganga that one day the demon got some droplets of water sprinkled on him, and he went to heaven.

Ganga Sagar

Ganga crried her travels. A rishi's ashrama was on the way. This rishi was Padma. When Ganga touched this ashrama, she became known as Padmavati.
As she had been travelling along with Bhagirath, she became known as Bhagirathi. She also got names like Sapavani, Suravani, Bhairavavahini and SagarGamini.

The gods showered flowers on her.Indra had a dip in her, and the spot became known as Indreshwar. Ganga came close to they spot known as Navadwip. Come close to the ashrama of Kapila, Ganga split herself into hundred tributaries. Her water touched the ashes of Sagara's sons who getting salvation, went heaven wards.

Taking blessings of Ganga, Bhagiratha left for Ayodhya amd Ganga left for the ocean, and the spot became known as GangaSagar. 

Ganga's travel

From Sumeru, Bhagirath went towards Kailasha where Shiva was.From there, Ganga would enter the earth. If Ganga as Alaknanda came on earth, the earth would not be able to withstand the force and would collapse.
Ganga said only Shiva had the power to hold her force.
Leaving Ganga there, Bhagirath went to pray and please Shiva.
Shiva wanted to know why he had come again.
Bhagirath said the earth would not be able to stand the weight of Ganga and needed his help to control her speed.
Shiva and Durga both agreed to help.
Ganga jumped on Shiva's head.
Shiva's head had huge locks of matted hair and Ganga got lost trying to find her way out.
Bhagirath again went back. Mother how do I get you out of this predicament.
Bhagirath prayed to Shiva who parted his locks and Ganga came out of Shiva's locks, in a place called Haridwar.
A branch of Ganga, made a crack in the earth and went under as Bhogawati.
Soon Ganga came and met two other rivers, Yamuna and Saraswati. The spot where Ganga met became known as Triveni.
Ganga and Bhagirath then reached the city of Varanasi.
Once Shiva had kill a brahman. Shiva had the sin of killing a brahman on his head. Ganesh, Kartikeya amd Durga were grieved by this. Shiva said Do not worry. Ganga is on the earth. A dip in the river, and I will be free of the sin.
Riding a bull. Shiva and Durga went to the place where Ganga was flowing then. Using a blade of the Kusha grass, Shiva sprinkled some water on his head.
This area became known as Varanasi.

Progressing, Ganga reached the place the sage Jahnu was meditating. His hut was made of twigs and leaves. Now able to withstand the force, the hut got swept away. The sage was meditating. He was angry and swallowed the entire river.

Going some distance, Bhagirath and looked back. He could not see the river. He saw the sage below a banyan tree. Bowing before him, Bhagirath wanted to know if he had seen Ganga. The sage said he had swallowed the river as she had destroyed his house.

Bhagirath prayed to the sage who was pleased. He said, if he released the river through his mouth she would not be considered pure. He released Ganga from his right thigh. As had resided in Jahnu for sometime, she became known as Jhanavi.

Travelling slight towards north, they came across the ashrama of the rishi Kandara. He was a sinner. From childhood he would mix with prostitutes, of them he liked a particular woman and lived most of his time in her house. One day he was in the forest when a tiger attacked him and killed. The messengers of Yama came to take him away.

The tiger had eaten his flesh, but his skeleton was left on the ground. A crow picked up a bone to fly away with. An eagle spotted the crow and chased it. The bone slipped from the crow's beak and fell in Ganga.

As soon as this happened, messengers of Narayana came took Kandara away from the messengers of Yama. The messengers went to Yama with their complaint. Yama asked the same of Narayana.

Narayana said - this is the greatness of Ganga. 

Alaknanda

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.

Angrijha

Bhagirath was sent to the ashrama of rishi Vashistha for his education. One day Bhagiratha came home disturbed. His friends had told him he had no father. The prince wanted to know from his mothers who his father was. The queens told him about Sagara, his sons and told him he was the son of King Dilipa, born from the grace of Shiva.
Hearing this, the young prince wanted to go to the forests and pray. The queens tried to stop him, but he would not listen.
In the forests, he first prayed to Indra for years. Indra appeared before him and asked him to pray to Shiva, who would be help him.
Bhagirath prayed long and hard and Shiva appeared before him. Shiva asked him to pray to Vishnu and also told him that he would be successful in getting Ganga to earth.
Bhagirath prayed to Vishnu. Finally Vishnu appeared before him. Vishnu asked Bhagirath to take Ganga with him and took him to where Brahma was. Brahma seeing Vishnu coming, washed his holy feet with the water he had stored. As Ganga had been used to wash the feet of Vishnu, she became known as Angrijha. (The closest Sanskrit meaning for the word is probably - That which is used in the lower limbs. As the water had been used on Vishnu's feet, thus the name came by).
Vishnu and Brahma then asked Ganga to go with Bhagiratha down to earth. With the mere touch of Ganga, all sins would be destroyed.

Ganga was sad. She said all will wash their sins became pure, but I would have to bear their sins. How will I become pure? Vishnu said, whenever a Vaishnava would have a dip in the waters, you will get pure. I reside in the Vaishnavas and thereby, a Vaishanav's touch would be my touch, and you will become pure.
(This gives an idea of the great sense of the Vaishnava Cult, that was prevalent then, when Kriitivasa was writing this.)

Giving a Conch Shell to Bhagirath, Vishnu said you go blowing the shell. Ganga will follow you.

Bhagirath

One day, in the heavens, Shiva began singing. So divine was his singing, that Narayana (Vishnu) who was there could not control himself. He became liquefied and this was Narayani Ganga. Brahma collected this in his pot and kept it with him.
Stopping his take Kapila said, if you can get this Ganga to earth, not only your uncles but many others would attain salvation. Kapila also said someone in your dynasty is destined to bring Ganga down to earth.

Bowing to Kapila, Anshuman returned with the horse, back to Ayodhya. He told all that he had heard and seen to Sagara.
Sagara was in deep shock. Then he controlled himself and said my sons were not destined to live long.
Crowning Anshuman king, Sagara went to the forests to pray and please the Gods to get Ganga down to earth.
He could not get Ganga but in the process, Sagara passed away in the forests.

In Ayodhya, Anshuman crowned his son,Dilip, King of Ayodhya and went to the forests to pray for Ganga. His prayers were not were not successful and he too died in the forests.

After sometime, Dilip also went to the forests to pray for Ganga. He was childless and had left his two wives in Ayodhya. He too died in the forests.

Dilip's death was not welcomed by the Gods. In this dynasty, Vishnu would be born to King Dasharatha. If Dilip dies childless, where would Vishnu be born? They asked Shiva to go and help.

Shiva went to Ayodhya. By the blessings of Shiva, one the queens became pregnant. When the queen gave birth, it was not a child but a mass of flesh. They were shocked to see this. In the dead of the night, the queens took this mass of flesh and left it on the banks of River Sarayu.

Early Morning. Ashtavakra rishi was going for his bath in the river. His body was bent in eight places, which is why he was called Ashtavakra. He accidentally stepped on the mass of flesh. He looked at that and said if this is someone who is playing a practical joke on me, may you be burnt immediately. If you are a deformed child, then may you get a body and structure like that of Vishnu.

The mass imeediately transformed itself into a handsome young boy. The queens had been watching this. Seeing the boy rise, they came and embraced him. They bowed down before Ashtavakra and after taking his blessings took the boy back home with them. He was named Bhagirath.