Dilip and Bhagheerath
Once Sagar died the people crownedAnsumaan.His son is Dilip. Amsumaan handed over the reign to his son and went to a Holy Place in Himalayas and did penance for 32,000 years trying to get Ganga from Heaven in vain and finally died and reached Heaven.
Dilp hearing the fate of his grand parents was wondering how do get Ganga? How do I offer libations for my forefather’s with that water.What is best approach for their Salvation?” He thought so many ways and did not conclude to a single decision. Since he was immersed only in this thought he got a son and named him Bhageertha .Dilip did countless Yaga and yagnya and ruled for 30,000 years and crowned Bhageertha and was constantly worried and finally died and reached Heaven due to good deeds he had done in his Life.
Bhageeratha did not have any son for Long time and was in sorrow.He decided to somehow get Ganga to earth and submitted the Country into his minsters hands and did penance in a place called Gokarna. He did Penance with Fires on all 4 Sides with Son beating down from the Top with his hands raised upwards.He had called his senses and his mind and did peance and took small quantity of food once a month.He spent 1000’s of years doing penance.Seeing his Persevearnace God Brahma was happy and came alongwith Devas(Celestials) “ Hey Great Soul BhagheerthaIam happy with your Penance. Please ask Boon you want.” That Bhageertha who has become Raja Rishi( titled earned by immense Penance done by a King) bowed Brahma and said “ Hey God, by your becoming happy if it is going to help me achieve my Goal, then the Ganga water by which I should be able drench all of Sagar’s sons and they should attain Salvation. Further I a king of Ikshvaku Dynasty be blessed by a son , please Bless me accordingly “ said Diliptp Brahma.
Brahma replied “ hey Star of Ikshvaku Dynasty,Your thoughts will fulfill. Himavan’s 1stDaughter is living in that Hill. If She comes to Earth the only person who can withstand her Force is Paramasiva.So for that you have to pray to him or else the earth will be broken because of Ganga’s force of entry.” Then Brahma called Ganga and said “ When appropriate time comes please do fufillBhageeratha’s wishes” thus ordering he left for his abode. (Slokas 25)
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