Ganga
The River Goddess
The holy river Ganga in goddess form. She flowed from the heavens to earth through Shiva's hair, and later became the mother of the great hero Bhishma.
- Sanskrit/Telugu name: గంగా దేవి
- Also known as: Ganga Devi, Bhagirathi, Jahnavi
- Vehicle (vahana): Makara (మకరం)
- Symbols: Flowing water, Kalasham (water pot)
Story
Ganga Devi once flowed only in the heavens, too powerful and proud to touch the earth. Then came a prince named Bhagiratha, whose ancestors' ashes could reach peace only if the holy river washed over them. Bhagiratha did tapas for years and years - first to convince Ganga to come down, then to convince Shiva to catch her, because if she crashed down at full force she would shatter the earth! Shiva caught the roaring river in his thick matted hair, tamed her wild rush, and let her out in gentle streams. That is why Shiva's murti always shows a tiny Ganga in his hair, and why hard work that never gives up is still called "Bhagiratha prayatnam" in Telugu. Ages later, Ganga took human form and married King Shantanu of Hastinapura, and their son grew up to be Bhishma, the grandsire of the Mahabharata. When Telugu families do puja, the priest invites Ganga into the kalasham water - so in a way, she visits every home.
Fun fact
When a priest sprinkles kalasham water at a puja, the mantras invite Ganga herself into the pot - meaning the holy river "attends" pujas in living rooms all over the world.