Ganga

Indian mythology · deity · the sacred river, purification

The river Ganges as a goddess, brought down from heaven by King Bhagiratha's penance, her fall broken by Shiva's matted hair. Mother of Bhishma, and purifier of the living and the dead.

Stories

The Birth of Kartikeya

Only a son of Shiva can kill the demon Taraka, and Shiva has been in meditation since Kamadeva burned for interrupting him. Parvati's austerity finally wins the god; the child's unbearable seed passes through Agni and Ganga to be born as six-faced Kartikeya, who takes command of heaven's armies and ends Taraka.