Who Bought River Ganga to Earth

During Vamana avatar, Lord Vishnu has taken land from Bali with a wish of conquering as much as land his three steps. During the second step when he put on Brahma Loka lord Brahma wanted to cleanse the foot with water. That water flowed in four directions, water flown towards the south was entangled in Lord Shiva hair and this river is called as Ganga.

Lord Shiva was fond of Ganga than Goddess Parvati. During that time there was a drought on earth for fourteen years. There was only one place which was not affected was sage Goutama hermitage. All people in surrounding places came to the sage hermitage for shelter. Lord Ganesh was unable to see his mother penance and decided to make a solution by bringing down Ganga to earth.



He decided to go to sage Goutama hermitage in disguise manner and became friendly with other people. He requested Jaya who is one of goddess Parvati companion to adopt the form of a cow and pretend to be dead. Once this cow went to the farm of sage and started eating away all the grains. Goutama stuck the cow with the blade of grass and cow pretended to death.

With this instinct, Lord Ganesh with his followers came and pretended to leave hermitage where such a sin has been committed. When Gautama urged not to leave and show me the way to my penance, Lord Ganesh said bring Ganga to earth and once it touches the cow, you will be free from “Gohatya” sin. With the penance of Gowtama tapasya, Lord Shiva was pleased and granted the boon to release Ganga to earth.

When anyone asks for who bought river Ganga to earth we have to say part of the water was bought by Bhagiratha. The remaining water was bought by Sage Gautama.