THE DESCENT OF THE GANGES
To-day the Ganges rises beyond the Himalaya Mountains and flowing through the northern plains of India finds an outlet at last for her mighty waters in the Bay of Bengal. There was, however, a time when the Ganges did not flow upon the earth at all but was the River of Heaven and issued from the foot of the great god Vishnu.
Many years after Garuda had won the ambrosia jar for the snake people and Aruna had become the charioteer of the Sun, Queen Vinata gave birth to a daughter. Her name was Sumati and when she grew up, Queen Vinata married her to King Sagar of Ayodhya. Now Sagar had an elder wife called Keshini and she had no children. King Sagar hoped by a second marriage to obtain a son, but after some years it seemed as if Sumati would remain as barren as Keshini before her. At last King Sagar in despair went with his two queens to the Himalayas and there performed many sacrifices and went through great penances in honour of the sage Vrigu. At last the heart of the famous anchorite was touched. "King Sagar," he said, "for many years past you and your two queens have done me great honour, and if you so wish it, I am ready to confer a boon upon each of them. "Holy Sage," replied the grateful Prince, "I pray you ask my two queens what boons they desire." Vrigu turned to Keshini and Sumati, "Fair Queens," he said, "tell me what boons you wish for." Both the queens answered, "Holy sir, we want sons."
"I give you two boons," said Vrigu. "One of you shall have a son who shall live to perpetuate your husband's line. The other shall have sixty thousand sons, none of whom shall have any issue."
