Ganga (goddess)

2022-01-27T12:49:55Z

202.191.104.90:

{{short description|Personification of the river Ganga as a deity in Hinduism}}
{{redirect|Ganga Devi|the Indian painter|Ganga Devi (painter)|the Indian politician|Ganga Devi (politician)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Ganga Kalighat 1875.jpg
| caption = 19th century Kalighat painting of goddess Ganga
| name = Ganga
| affiliation = {{hlist|[[Adi Parashakti]]|[[Devi]]|[[River deities in Hinduism|River goddess]]|[[Yogini]]}}
| mantra = Om Shri Gangayai Namaha
| siblings = [[Parvati]] {{small|(younger sister in some texts)}}
| consort = [[Shantanu]] {{small|(according to the ''Mahabharata'')}} or [[Shiva]] {{small|(according to some traditions)}}
| children = [[Bhishma]]
| festivals = {{bulleted list|[[Ganga Dussehra]]|Ganga Jayanti|[[Loy Krathong]]}}
| weapon = [[Kalasha]]
| mount = [[Makara (Hindu mythology)|Makara]]
| other_names = {{hlist|[[Bhagirathi River|Bhagirathi]]|Jahnavi|Nikita|Mandakini|[[Alaknanda River|Alaknanda]]}}
| deity_of = Personfication of the [[Ganges River]] <br> Goddess of Forgiveness and Purification
| parents = {{bulleted list|[[Himavan]] (father)|Maināvati (mother)}} {{small|(parents in some texts)}}
}}

'''Ganga''' ({{lang-sa|गङ्गा or गंगा|Gaṅgā}}) is the personification of the river [[Ganges]] who is worshipped by [[Hindu]]s as the goddess of purification and forgiveness. Known by many names, Ganga is often depicted as a beautiful fair woman, riding a divine creature called [[Makara]]. Some of the earliest mentions of Ganga are found in the [[Rigveda]], where she is mentioned as the holiest of the rivers. Her stories mainly appear in post-Vedic texts such as ''[[Ramayana]]'', ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the ''[[Puranas]]''.

The Ramayana describes her to be the firstborn of [[Himavat]], the personification of the [[Himalayas]], and the sister of the mother goddess [[Parvati]]. However, other texts mention her origin from the preserver god [[Vishnu]]. Legends focus on her descent to Earth, which happened because of a royal-sage [[Bhagiratha]], aided by the god [[Shiva]]. In the epic [[Mahabharata]], Ganga is the mother of the warrior [[Bhishma]] from the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] king [[Shantanu]].

In Hinduism, Ganga is seen as a mother to humanity. Pilgrims immerse the [[Antyesti|ashes of their kin]] in the river [[Ganges|Ganga]], which is considered by them to bring the Souls (purified spirits) closer to [[moksha]], the liberation from the cycle of life and death. Festivals like [[Ganga Dussehra]] and Ganga Jayanti are celebrated in her honour at several sacred places, which lie along the banks of the Ganges, including [[Gangotri]], [[Haridwar]], [[Allahabad]], [[Varanasi]] and [[Kalighat Kali Temple|Kali Ghat]] in [[Kolkata]]. Alongside [[Gautama Buddha]], Ganga is worshipped during the [[Loy Krathong]] festival in [[Thailand]].

==Vedic scriptures==

Ganga is mentioned in the ''[[Rigveda]]'', the earliest and theoretically the holiest of the Hindu scriptures. Ganga is mentioned in the nadistuti (Rigveda 10.75), which lists the rivers from east to west. In RV 6.45.31, the word ''Ganga'' is also mentioned, but it is not clear if the reference is to the river. RVRV 3.58.6 says that "your ancient home, your auspicious friendship, O Heroes, your wealth is on the banks of the Jahanvi". This verse could refer to the Ganga. In RV 1.116.18–19, the Jahanvi and the [[South Asian river dolphin|Ganga River Dolphin]] occur in two adjacent verses.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Talageri|first=Shrikant G.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dpkoAAAAYAAJ&q=Ganges|title=The Rigveda: A Historical Analysis|date=2000|publisher=Aditya Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7742-010-4|language=en}}</ref>

==Iconography==
[[File:17th to 18th-century goddess Ganga sculpture, Musée Rodin, Paris.jpg|thumb|upright|A statue of Ganga, 17th - 18th century CE]]
Ganga is described as the melodious, the fortunate, the cow that gives much milk, the eternally pure, the delightful, the body that is full of fish, affords delight to the eye and leaps over mountains in sport, the bedding that bestows water and happiness, and the friend or benefactor of all that lives.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kumari|first=M. Krishna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U95LswEACAAJ&q=iconography+of+Ganga|title=Iconography of Gaṅgā and Yamunā|date=2018|publisher=B.R. Publishing Corporation|isbn=978-93-86223-70-8|language=en}}</ref>

Since time immemorial, the Ganga River has been considered the holiest of all rivers by [[Hindus]]. Ganga is also personified as a goddess and worshipped as Goddess Ganga. She holds an important place in the [[Hindu deities|Hindu pantheon]]. Ganga is represented as a fair-complexioned woman, wearing a white crown and sitting on a crocodile. She holds a water lily in her right hand and a flute in her left. When shown with four hands she carries a water-pot, a lily, a rosary, and has one hand in a protective mode. The ''[[Rig Veda]]'' mentions Ganga but more of her is said in the [[Puranas]].

Ganga is depicted four-armed and mounted on a crocodile or enthroned surrounded by crocodiles. In one of the iconography in Maha Virat-rupa, she holds a jar of [[amrita]], rosary, [[Lotus flower|lotus]] or [[shivalinga]] and varada mudra. She may be depicted in other ways holding only a [[Kalasha|kalash]] (or 2 replacing lotus) and lotus, while other 2 hands in [[varada]] and [[Abhayamudra|abhaya mudra]]. Another one shows her holding [[kalasha]], [[Trident]], [[shivalinga]] and [[Varadamudra|varada mudra]].

Another depiction popular especially in [[Bengal]] shows her holding [[shankha]], [[chakra]] ([[discus]]), [[lotus flower|lotus]] and [[Abhayamudra|abhaya mudra]], with [[Kalasha|Kalash]] releasing her holy water.

===Crocodile or Makra as her vahana===
In [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]], Ganga is often depicted with her divine vehicle, the [[Makara]] – an animal with the head of a crocodile and tail of a dolphin. The crocodile has meaningful symbolism. The crocodile represents our reptilian brain telling us that we use our intellect to outgrow fear in facing problems. The Goddess not only faces her fear, but she uses it as a vehicle to move her forward on her path to greater growth, strength, and beauty. Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth. This [[vahana]] is symbolic of outgrowing and fracturing self-concepts, behaviours, situations to move closer to her highest form and the highest truth. It is like shaking things up to remove the pieces that no longer serve a higher purpose and integrating new things that do.

Through her vahana, Ganga indicates an attribute to take a problem by the horns, as the crocodile plucks the prey from the banks of the river, takes the prey-problem deep in the water-flowing life, spins it until the prey-problem is disoriented- sees a solution. Crocodile eggs are indicative of human destiny. The reptile takes considerable time to build nests on the river banks in which to lay their eggs. Then again they leave, seemingly without concern of their effort and the impatience to see babies being born. This is what Divine does for you. Your birth may be your karma but there you are left to swim the river of life and face trials and tribulations which come as uncertainties.

==Legends==
===Birth===
The ''[[Ramayana]]'' and several other texts narrate that [[Brahma]] created [[Himavat|Himavan]]. He later became the king of [[Himalayas]] and married Menavati, daughter of [[Mount Meru|Meru]]. After several years, a daughter was born and they named her Ganga. After some years, another daughter named [[Parvati]] was born, who was an incarnation of the mother goddess [[Adi Shakti|Shakti]]. When Ganga grew up, the [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]] took her heaven and she took a form of a river and flowed there.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=V?lm?ki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkSzznK3VuEC&q=himavan+and+ganga&pg=PA20|title=The Concise R_m_ya_a of V_lm_ki|last2=Venkatesananda|first2=Swami|date=1988-01-01|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-88706-862-1|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sivkishen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmVZBgAAQBAJ&q=himavan+and+ganga&pg=PT465|title=Kingdom of Shiva|date=2015-01-23|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-288-3028-0|language=en}}</ref>

[[Bhagavata Purana]] depicts another birth story of the Ganga. According to the text, [[Vishnu]] in one of his incarnations appeared as [[Vamana|Vaman]] in the sacrificial arena of [[Asura|Asur]] King [[Mahabali]]. Then to measure the universe, he extended his left foot to the end of the universe and pierced a hole in its covering with the nail of his big toe. Through the hole, the pure water of the Causal Ocean (Divine Brahm-Water) entered this universe as the Ganges River. Having washed the lotus feet of the lord, which are covered with reddish saffron, the water of the Ganga acquired a very beautiful pink colour. Because the Ganges directly touches the lotus feet of Lord [[Vishnu]] ([[Narayana]]) before descending within this universe, it is known as ''Bhagavat-Padi'' or ''Vishnupadi'' which means ''Emanating from the lotus feet of Bhagavan (God)''. It finally settles in [[Brahmaloka]] or [[Brahmapura]], the abode of the lord [[Brahma]] before descending to the planet [[Earth]] at the request of [[Bhagiratha]] and held safely by lord [[Shiva]] on his head to prevent the destruction of [[Bhumi Devi]] (Mother Earth). Then, Ganga was released from [[Shiva|lord Shiva]]'s hair to meet the needs of the country according to [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc241588.html|title = Story of Gaṅgā|date = 28 January 2019}}</ref>

===Descent to Earth===
[[File: Ravi Varma-Descent of Ganga.jpg|thumb|upright|''Descent of Ganga'', painting by [[Raja Ravi Varma]] c. 1910]]

The ''[[Mahabharata]]'' narrates that there was war between Devas and [[Asura]]s, in which the Devas were becoming victorious. The Asuras hid in the sea and the gods were unable to find them. They requested sage [[Agastya]] to help and the sage, using his divine powers, drank up the ocean. The devas defeated the remaining demons and asked Agastya to restore the water. The sage replied that he has digested the water and can't restore it. The world was worried but Lord [[Vishnu]] assured that the ocean will be filled soon.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Warrier|first=Shrikala|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qNhiCAAAQBAJ&q=Ganga|title=Kamandalu: The Seven Sacred Rivers of Hinduism|date=December 2014|publisher=MAYUR University|isbn=978-0-9535679-7-3|pages=42|language=en}}</ref>

Several years later, a king named Sagara magically acquired sixty thousand sons. One day, [[Sagara (Vedic king)|King Sagara]] performed a ritual of worship for the good of the kingdom. One of the integral parts of the ritual was a horse, which was stolen by the jealous [[Indra]]. Sagara sent all his sons all over the earth to search for the horse. They found it in the nether-world (or [[Underworld]]) next to a meditating sage [[Kapil]] tied by Lord Indra (the king of Swarg). Believing that the sage had stolen the horse, they hurled insults at him and caused his penance to be disturbed. The sage opened his eyes for the first time in several years and looked at the sons of Sagara. With this glance, all sixty thousand were burnt to death.

The souls of the sons of Sagara wandered as ghosts since their final rites had not been performed. For the moksha of all the sons of Sagar, Anshuman (nephew of those 60,000 sons) started to pray Brahma to bring Ganga to the Earth till the end of his life but was not successful. Then his son Dilip did the same but did not succeed. When [[Bhagiratha]] (Means, one who does great [[hard work]]- he got his name from his great hard work for bringing Ganga to Earth), one of the descendants of Sagara, son of Dilip, learned of this fate, he vowed to bring Ganga down to Earth so that her waters could cleanse their souls and release them to heaven.

Bhagiratha prayed to Brahma that Ganga comes down to Earth. Brahma agreed and he ordered Ganga to go down to the Earth and then on to the nether regions so that the souls of Bhagiratha's ancestors would be able to go to heaven. Ganga felt that this was insulting and decided to sweep the whole Earth away as she fell from the heavens. Alarmed, Bhagiratha prayed to [[Shiva]] that he break up Ganga's descent.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Seshadri|first=Lakshmi|title=Ganga|date=April 1971|publisher=Amar Chitra Katha private limited|isbn=81-89999-36-2|editor-last=Pai|editor-first=Anant}}</ref>

Ganga arrogantly fell on Shiva's head. But Shiva calmly trapped her in his hair and let her out in small streams. The touch of Shiva further sanctified Ganga. As Ganga travelled to the nether-worlds, she created a different stream to remain on Earth to help purify unfortunate souls there. She is the only river to follow from all the three worlds – [[Swarga]] (heaven), [[Prithvi]] (Earth) and [[Patala]] (netherworld or hell). This is called ''Tripathagā''(one who travels the three worlds) in [[Sanskrit]] language.

Because of Bhagiratha's efforts, Ganga descended to Earth and hence the river is also known as Bhagirathi and the term ''Bhagirath prayatna'' is used to describe valiant efforts or difficult achievements.

Another name that Ganga is known by is Jahanvi, story has it that once Ganga came down to Earth, on her way to Bhagiratha, her rushing waters created turbulence and destroyed the fields and the [[sadhana]] of a sage called [[Rishi Jahnu|Jahnu]]. He was angered by this and drank up all of Ganga's waters. Upon this, the Gods prayed to Jahnu to release Ganga so that she could proceed with her mission. Pleased with their prayers, Jahnu released Ganga (her waters) from his ears. Hence the name ''Jahanvi'' (daughter of Jahnu) for Ganga.

It is sometimes believed that the river will finally dry up at the end of [[Kali Yuga]], the last of the four stages the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas (the era of darkness, the current era) just as with the [[Sarasvati river]] and this era will end. Next in (cyclic) order will be the [[Satya Yuga]] or the era of Truth.

===Marriage and children===
In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', she is the wife of [[Shantanu]], and the mother of heroic warrior-patriarch, [[Bhishma]].<ref name="eck1998-p149"/> She is known to be cursed by Lord [[Brahma]] to be born on Earth along with Mahabhisha, who was born as [[Shantanu]]. Once, Shantanu met a beautiful woman on the banks of the Ganges. Shantanu fell in love with her and asked her to marry him. She accepted the proposal on the condition that Shantanu won't ask any questions from her. Shantanu agreed and they married. They lived together peacefully and 8 sons were born to them. The lady did a strange thing, she drowned 7 of her sons. Shantanu was shocked and stopped her from drowning the last son, who was [[Bhishma|Devavrata]]. He then asks her who she was and why did she drown her own children. The lady replied that their sons were incarnations of [[Vasus]], who were cursed to be a miserable life. The Vasus had requested her to end their life when they incarnated on Earth. She then revealed her identity, promised to return their son when he becomes a capable ruler, and vanished. Later, she trained Devavrata and returned him to Shantanu. When Bhishma is mortally wounded in battle, Ganga comes out of the water in human form and weeps uncontrollably over his body. Bhishma brought about his own downfall by abducting and disgracing a princess named Amba whose only wish was to be married.<ref name="eck1998-p149"/>

Some traditions associate Bhagirathi with Shiva rather than Shantanu. Ganga is sometimes connected with Vishnu too. According to one text, Ganga was originally a wife of Vishnu. When she had constant scuffles with her co-wives, Vishnu gave Ganga to Shiva.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&q=Ganga+shiva|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align = centre
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 800
| header =
| image1 = Santanu and Ganga.JPG
| alt1 =
| caption1 = Shantanu meets Ganga and asks for her hand in marriage.
| image2 = Raja Ravi Varma - Ganga and Shantanu.jpg
| alt2 =
| caption2 = Shantanu trying to stop Ganga from drowning their eighth child.
| image3 = The_scene_from_the_Mahabharata_of_the_presentation_by_Ganga_of_her_son_Devavrata_(the_future_Bhisma)_to_his_father,_Santanu..jpg
| alt3 =
| caption3 = Ganga presenting her son Devavrata (the future Bhisma) to his father, Santanu.
| image4 = Krishna, Vyasa console Ganga following Bhishma's death.jpg
| alt4 =
| caption4 = Krishna and Vyasa console Ganga grieving over her son Bhishma's death.
}}

== Significance ==
The Ganga is also the mother, the ''Ganga Mata'' (''Mata''="mother") of Hindu worship and culture, accepting all and forgiving all.<ref name="eck1982-p218">Quoted in {{Harvnb|Eck|1982|p=218}}</ref> Unlike other goddesses, she has no destructive or fearsome aspect, destructive though she might be as a river in nature.<ref name="eck1982-p218"/> She is also a mother to other gods.<ref name="eck1998-p149">{{Harvnb|Eck|1998|p=149}}</ref>

The Ganga is the distilled lifeblood of the Hindu tradition, of its divinities, holy books, and enlightenment.<ref name="eck1982-p219">{{Harvnb|Eck|1982|p=219}}</ref> As such, her worship does not require the usual rites of invocation (''avahana'') at the beginning and dismissal (''visarjana'') at the end, required in the worship of other gods.<ref name="eck1982-p219"/> Her divinity is immediate and everlasting, but only for as long as the river survives.<ref name="eck1982-p219"/>

==Festivals==
[[File:Ganga Dashara, at Haridwar.jpg|thumb|Pilgrims at Haridwar on the occasion of [[Ganga Dussehra]].]]

===Ganga Jayanti===
On this day Ganga was reborn. Legend says that she accidentally destroyed the hut of a sage during her descent to Earth, as a result of which, the sage drank the entirety of the river's water. At the request of Bhagirathi and Ganga herself, he released the river from his ear and she earned the name Jahanvi. Ganga Jayanthi falls on Saptami of [[Vaisakha|Vaishakh]] month's [[Paksha|shukla paksha]].

===Navratri===
Ganga Maa is worshipped during [[Navaratri|Navratri]] as all the forms of Maa Adishakti are worshipped in those days.

===[[Loi Krathong]]===
Thais use the Krathong to thank the Goddess of Water, the [[Devi|Hindu Goddess]] Ganga, Phra Mae Khongkha ({{lang-th|พระแม่คงคา}}).

== Beyond the Indian subcontinent and Hinduism ==
{{Infobox
| title = Beyond the Indian subcontinent and Hinduism
| image =
{{image array|perrow=2|width=125|height=115
| image1 = A_Devi_sculpture_in_Sri_Lanka_Goddess_Ganga.jpg| caption1 = Goddess Ganga, [[Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara]] .
| image2 = Tara_at_Mul_Chowk_02.jpg| caption2 = Goddess Ganga, [[Patan Durbar Square]].
| image3 = Angkor-Thommanon-08-2007-gje.jpg | caption3 = Goddess Ganga come to hair head of [[Shiva]], Lintel in [[Thommanon]].
| image4 = ICThommanon05.jpg | caption4 = Goddess Ganga come to Earth, Lintel in Thommanon.
}}
|caption = Beyond the Indian subcontinent and Hinduism of Goddess Ganga.
}}

Ganga is respected in [[Nepal]] as a guardian water goddess, worshipped together with another river goddess [[the Yamuna in Hinduism|Yamuna]]. Her sculptures are found in [[Patan Durbar Square]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-statue-river-goddess-ganga-royal-palace-patan-kath-ancient-famous-standing-makara-mul-chowk-kathmandu-valley-image89398650|title = Statue of the River Goddess Ganga in Royal Palace in Patan, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Stock Photo - Image of Nepalese, Asian: 89398650}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/nepal-patan-ganga-statue.html|title=Nepal Patan Ganga Statue High Resolution Stock Photography and Images - Alamy}}</ref> and [[Gokarneshwar|Gokarneshwar Mahadev temple]] is a municipality in [[Kathmandu District]] in the [[Bagmati Province]].<ref>http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/Nepal%20-%20Kathmandu/Gokarna%20Mahadev%20Temple/slides/53%20Kathmandu%20Gokarna%20Mahadev%20Temple%20Ganga%20Statue.html</ref>

In [[Sri Lanka]], Ganga with other Hindu deities assumes a Buddhist persona. Her sculpture is seen in [[Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.photodharma.net/Sri-Lanka/Kelaniya/Kelaniya.htm|title = Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mahavidya.ca/2008/06/22/ganga-goddess-and-sacred-river/the-goddess-ganga-bas-relief-depicting-the-goddess-ganga-atop-her-crocodile-makara-mount-at-kelaniya-temple-sri-lanka/|title = The Goddess Ganga (Bas-relief depicting the goddess Ganga atop her crocodile (Makara) mount at Kelaniya Temple, Sri Lanka) | Mahavidya}}</ref>

In [[Balinese Hinduism]], she is worshiped together with [[Dewi Danu|goddess Danu]]. Her waters are considered holy in [[Bali]]. Her maternal association with Bhishma is known in Bali. Religious sites associated with her in Bali are [[Tirta Gangga]], Pura Taman Mumbul Sangeh, [[:id: Kongco Pura Taman Gandasari|Kongco Pura Taman Gandasari]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wanderersandwarriors.com/tirta-gangga-water-palace-bali/|title = Tirta Gangga Water Palace - A Complete Guide to Visiting|date = 13 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bali.tribunnews.com/2018/03/09/taman-mumbul-dengan-panglukatan-pancoran-solas-di-sangeh-simbol-dewata-nawasanga|title = Taman Mumbul dengan Panglukatan Pancoran Solas di Sangeh, Simbol Dewata Nawasanga}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tradisitridharma.blogspot.com/2015/01/kelenteng-kwan-kung-miau-denpasar-bali.html|title = SERBA SERBI TRIDHARMA: Kelenteng Kwan Kung Miau - Denpasar, Bali|date = 4 January 2015}}</ref>

[[Ganga Talao]] in Mauritius is considered by the [[Hinduism in Mauritius|Mauritian Hindus]] equivalent to Ganga. In 1972, the then [[Prime Minister of Mauritius]], [[Seewoosagur Ramgoolam|Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam]] brought Holy water from the Ganga's source - [[Gomukh]] in India and mixed it with the water of the [[Ganga Talao|Grand Bassin]] and renamed it as Ganga Talao.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.defimedia.info/how-lake-became-sacred-ganga-talao|title=How a lake became the sacred Ganga Talao|access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref>

Ganga is invoked with Hindu deities Shiva, [[Bhūmi|Bhumi]], [[Surya]] and [[Chandra]] in [[Thailand]]'s royal [[Triyampawai ceremony]]. She is worshipped together with goddess [[Phra Mae Thorani]] within [[Buddhism in Thailand|Thai Bushhism]] and goddess [[Phosop]] in [[Tai folk religion]]. [[:th:สระศักดิ์สิทธิ์ทั้งสี่|The four sacred pools]] of [[Suphan Buri Province]] have waters from the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers and are in use for rituals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srichinda.com/index.php?lite=article&qid=181442|title = พระราชพิธีตรียัมปวาย-ตรีปวาย}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pioneer.netserv.chula.ac.th/~cvipada/land_06.html|title = อุทยานศาสนาพระโพธิสัตว์กวนอิม}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.silpa-mag.com/on-view/tour-tod-nong-tong-tiew/article_28733|title = "พันปีไม่เคยแห้ง" น้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ของพญานาค จากสระทั้งสี่ ที่เมืองสุพรรณบุรี|date = 4 March 2019}}</ref>

Ganga has been revered in [[Cambodia]] since the [[Khmer empire]]. In Shiva's iconographical form ''Uma-Gangapatisvarar'', Shiva is depicted with Ganga and his wife Uma ([[Parvati]]). Ganga's images are located in [[Bakong]], [[Lintel]] in [[Thommanon]] and exhibit in [[International Council of Museums]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://users.clas.ufl.edu/vasu/cambodia/hariharalaya/shiva.jpg|title = Vasudha Narayanan | Department of Religion}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://icom.museum/en/object/shiva-with-uma-and-ganga-sandstone-101-x-53-x-13-cm/|title = Shiva with Uma and Ganga, sandstone, 101 x 53 x 13 cm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yoonsy.wordpress.com/2015/05/|title = May 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Bhishma]]
*[[Shantanu]]
*[[Shiva]]
*[[Ganesha]]
*[[Yami]]/[[Yamuna]]
*[[Narmada#Significance in Hinduism|Narmada]]
*[[Gangaputra Brahmin]] – a Hindu community who officiate at religious ceremonies along the river

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{citation|last=Eck|first=Diana L.|author-link=Diana Eck|title=Banaras, city of light|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J57C4d8Bv6UC|year=1982|publisher=Columbia University| isbn=978-0231114479}}
* {{Citation|last=Eck|first=Diana| author-link=Diana Eck| chapter= Gangā: The Goddess Ganges in Hindu Sacred Geography|pages=137–53|editor1-last=Hawley|editor1-first=John Stratton|editor2-last=Wulff|editor2-first=Donna Marie|title=Devī: Goddesses of India|year=1998|publisher=University of California / Motilal Banarasidass| isbn=8120814916}}
* Vijay Singh: ''The River Goddess'' (Moonlight Publishing, London, 1994)

==External links==

{{commons category|Ganga}}
{{Wikiquote}}

*[http://www.sanatansociety.org/indian_epics_and_stories/the_life_of_ganga.htm The Life Of Ganga]
*[https://vimeo.com/ondemand/gangama Ganga Ma: A Pilgrimage to the Source] a documentary that follows the Ganges from the mouth to its source in the Himalayas.
{{Hindu Culture and Epics}}
{{Hindudharma}}
{{Mahabharata}}
{{Ramayana}}
{{Burmese nats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category: Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category: Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category: Sea and river goddesses]]
[[Category: Rigvedic rivers]]
[[Category: Hindu pilgrimage sites]]
[[Category: Ganges]]
[[Category: Water and Hinduism]]
[[Category: Personifications of rivers]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Ganga (goddess)