Indian Antiquary Vol 50

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 15

JAN., 1921)
THE EARLY COURSE OF THE GANGES
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stream of the river is considered to be the Alakånand& which rises at Badarikâs rama near the temple of Badrinatha. 14 According to the Brahmavaivartta Purdna, 15 however, the Man. dAkini which rises at Kedaranátha near the temple of Kedåranåt ha, is the main headwater of the Ganges. The Mandåkint has also been described as Svarga-Ganga or the Ganges of heaven in the Amarakosha 16 In the Mahabharata, 17 it is called Âkasa-Ganga or the Ganges of the sky. Its other name is KAB-Gangå. In fact, one stream does not form the Ganges : several streams combine to form the river, and though their sources are different, yet they are all situated in the mountains of Garwal. But the principal sources at Gangotri is described by Mr. Fraser in his Journal of a Tour through the Himald Mountains 18 as being not more than five miles horizontal distance from the temple, and in a direction 85 nearly, and is situated in the loftiest and greatest mountain of the snowy range in this quarter known by the name of Rudra Himalaya which“ is held to be the throne or residence of Mahâdeo himself." It is also called Pancha Parvata, from its five peaks called Rudra Himalaya, Brahmapuri, Bishnupuri, Udagari-kantha and Svargamohini. “These form a sort of semi-circular hollow of very considerable extent, filled with eternal snow from the gradual dissolution of the lower parts of which, the principal part of the stream is generated : probably there may be smaller hollows beyond the point to the right above Gungotree, which also supply a portion."
The Bhagirathi after issuing from Gangotri is joined at Bhairavaghati by the Jahnavi which also rises in the Garwal mountains. 18 The Ramdyana10 relates that shortly after her descent, she flooded the hermitage of Jahnu Muni who in a rage swallowed her up, but let her out again, and thus she acquired the name of JAhnavi.20 Subsequently, she was joined by the AlakinandA at Deva-Prayaga, which is as famous for its sanctity as Gangotri. From Deye-Prayaga, the united stream, in its onward course towards the south, takes the name of Ganga or the Ganges, which pierces the Himalaya mountain and enters the plain at Gauc dvara, 21 now generally known as Haridvåra. The Alakananda, which is considered by some as the main stream of the Ganges, has been traced by Captain Raper to its souro at Varshadhârî, which is a waterfall situated a little beyond Badrinath. It is itself formed by the union of five rivers Mandakini, Vishungaiga (Dhauli), Sarasvatia and others, and their junctions are considered as sacred spots, collectively called Paficha-Prayagas, viz. Rudra-Prayaga, Nanda-Prayaga, Vishņu-Prayaga, Deva-Prayaga and Karga-Prayaga. All these rivers, which go to swell the volume of waters of the Ganges, have their
sources in the Garwal mountain. The wild and majestic grandeur Names of the Garwal of this region has fired the imagination of the pious Hindu to crowd Mountain.
it with events and deeds of the gods and goddesses. At Gouri Kunda, which is one day's journey from Kedåranátha,23 Gouri performed asceticism to obtain Mahadeva for her husband;24 at Agnisatyapada, os called also Krišanu, 26 she was married ; at Reta
1 Asiatic Researches, vol. XI ; Captain Raper's Survey of the Ganges.
15 Brahmavaivartta P., Krishna Janma kh., ch. 34 Pradhanadhari yå svargo Bd Mandakini smrita (The principal stream which is in heaven is called MandAkini.) See Fraser's Himdiu Mountains, p. 381. 16 Amarakosha, Svarga Varga, v. 44.
17 Mahabharata, Vana Parva, ch. 127. 18 Fraser's Himdla Mountains, pp. 470, 471.
19 Ramdyana, Adi, ch. 43. 80 Fraser's Hinda Mountains, p. 476.
31 Mahdbhdrata, Vana, ch. 91. * Agni P., ch. 109, v. 17; Gouri Prasad Misra's Keddrandtha Badari-Biedla Yatrid, p. 7. 33 Fraser's Himdia Mountains, p. 381. * Gouri Prasad Mitra's Kediranitha Badari-Bidila Yatre, p. 6. 25 Variha P., ch. 141.
30 Kedåranátha, Badari-Bibila Yatra p. o.