CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The Descent of the River Ganges

The Seventeenth Chapter describes the origin of the Ganges River and
how it flows in and around Ilavrta-varsa. There is also a description of
the prayers Lord Siva offers to Lord Sankarsana, part of the quadruple
expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Visnu once ap-
proached Bali Maharaja while the King was performing a sacrifice. The
Lord appeared before him as Trivikrama, or Vamana, and begged alms
from the King in the form of three steps of land. With two steps, Lord
Vamana covered all three planetary systems and pierced the covering of
the universe with the toes of His left foot. A few drops of water from the
Causal Ocean leaked through this hole and fell on the head of Lord Siva,
where they remained for one thousand millenniums. These drops of
water are the sacred Ganges River. It first flows onto the heavenly
planets, which are located on the soles of Lord Visnu’s feet. The Ganges
River is known by many names, such as the Bhagirathi and the Jahnavi.
It purifies Dhruvaloka and the planets of the seven sages because both
Dhruva and the sages have no other desire than to serve the Lord's lotus
feet.

The Ganges River, emanating from the lotus feet of the Lord, inun-
dates the heavenly planets, especially the moon, and then flows through
Brahmapuri atop Mount Meru. Here the river divides into four branches
(known as Sita, Alakananda, Caksu and Bhadra). which then flow down
to the ocean of salt water. The branch known as Sita flows through
Sekhara-parvata and Gandhamadana-parvata and then flows down to
Bhadraéva-varsa, where it mixes with the ocean of salt water in the West.
The Caksu branch flows through Malyavan-giri and, after reaching
Ketumala-varsa, mixes with the ocean of salt water in the West. The
branch known as Bhadra flows onto Mount Meru, Mount Kumuda. and
the Nila, Sveta and Srigavan mountains before it reaches Kuru-deéa.
where it flows into the ocean of salt water in the north. The Alakananda
branch flows through Brahmalaya, crosses over many mountains. includ-
ing Hemakita and Himakita, and then reaches Bharata-varsa. where it

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