PLATE ONE

By performing very severe austerities, King Bhagiratha received the
benediction from mother Ganges that she would descend to the earth
planet. But she was afraid that her forceful waters would pierce the sur-
face of the earth and continue down to the lower planetary system. King
Bhagiratha reassured her: “Like a cloth woven of threads extending for
its length and breadth, this entire universe, in all its latitude and
longitude, is situated under different potencies of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead. Lord Siva is the incarnation of the Lord, and thus he
represents the Supersoul in the embodied soul. He can sustain your
forceful waves on his head.” After saying this, King Bhagiratha per-
formed further austerities and very quickly satisfied Lord Siva. Thus,
when the King approached Lord Siva and requested him to sustain the
forceful waves of the Ganges, Lord Siva accepted the proposal, saying,
“Let it be so.” Then, with great attention, Siva sustained on his head the
torrent of Ganges water, which is purifying, having emanated from the
toes of Lord Visnu. (pp. 3-11)
