A legend from the Ramayana speaks of King Bhagirath who once meditated before Lord Brahma for a thousand years for the salvation of the souls of his ancestors.
Pleased
with his devotion Brahma granted him a wish. He requested the Lord to
send the river Ganges down to earth from heaven so that she could flow
over his ancestors' ashes and wash their curse away and allow them to go
to heaven. Brahma granted his wish but asked him to
pray to Shiva, for he alone could support the weight of her descent.
Accordingly he prayed to Shiva and he allowed the Ganges to descend on his head, and after meandering through his thick matted locks, the holy river reached the earth. This story is re-enacted by bathing the 'linga'.
Accordingly he prayed to Shiva and he allowed the Ganges to descend on his head, and after meandering through his thick matted locks, the holy river reached the earth. This story is re-enacted by bathing the 'linga'.
(From" Stories of Shiva" by Subhamoy Das)
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