Bhageeratha
He was a Kosala king. He brought river Ganga flowing in Heaven (Swarga) to earth. He prayed for thousands of years and faced many hurdles, but still did not give up. So anyone who tries to do a work in spite of of the hurdles is said to be doing Bhageeratha prayatna
Since Ganga was brought to earth by Bhageeratha, the river is also called Bhageerathi
Background
King Sagara of Kosala was performing Ashwamedha yajna. The ceremonial horse went to Kapila's hermitage. Sixty thousand sons of Sagara who were following the the horse, angered the sage. He cursed them and all of them turned to ashes, a huge mountain of ashes.
Sagara's grandson Anshuman was told by Kapila that if Ganga flows over the ashes, they will get mukti. But to bring Ganga to earth required many years of Tapasya. When Bhageeratha became king, he did tapas for Brahma for thousand years and when Brahma appeared before him, he asked for bringing Ganga to earth. Brahma agreed. And Ganga started flowing on earth.
But entire towns and villages and forests were flooded by Ganga. Then Bhageeratha prayed to Shiva for help. Shiva caught Ganga in his Locks. Then he let her flow in smaller stream.
Bhageeratha led Ganga. Now the river flooded rishi Jahnu's house and fields and washed them away. Angry Jahnu, swallowed the entire river. But the gods prayed to Jahnu to release Ganga. He yielded and released her from his ear. Hence the name Jahnavi to the river
He was a Kosala king. He brought river Ganga flowing in Heaven (Swarga) to earth. He prayed for thousands of years and faced many hurdles, but still did not give up. So anyone who tries to do a work in spite of of the hurdles is said to be doing Bhageeratha prayatna
Since Ganga was brought to earth by Bhageeratha, the river is also called Bhageerathi
Background
King Sagara of Kosala was performing Ashwamedha yajna. The ceremonial horse went to Kapila's hermitage. Sixty thousand sons of Sagara who were following the the horse, angered the sage. He cursed them and all of them turned to ashes, a huge mountain of ashes.
Sagara's grandson Anshuman was told by Kapila that if Ganga flows over the ashes, they will get mukti. But to bring Ganga to earth required many years of Tapasya. When Bhageeratha became king, he did tapas for Brahma for thousand years and when Brahma appeared before him, he asked for bringing Ganga to earth. Brahma agreed. And Ganga started flowing on earth.
But entire towns and villages and forests were flooded by Ganga. Then Bhageeratha prayed to Shiva for help. Shiva caught Ganga in his Locks. Then he let her flow in smaller stream.
Bhageeratha led Ganga. Now the river flooded rishi Jahnu's house and fields and washed them away. Angry Jahnu, swallowed the entire river. But the gods prayed to Jahnu to release Ganga. He yielded and released her from his ear. Hence the name Jahnavi to the river
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