Gangavatran

GANGAVATRAN OR THE DESCENT OF GANGA: Bhagirata, a king from the solar dynasty relinquished his kingdom and undertook to bring Ganga down to earth. His mission was to perform purification rites for the 60,000 sons of King Sagara (his great grandfather). 1000 years of tapas were spent when Ganga agreed to come to earth but haughtily challenged anyone block the tide of her descent. Bhagiratha then prays to Lord Shiva who agrees to stem the tide. Shiva's hair is undone which traps Ganga and prevents her from washing away the earth. Shiva thereafter loosens his matted locks to release a trickle of water which flows into the river we see today.

In this print by the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, Shiva is the central figure who stands strong having unlocked his matted hair ready to receive Ganga. On either side in the foreground are Parvathi leaning on Nandi and Bhagirata viewing the dramatic descent of Ganga. Raja Ravi Varma is probably inspired by the sportive form (lila-murti) of Shiva called Gangadhara-murti as described in the Purva-karanagama and the Kamikagama.