The gods and saints requested him to release Ganga so that she could proceed in her mission to release the souls of the ancestors of king Bhagiratha. Jahnu then released the river through his year and henceforth Ganga is known as 'Jahnavi' or the daughter of Jahnu. In another version of the story sage Jahnu was angered as while he was enchanting Gayatri, his 'Acamana cup' fell into the ganga and swept away by the currents. In this story King Bhagiratha pacified sage Jahnu by his penance to release Ganga. |