As per Bhagavata, Ganga originated during Vishnu’s vamana avatar. When Vama lifted his foot to step on the three worlds, a nail from his finger caused a hole in the higher part of the brahmandakadaha. From Vishnu’s finger Ganga emerged and fell on swargaloka. Since Ganga originated from Vishnupada, she is also called Vishnupadi.

For eons, Ganga stayed in swarga and the area came to be known as Vishnupada. Uttanapada’s son Dhruva meditated here, and it also came to be known as Dhruvamandala. The saptarishis who constantly orbit around Dhruvamandala bathe in this river. From Vishnupada, Ganga flows to Devayana and then Chandramandala. It then splits into Sita, Chakshus, Alakananda, Bhadra and falls into Brahmaloka. Sita falls on Meru and then Gandhamadana, flows through Bhadrashwa and falls into the eastern sea. Chakshus falls on Malyavan and flows through Ketumala before falling into the western sea. Alakananda falls on Hemakuta and flows through India before flowing into the southern ocean. Bhadra falls on Shringavan and falls through Uttarakuru and ends up in the northern sea. Alakananda is considered the holiest of all. Ganga fell on bhuloka after many years as per Bhagavata Panchamaskanda Chapter 17.

Once Vishnu was having a conversation with Lakshmi, Saraswati and Ganga. Ganga stared lustfully at Vishnu and he didn’t discourage her. Saraswati noticed it and began assaulting Ganga. Seeing this, Lakshmi caught Saraswati, who cursed that Lakshmi would be born in bhuloka. Since Lakshmi was innocent, Saraswati became angry and cursed that Saraswati would become a river in bhuloka. Saraswati cursed back that Ganga would become a river too and be destined to wash away the sins of humans. Vishnu then stood up and stated that this was anyway bound to happen. He said that Lakshmi would be born as the daughter of Dharmadhwaja and cleanse the world. She would be then born as the plant Tulsi, during which time Shankhachuda, an asura and ansh avatar of Vishnu, would marry her. She would later be born as the river Padmavati and then return to Vaikuntha. He then said that Ganga would wash away the sins of humans and be a holy river. She would be brought to earth by Bhageeratha, and hence would also be known as Bhageerathi. She would be the wife of Shantanu and the ocean itself, and then return to become Shiva’s wife. He then looked at Saraswati and confirmed that she too would be born as a river, and after her return to swargaloka would become the wife of Brahma. Thus Lakshmi became the consort of Vishnu, Saraswati of Brahma and Ganga, of Shiva, as per Devibhagavata Navamaskanda.

In the Ikshvaku dynasty there was a king named Mahabhishak. After his death, he reached satyaloka to pray to Brahma. Ganga was present there, and a gust of wind revealed her body. Mahabhishak looked at her lovingly and she too responded. Brahma saw this and became angry. He cursed that Mahabhishak would again be born as a king and Ganga too would be born then, and become his wife. When Ganga begged for mercy, he stated that she could return after she became the mother of the ashtavasus. Mahabhishak was born as Shantanu, a chandravanshi king, and married Ganga as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapters 96,97.

The suryavanshi king Sagara had two wives – Sumati (Vaidarbhi) and Keshini (Shaibya). Sumati’s son was Asamanjas and Keshini gave birth to 60000 sons. The evil Asamanjas was sent into exile by Sagara, and the equally evil 60000 sons wreaked havoc on earth. The sages approached Brahma for help and he promised that the sage Kapila would destroy them. Sagara conducted an ashwamedha yajna then and his sons roamed the earth with the horse. When they reached the ocean, the horse disappeared. The sons complained to their father, and he sent them back with instructions to find the horse. They looked all over and couldn’t find the horse. They then dug a hole and reached patala. There they saw Kapila meditating and the horse by his side. It was actually Indra who stole the horse and tied it there. The sons thought that Kapila had stolen the horse and began to attack him. But they were burned to ashes by his fiery gaze. Sagara was troubled when his sons didn’t come back and sent his grandson Amshuman to find them. He finally reached Kapila after a long search. The sage was pleased by his devotion and returned the horse. He also said that Amshuman’s grandson would bring Ganga to bhuloka and wash away the sins of Sagara’s sons. Amshuman returned with the horse and Sagara completed the yajna.

To Amshuman was born Dilipa, and to him, Bhageeratha. After Bhageeratha became king, he entrusted the kingdom to his ministers and set about bringing Ganga to bhuloka. He meditated in the valleys of Himavan for a thousand years and pleased Ganga. She told him that only Shiva could withstand the force of her fall to bhuloka, and that Bhageeratha should pray to him first. He took her advice and Shiva agreed to come to bhuloka. Ganga fell on Shiva’s head and she had a thought of pushing him to patala with the force. Shiva learned of this and blocked her. She wandered for many years through his deadlocks. Bhageeratha again prayed to Shiva and he obliged by shaking his head and allowing some parts of Ganga to fall down. It fell on Bindusaras and was divided into Hladini, Pavini, Nalini, all flowing east, Suchakshas, Sita, Sindu flowing west. A seventh tributary followed Bhageeratha and finally reached the sage Jahnu’s hermitage. The arrogant river flooded the hermitage and a furious sage drank her up. Bhageeratha pleased Jahnu finally and the sage let Ganga out through his ear. From then on, she cam to be known as Jahnavi. She then followed Bhageeratha to patala and gave salvation to Sagara’s sons, as per Ramayana Balakanda Sargas 43, 44, Brahmandapurana Chapter 97, Devipurana Dwitiyaskanda, Mahabharata Dronaparva Chapter 60, Bhishmaparva Chapter 6, Anushasanaparva Chapter 4 and Vanaparva Chapter 109. Bhageeratha then led her towards the ocean as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 109 verses 18-21.

Shantanu’s father Pratipa once meditated on the banks of the Ganga for a son. Ganga became enamoured with him and sat on his right thigh. The king asked her what she wanted and she replied that she wanted to marry him. He said that the right thigh was for children and the left thigh was for the wife to sit on. Therefore he asked her to marry Shantanu, his son. Later the king called Shantanu and told him that he had promised Ganga that Shantanu would marry her. He also asked him not to question anything she did. Then, after entrusting Shantanu the kingdom, Pratipa left for the forests, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 97.

The wife of Dyov, one of the ashtavasus, once saw Nandini and her calf grazing near Vasishta’s hermitage. She liked them a lot and wanted to gift them to her friend Jitavati, the daughter of Ushinara. She told this to Dyov, who along with the other vasus, stole the cow and her calf when Vasishta was not around. When Vasishta came back, he understood what had happened, and cursed that the ashtavasus would be born as humans. They begged for mercy and Vasishta said that they would die within a year and regain swarga. But he said that Dyov would be an exception to that. The vasus left for bhuloka to be born as humans. They met Ganga on the way and heard about the curse on her. Ganga then agreed to be the mother of the ashtavasus in their human form, as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 99.

Once Shantanu went on a hunt on the banks of the Ganga, and there, saw a beautiful woman. They liked each other and Shantanu wanted to marry her. She agreed on the condition that he would never question her, no matter what she did. He agreed to it, and soon a son was born to them. She threw it into the river in front of Shantanu. Remebering his promise, he kept quite. This happened to the next 6 babies too. The last to be born was Dyov. When he was about to be thrown into the river, Shantanu stopped her. She was angry and left with the baby as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 98.

32 years later, Shantanu went for a hunt again on the banks of the Ganga. Seeing a dam of arrows blocking the river, he approached. He saw a handsome lad but didn’t realise that it was his son. Ganga had named him Devavrata. He disappeared as soon as he saw the king. The king began wondering if Devavrata was his son. He called out to Ganga. She appeared with Devavrata who was clad in fine clothes by then. She told him that this was their eighth son Devavrata and that he had learned weaponry from Vasishta. She also told him that he was the reincarnation of Dyov, the eighth vasu and son of Angiras. She then disappeared as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 100.

See Subramanya for Ganga and Subramanya.

See Bhishma for Ganga and Bhishma.

As per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 26, immersing a person’s ashes in the Ganga earns him entry to swargaloka. So long as his ashes exist in the river, he will remain there. Even if a person has committed sins all his life, he can reach Vishnupada by serving Ganga. Bathing in the river is equivalent to a hundred yajnas. Touching the river gives a glow to the person and those areas which are away from the river will be empty of life. The water from the river is sufficient for all three worlds. A person who ends his life in the river is equivalent to one who stands on one leg and meditates for a thousand years. One who falls into the river is considered more important by the gods than a person who meditates upside down for many years. Touching the river gives happiness to people. Those who rub the sands from its banks on their body are looked upon favourably by the gods. Those who rub it on their head will glow like the sun. The wind that comes from the river can wash away sins.

As per Agnipurana Chapter 110, the regions which have Ganga flowing through it are considered pure. It controls the flow of elements that affect life. Serving the river lifts people and their families from their state. Drinking its water is holier than a hundred chandrayanas. Serving the river for a month is equivalent to conducting all yajnas. It washes away sins and grants swargaloka. So long as his ashes exist in the river, he will remain there. Blind people who drink its water will earn a state equivalent to gods. Those who rub the sands from its banks on their body are looked upon favourably by the gods.

Once Radha tried to drink up Ganga. She hid behind Krishna’s legs. The world suffered due to lack of water. Krishna made Ganga reappear as per Devibhagavata Navamaskanda.

Ganga has a pot and lotuses in her hands, is white and travels on a makara fish as per Agnipurana Chapter 50.

In the Mahabharata, she is referred to as Akashaganga, Bhageerathasuta, Bhageerathi, Shailarajasuta, Shaivasuta, Devanadi, Haimavati, Jahnavi, Jahnu, Kanya, Jahnusuta, Samudramahishi, Tripathaga, Tripathagamini.

She is also known as Vishnupadi, Jahnutaya, Suranimnaga, Bhageerathi, Tripadhaga, Trisrotas, Bhishmasu