Bhagiratha

Hinduism

Human Conception Embryology In The Vedas

The Third Canto of Shrimad Bhagavatam, where Lord Kapila (An incarnation of Krishna who appeared in Satya-yuga as the son of Devahuti and Kardama Muni) instructs His mother at least two million years ago.

Sage Kapila is the founder of Samkhya Pkilosophy.

Interstingly Samkhya does not believe in God.

He cursed and burnt to ashes the children of Sakara,after whom the Oceans get the name, Sagara, for disturbing His Meditation.

The descendant ,Bhagiratha brought the Ganges from Heavens , midst great difficulties to alleviate their suffering and have them granted Moksha….
kalalaḿ tv eka-rātreṇa pañca-rātreṇa budbudam
daśāhena tu karkandhūḥ peśy aṇḍaḿ vā tataḥ param

bhagavad purana 3-31-2

On the first night, the sperm and ovum mix, and on the fifth night the mixture ferments into a bubble. On the tenth night it develops into a form like a plum, and after that, it gradually turns into a lump of flesh or an egg, as the case may be.

māsena tu śiro dvābhyāḿ bāhv-ańghry-ādy-ańga-vigrahaḥ
nakha-lomāsthi-carmāṇi lińga-cchidrodbhavas tribhiḥ

bhagavad purana 3-31-3

In the course of a month, a head is formed, and at the end of two months the hands, feet and other limbs take shape. By the end of three months, the nails, fingers, toes, body hair, bones and skin appear, as do the organ of generation and the other apertures in the body, namely the eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth and anus.

caturbhir dhātavaḥ sapta pañcabhiḥ kṣut-tṛḍ-udbhavaḥ
ṣaḍbhir jarāyuṇā vītaḥ kukṣau bhrāmyati dakṣiṇe

Hinduism

Why Ganges Is Sacred Shiva Keeps Her On His Head

He was advised that he could not perform this as his ancestors, sons of Sagara were cursed by Sage Kapila(Founder of Nyaya System of Indian Philosophy considered an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and were turned into ashes.

They could be absolved of their sins and their State if Bhagiratha could somehow get the River Ganges down to Earth from the Heavens.

Ganges is believed to be at the feet of Lord Vishnu and the auspicious time if dribbles out of Vishnu’s feet is called Vishnupathi, equivalent to Pradosha of Lord Siva(read my post on Vishnupathi Punya Kaala).

On the advice of his Preceptors, Bhagiratha, started a Penance for Lord Siva.

His Penance was so powerful that Indra, fearing for his Kingdom disturbed it quite a few times,

For more on this please refer Vishnu Purana

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