Bhishma is born

The mighty Himavant is ours -

there’s no equal anywhere on earth.

The generous Ganga is ours -

which other river can match her grace ?

The sacred Upanishads are ours -

what scriptures else to name with them ?

This sunny golden land is ours -

she’s peerless, let’s praise her !

Subramania Bharathi

   

King Shanthanu (Mahabhishek in previous incarnation) met Ganga Devi by the banks of river ganga. They both fell in love with each other. As King Shanthanu proposed to her, Ganga agreed to marry him provided the following conditions are met:

·        Neither you nor your people should ask me who I am.

·        Whatever I do, no one should scold me.

·        No one should talk to me in a manner which causes pain to me.

·        Th emoment any one of the conditions are breached, I would leave you immediately.

King Shanthanu agreed to her conditions and married her. They live happily ever after. Well , untill the first child was born!!

As soon as the first child was born, Ganga killed the child by drowning. Bound by his vow, King Shanthanu could not object to her action.

Similarly, she killed all seven children born to them.

But, King Shanthanu lost patience when she attempted to do the same with her eighth child.

He objected to her action and asked her the dreaded questions: “ Who are you? ” , Why are you killing all our children?”

Once the promise is breached, Ganga revealed her true identitty to her husband. She also explained to him that she became her wife as a consequence of Sage Vashista’s curse. As her role in helping the eight Vasus has ended, she is returning back to her origins. She also took her eighth son with her saying that she will rear him by providing him the best education and shall return him to his father as and when he wishes so.

As Ganga and their son left , king Shanthanu was deeply sad but accepted his fate and continued to maintain his celibacy and  ruled his kingdom  as a just ruler.

Years passed by.

One day , while he was strolling by the  banks of River Gnaga, he noticed a drop  in flow of river water. He soon found out that its due to a small child. The child was blocking the flow of River Ganga using his arrows.

Upon seeing this, King Shanthanu had an inkling that this child might be his own son. He requested his wife Ganga to appear before him so as to clear his doubts.

Soon Ganga Devi in all her resplendent  beauty appeared alongside her son. She  told  King Shanthanu “ This is your son. Devavridhan.  He is blessed with the finest education and he also is skilled in  all faculties of arts, science and politics. He is warrior of excellence. Take him with you. ”

King Shanthanu was pleased to get  back his son. He later crowned him as prince.

Devavrithan , son of Ganga Devi and King Mahabhishek (Shanthanu) was later known to be Bhishma, the powerful.