The River Ganges or Gaṅgā - III

There are many myths and legends, which tell that the river Ganges or Gaṅgā is essentially a goddess residing in heaven. She is exquisitely described as an extremely fair goddess. She has four arms and three eyes. With the third eye on her forehead, she becomes a kāldarśini- one who can view the past, present and the future. She is dressed in white and is heavily ornamented with precious stones and dazzling white pearls. On one hand, she holds a white lotus and with the other hand, she bestows peace and grants boons to humanity. In the other two hands, she holds jars full of water that grant fertility, crops, and prosperity. She has a calm, generous, and a pleasing expression on her beautiful and radiant face. She rides a makara- a white crocodile with the tail of a fish, and is surrounded by two women, one fanning her and the other holding a white umbrella over her crowned head. The jewel in her crown is the moon and the gods and goddesses all sing her praises and pay homage to her. In her beautiful form, the sacred trinity of Brahmā-Viṣṇu-Maheś is contained and all the three worlds bow before her purity and generosity.