The River Ganges or Gaṅgā - VII

Umā or Pārvati is the wife of Śiva. She created an image of a boy child from her bodily impurities as she was having a bath. She loved this image so much that she wanted it to come alive as her son. So she approached her sister Gaṅgā and showed her the image. Gaṅgā also felt a unique motherly love towards this image of a boy child. Gaṅgā told Pārvati to immerse this image in her waters. Pārvati immersed this image in the waters of the Gaṅgā, and the image of the boy child came to life. Thus Ganeśa - the second son of Śiva and Pārvati was born. Hence Gaṅgā is also considered to be the mother of Ganeśa, who in turn is also known as Gāngeya - the son of Gaṅgā. Ganeśa is also known as Dvaimātura - one who has two mothers, namely Pārvati and Gaṅgā.