Why Ganges is being sacred in Benares !
Benares or Kashi is the only place where Ganges is flowing from south towards the north. Bhagirath when he descended the Ganges from the abode of heaven he carried on his journey towards south of the City place called Shultankeshwar he has stop.Ganges wanted to have darshan of Visheswar linga (the jotirlinga temple ) and pleaded to the Bhagirath and he had to to turn his charriot to the North to have of the Darshan of Visheshwar linga and then she continued to the eastern part.
Ganges in Benares
Spiritual
Ganges is very important is importance in culture , geography and natural composition of Varanasi .without Ganges in varanasi you cant even imagine.there are several stories about how Ganges pass through Varanasi .if we see the religoius aspect the Ganges is the great follower of the Lord shiva so it was impoosible for the Ganges to emerege into the the ocean without having been at the place of Lord Shiva. The holy mother Ganges baccepted her arrival on the land was beacsue of the Lord Shiva. Lord shiva loved Kashi and Ganges has great respect for the Shiva. since The shiva liked this city so did the Ganges therefore Ganges and Kashi is indispensable for each other .
Geographical
Ganges start from the Village of Betwar in Gangapur at this place small river called Subaha meet with Ganges from there at the distance of 13 km Ganges separate Mirzapur and Varanasi from each other and later on and split Chandauli and Varanasi. Ganges flow semi circle through out the year. when Ganges flow near the Varanasi its first encounter is with Ramnagar fort and then it continue to and form the confluence at assi ghat with river Assi and flow at the left where it touches the ghat , temples and meet at the confluence of Panch ganga at Panch Ganga ghat and still flow at the left where it meet with river Varuna and from the Tatpur it start changing the the flow. at the place called Kathi where another Shiva temple Markakndey Mahadev is its flow towards the north till Balua a place called it changes its flow toward north west and later on it flows in the direction of north east and enter at Gajipur District .
Crescent shape of Ganges in Varanasi
Lord Shiva liked so much being crescent on his forehead and crescent is one of his main ornament . on the land Kashi , Benares , Varanasi is his permanent residence .when she saw the Shiva is missing the crescent so she took this opportunity and form herself in crescent when you see the city from the distance you will see the Ganges in this shape even today .
Story about Mother Ganges
How Ganges became Janhwi from Bhagirathi
when Ganges started desecening on the earth from the heaven it was diffultt toconntorel the flow of the river Ganges so shiva holded her in his dreadlocks and when he drop of the water from his locks this way Ganges descended on the earth and slowly and gradually Ganges followed the path of Bhagirath .because of the flow of the river Ganges ashrams of the saint flew away along with water .after seeing this many of the saint got mad and drank the Ganges as achaman (just in one ship) .after seeing this Bhagirath got upset and grieved and started prayers to the Gods and they said to please the saint by penance. after the penance of the Bhagirath saint pleased and appeared from his thigh because it apread from thigh called Jangha it name Janhwi.
Ganges as the mother of Lord Ganesh !!
The father of Ganges is Himwan therefore she is the siter of Parvati .according to skandpurana Parvati formed the image Ganesha beacsue of the similaries of her body because of the Ganges water life came in to him therfore it is called that Ganesh has two mothers Ganges and Parvati.
