Ganga is called the Goddess of Purification, Goddess of Purity or Goddess of the River Ganges. She is known by other names including, Bhagvati, Nikita, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Gangika, Mandaakini, Vaishnavi, Shubhra, Chitraani and many more. Her abode is Brahma, Vishnu, Kailash, Gangotri and her mount is the Makara -an animal with a dolphin’s tail and a crocodile head, Kalasha, Discus and Trident are the weapons she uses. She is worshipped in India during festivals like Navratri, Ganga Jayanti and Ganga Dussehra. Menavati and Himavan are her parents, Parvati her sibling, Narmada and Bhishma are her children and Shantanu is her consort.
River Ganges is personified as sacred and as Goddess Ganga in Hinduism. Hindus bathe in waters of the River Ganga with a belief to remit sins and thus facilitate liberation from the cycle of life and death (Moksha). Water of the Ganga is considered to be pure. Ashes of kin are immersed by pilgrims in the River Ganges, with a belief that spirits come closer to Moksha. Banks of the river touch a number of places including Varanasi, Gangotri, Allahabad, Haridwar and Kali Ghat in Kolkata.
Ganga is the holiest of rivers and described as the fortunate, melodious cow that provides abundant milk. She is also described as benefactor and friend of all living things, the bedding that showers happiness and water and a body full of fish. The fair complexioned Goddess Ganga is represented sitting on a crocodile, adorned with a white crown, holding a lute in her left hand and a water lily in her right hand. She holds one hand in a protective mode, carries a lily and water pot as well when depicted with four hands.
