The stories in the puranas are indicative of the transcendental spiritual aspect inhering in all aspects of creation. Suka’s elaborate description of the descent of Ganga reveals the exceptional sanctifying powers of this river that is believed to have its source be in a region that is beyond the limits of the cosmos, pointed out Dr. Sudha Seshaiyan in a discourse. There is frequent mention of the glory of Trivikrama in the Upanishads. It brings to mind the story of how Mahavishnu takes the form of Vamana in order to take back the whole of the universe from Bali under the guise of asking for three feet of earth; and of how the Lord indicates the truth that He alone can measure the entire creation which is a manifestation of His supreme powers. When He lifts the left foot to measure the higher regions, His left toe creates a hole in the cosmic shell.
Through the hole a current of water flows down to the lower regions and washes the feet of the Lord. It is known as Bhagavadpadi and it is said that it in the course of a thousand yugas, it falls on top of the heavens known as Vishnupada, the realm of Dhruva. It then flows through the heavenly path of the celestial mansions and the moon and then reaches the abode of Brahma. It divides into four streams from Brahma’s abode and swiftly passing through mountains and plains in the four directions in the different lands to reach the seas in the east, west, north and south. The stream from Brahma loka that reaches the southern seas is what we know as Ganga that is sacred to Bharata Varsha. It descends on earth as Alakananda in Hemakuta. It is believed that the waters of sacred Ganga have the power to eradicate the sins of men by its contact while it can never become impure.
