She ascended to heaven to cleanse the sins spread by Tarkasur, Ganga was held up by the hair of Shiva to prevent the destruction of Bhumi Devi (Mother Earth) as Bhumi Devi would not be able to bear the waters falling from heaven. The River Ganga flows through the Himalayas and down to the plains of India.
About Ganga and Santanu
Ganga:-Mother of Bhisma Pitamah
Ganga is the personification of the River Ganga and is a popular goddess in Hindu mythology. She is the daughter of Parvat Raj Himalaya or Himavan and sister to the goddess Parvati. And she was wife of Santanu of Gurukul of Dwapad era. Bhism pitamah was 7th son of maa ganga and king Santanu Thus, after some time maa Ganga returned to shiv lok.
Santanu:-Father Of Bhisma Pitamah
Shantanu was a Kuru king of Hastinapur. He was a descendant of the Bharata race, of the Lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the Pandavas and KaoravasHe was the youngest son of King Pratipa of Hastinapura and had been born in the latter’s old age. The eldest son Devapi had leprosy and gave up his inheritance to become a hermit. The middle son Bahlila(or Vahlika) abandoned his paternal kingdom and started living with his maternal uncle in Balkhand inherited his kingdom. Shantanu thus became the king of Hastinapura.
Etymology Shantanu or Santanu is derived from Sanskrit meaning “Wholesome”. He is best known for being the father of Bhishma one of the mightiest warriors of all time.
About Bhism Pitamah
King Shantanu saw a beautiful woman on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) and asked her to marry him. She agreed but with one condition: that Shantanu would not ask any questions about her actions. Shantanu accepted her condition and made a vow never to ask her the reason for her actions. They married and she later gave birth to a son. But she drowned the child. Shantanu could not ask her the reason, because of his promise, lest she would leave him. One by one, seven sons were born to them and were drowned by Ganga. When Ganga was about to drown the eighth son, Shantanu, devastated, could not restrain himself and confronted her.
Finally, Ganga explained to King Shantanu about Brahma’s curse given to Mahabhisha and her. Then she told him that their eight children were Eight Vasus who were cursed by Vasishtha to be born on earth as mortal humans however when they pacified him
he limited his curse and told them that they would be freed from this curse within a year of their birth as humans. So she released the seven of them from this life by drowning them all. However the eighth child Bhishma, was cursed to live a long life and to never have a wife or have children. But the sage also gave a boon to him that he would be virtuous, conversant with all the holy scriptures and will be an obedient son to his father.
that she will take him to the heavens to train him properly for the King’s throne and status. With these words she disappeared along with the child while Shantanu was struck with grief thinking about spending the rest of his life without her..
The history behind Bhishma’s birth is as follows — once the eight Vasus (“Ashtavasus”) visited Vashishta’s ashram accompanied by their wives. One of the wives took a fancy to Kamadhenu, Vashishta’s wish-bearing cow and asked her husband Prabhasa to steal it from Vashishta. Prabhasa then stole the cow with the help of the others who were all consequently cursed by Vashishta to be born in the world of humans. Upon the Vasus appealing to Vashishta’s mercy, the seven Vasus who had assisted in stealing Kamadhenu had their curse mitigated such that they would be liberated from their human birth as soon as they were born; however, Prabhasa being protagonist of the theft, was cursed to endure a longer life on the earth. The curse, however is softened to the extent that he would be one of the most illustrious men of his time. It was this Prabhasa also called Vasu Dyaus who took the birth as Bhishma
Pandava and Kaurvas were very important person of Mahabharat
Indian Mythology 