The story of Ganga Matha flowing from Lord Shiva's head Once, Bhagiratha asked Brahma to bring the river Ganges down to earth to purify the souls of his ancestors and help them to attain nirvana. Brahma asked Bhagiratha to propitiate Lord Shiva, for only he could break Ganga's landfall. Ganga Matha arrogantly flew down to earth but Lord Shiva calmly trapped her back in his matted locks and let her out in seven streams; Bhagirathi, Janhvi, Bhilangana, Mandakini, Rishiganga, Saraswati, and Alaknan