ne = coe | ox VERE) www.amarchitrakatha.comwi The route to your roots When they look back at their formative years, many Indians nostalgically recall the vital part Amar Chitra Katha picture books have played in their lives. It was ACK - Amar Chitra Katha - that first gave them a glimpse of their glorious heritage. Since they were introduced in 1967, there are now over 400 Amar Chitra Katha titles to choose from. Over 90 million copies have been sold worldwide. Now the Amar Chitra Katha titles are even more widely available in 500+ bookstores all across India. Log on to www.ack-media.com to locate a bookstore near you. If you do not have access to a bookstore, you can buy all the titles through our online store www.theackshop.com. We provide quick delivery anywhere in the world To make it easy for you to locate the titles of your choice from our treasure trove of tiles, the books are now arranged in five categories. Epics and Mythology Best known stories from the Epics and the Puranas Indian Classics Enchanting tales from Indian literature Fables and Humour Evergreen folktales, legends and tales of wisdom and humour Bravehearts Stirring tales of brave men and women of India Visionaries Inspiring tales of thinkers, social reformers and nation builders Script Mustrations Editor Lakshmi Seshadri S.S.Havaldar Anant Pai Cover illustration by: CM. Vitankar Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd {© Amar Chitra Katha Pv Lid, 1975, Reprinted june 2009, ISBN 81-89999-36-2 Published & Printed by Amar Chitra Katha Pv. Lt, 14 Marthand, Ath floor, '84:Dr. Annie Besant Road, Mumbai 400 018. IndiaSANCTIFIER OF ALL. CREATURES - SUFFER. BUT IT IS MY DUTY TO LOOK } | TO THE Goop oF Se OMS FAO EG UV 1AM WILLING TO /| SEND GANGA, WHO FLOWS EVERYWHERE AT WILL,PURIFYING ALL IN HER. § WAKE , WITH you. 1/ SO WITH THE DEVAS, GANGA,AND SERVE THEM WW DUTIFULLY.ALL RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE. OUR SACRIFICE HAS BEEN RUINED ONCE AGAIN. AT THIS RATE WE WILL INCUR THE DISPLEASURE OF THE GODS. AT ABOUT THAT TIME,LIFE ON EARTH WAS BECOMING IMPOSSIBLE FOR MONTHS OF HARD LABOUR WASTED.OUR CROPS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED INA SINGLE NIGHT. THE MURDERERS HAVEN’T SPARED EVEN OUR BABES. WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO DESERVE WE ARE HELPLESS AGAINST ENEMIES, WHO DON’T SHOW THEMSELVES . LET THOSE OF US,WHO HAVE SURVIVED, HIDE. IN THE CAVES.THEIR MYSTERIOUS TORMENTORS WERE A GROUP OF ASURAS*WHO HID iN THE OCEAN BY DAY AND CAME OUT TO HARASS THEM AT NIGHT. PVE SPOTTED NEVER MIND. NOT A SINGLE ONE THEM. THEY?VE GONE }\ WE’LL FOLLOW OF THEM SHOULD INTO THE CAVES. BE SPARED. WN HEAVEN , THE DEVAS WERE PERTURBED BY THE PLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE «THEY HELD COUNCIL. IN OUR OWN INTERESTS LET US SEEK WE MUST HELP THE GOOD THE HELP OF PEOPLE. ON EARTH. BUT HOW CAN WE,WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHO THEIR, TORMENTORS ARE 2 VISHNU - HE WILL KNOW.| 50 THEY WENT TO VISHNU. LORD, HOW CAN WE DESTROY THE MYSTERIOUS ENEMIES OF THE GOOD MEN ON EARTH © IN THE WHERE DO THEY HIDE BY DAY? OCEAN BED. TO KILL THEM YOU WILL HAVE To DRY UP THE OCEAN. GO TO SAGE AGASTYA -HE ALONE. CAN HELP You. YOU MAY GO TO SAGE AGASTYA NOW AND DO WHAT 15 TO BE DONE-OF THE WORLD 1 WILL COME WITH YOU AND DRINK UP THE OCEAN. BE READY TO DO WHAT YOU HAVETHE DEVAS FELL UPON THE a DON’T SPARE THE MURDERERS! WHEN THE ASURAS WERE VANQUISHED THE DEVAS TURNED TO AGASTYA. O SAVIOUR. NOW THAT THE EVIL ONES ARE DEAD, FILL UP THE OCEAN AGAIN WITH THE WATER YOU DRANK. | CANNOT. | HAVE DIGESTED IT. You WILL HAVE TO FIND SOME OTHER MEANS TO FILLTHE DEVAS DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEY WENT TO BRAHMA. A VERY LONG TIME MUST PASS BEFORE THE OCEAN WILL ONCE AGAIN BE FULL. DO NOT WORRY: KING SAGARA AND HIS. 5 HE HAS DESCENDANTS WILL ALREADY BEGUN CAUSE THE OCEAN PENANCES TO TO BE FILLED uP _ 4 H | OBTAIN THEM. AGAIN + ¢AT THAT MOMENT ON EARTH; LORD SHIVA APPEARED BEFORE | Awe SAGARA AND HIS QUEENS » KESHINI AND SUMATI/« | AM PLEASED WITH YOUR PIETY- you SHALL HAVE MANY SONS. YOUR RACE. HOWEVER, WILL BE CONTINUED BY THE ONE SON THAT YOUR OTHER WIFE WILL BEAR. ONE OF YOUR WIVES SHALL BEAR 60,000 PROUD AND HEROIC SONS: WHO WILL ALL. PERISH WITHOUT‘GLY, IN COURSE OF TIME,BOTH WIVES BORE CHILDREN. RA WAS OVERVOYED AND GAVE MANY GIFTS TO THE POOR. 7 PAYS PASSED AND THE BOYS GREW UP. THE 60,000 SONS OF SUMATI WERE BRAVE, STRONG LADS,WHO WERE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR ROYAL STATUS . WHERE ARE MY GOLDEN ARROWS 2 A PRINCE WE MUST LEARN TO W. ‘LD A CHARIOT ANP WIN A WAR.WE ARE THE SONS OF ON WHOM HIS PEOPLE DEPEND MUST HAVE THE BEST OF WEAPONS.QUEEN KESHINI’S SON ASAMANJA, HOWEVER , GREW UP TO BE A WICKED PRINCE. - YOUR. MAJESTY, PRINCE ASAMANJA A HAS DROWNED YET THE CHILD WI ANOTHER CHILD. SCREAM.THE i Pam i, PRINCE MUST AM | BUT ASAMANUA'S SON AMSUMAN WAS A VERY KIND AND CONSIDERATE BOY AND THE PEOPLE LOVED HIM. ONCE,WHEN KING SAGARA WAS+++ INDRA STOLE THE SACRIFICIAL HORSE. PBEOVERED THAT THE HORSE WAS STOLEN, THE OFFICIATING a TURNED TO THE 60,000 PRINCES ~ GO,MY VALIANT SONS! GO AND FIND REINORSE: THE SONS OF SAGARA SEARCHED THE WHOLE EARTH BUT COULD /2\ NOT FIND THE HORSE. AT LAST — ~ | THERE 15 ONLY ONE PLACE LEFT een tenien TO SEARCH —THE NETHER WORLD. Ay DIG OUR WAY: > THROUGH THE EARTH AND SEARCH THERE.|THEY SEARCHED FOR A | WHILE » THEN — WHEN THEY REACHED THE NETHER WORLD-| THERE 1S NO SIGN OF THE HORSE ! LET US PROCEED. WHAT 1S THIS HUGE ELEPHANT DOING HERE 2 IT 1S ONE OF THE EIGHT ELEPHANTS WHICH HOLD THE EARTH y THE PRINCES, | HAVE BEEN THOUGHTLESS. THEY WILL BRING DESTRUCTION. iy THE SAGARAS IAD DUG THE EARTH O TUNNEL THEIR WAY TO THE NETHER WORLD, THE PANIC- STRICKEN INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH RAN HITHER AND _THITHER . THE ELEPHANT TO MAIN— TAIN THE BALANCE OF THEIR WEIGHT, MOVED, CAUSING A _TREMEN — 2OUS EARTHQUAKE.IVIOUS OF THE HARM THAT THEY HAD DONE (> THE MOVED ON AND CAME TO WHERE SAGE KAPILA SO THIS THERE STANDS SAGE. 1S THE OUR HORSE. CULPRIT. RETURN ouR HORSE! IS THE ENRAGED PRINCES WERE ABOUT TO ATTACK Him — HOW DARE You CALL ME A THIEF! HM! PNGERED BY THEIR. AUDACITY, THE POWERFUL KAPILA BURNED THE 60,000 PRINCES TO ASHES BY UTTERING BUT ONE SYLLABLE. | 14MEANWHILE, AT THE SACRIFICE , WHEN THE PRINCES Dib NOT RETURN, SAGARA REMEMBERED SHIVA*S WORDS. HE TURNED TO AMSUMAN , HIS BELOVED GRANDSON. GO,AMSUMAN. YOU ARE VALIANT AND WISE LIKE i YOUR ANCESTORS- |i GO AND FIND YOUR UNCLES AND THE HORSE. 1 WILL ENTER THIS CRATER. PERHAPS MY UNCLES ARE IN THE NETHER WORLD. AMSUMAN SET OUT AND SOON CAME UPON THE PLACE WHERE HIS. UNCLES HAD ENTERED THE CROPS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED PEOPLE AND ANIMALS KILLED] THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A CALAMITY.AH! THERE IS THE HORSE .! WILL ASK THE RISHI ABOUT MY UNCLES. PROCEED! you WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU HAVE SET OUT TO. UNCLES? THEY CAME AFTER THAT SACRIFICIAL - | THEM. THEY WERE ASHES THAT WERE HIS UNCLES AND SO INSOLENT THAT | | LET OUT A CRY OF ANGUISH. Py | CONSUMED i THEM WITH THE FIRE OF MY PENANCES. | ( YES.1 HAVE SEEN ] (aera TOOK A HANDFUL OF THETHE SAGE TRIED TO CONSOLE HIM. DO NOT GRIEVE, AMSUMAN . THEY MET WITH THE FATE THEY DESERVED. BUT DO THEY DESERVE TO SUFFER IN HELL TOO? IS THERE NO WAY FOR THEM TO ENTER HEAVEN ? YOU ARE PATIENT, TRUTHFUL AND RIGHTEOUS - 1 PRES Caney) IN ALL HER PURITY MUST BE BROUGHT DOWN FROM HEAVEN. IF SHE TOUCHES THESE ASHES YOUR UNCLES WILL GO TO HEAVEN-WE ARE SAVED. THE SACRIFICIAL HORSE HAS BEEN FOUND. THE. SACRIFICE. CAN NOW BE COMPLETED. |} WILL NOT BE AMSUMAN YOU MUST ABLE TO BECOME KING AFTER ACCOMPLISH ME AND STRIVE TO SUCH A FEAT, BRING GANGA IN MY TO EARTH. LIFETIME - MY SON DILIPA SHALL RULE THE. KINGDOM .1 WISH TO RETIRE TO THE HIMALAYAS. THERE | WILL PERFORM AUSTERITIES TO INDUCE. GANGA TO FLOW DOWN TO THE EARTH.| HAVE BEEN KING FOR MANY YEARS. STILL | HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING GANGA ‘TO EARTH. FATHER, |! WILL NOT ASCEND THE THRONE WITHOUT FIRST BRINGING GANGA DOWN TOACCORPINGLY, WHEN : BHAGIRATHA ADDRESSED THE MINISTERS. 4 UNDERGO THE | WILL BE KIN MOST SEVERE ONLY AFTER GANGA F ON EARTH. | | ENTR | KINGDOM TC FOR YEARS BHAGIRATHA CONTINUED HIS PENANCES AND MEDITATION.7 LAST, PLE, BY HIS SINGLE-MINDEDNESS, BRAHMA APPEARED BEFORE H/M ASK FOR A BOON,] O STEADFAST ONE, AND IT STEEN) SP pala eee GANGA FLOW DOWN! eee heal ag TO EARTH FROM i . Oy \\ THE HEAVEN AND DELIVER THE SOULS OF MY ANCESTORS, YOUR AIM IS A LOFTY N FOR A YEAR | ONE. BUT THE EARTH BHAGIRATHA CANNOT SUSTAIN ADORED SHIVA. THE FORCE. OF HER 2 FALL.ONLY SHIVA CAN WITHSTAND IT, THEN | SHALL PERFORM PENANCES: TO PLEASE SHIVA.SHIVA APPEARED BEFORE HIM. WHAT IS THE BOON LORD, PLEASE. DESCENDS TO RECEIVE THE FORCE OF GANGA AS SHE ( BUT | MUST BE ON MY GUARD. GANGA’S MOVEMENTS ARE UNPREDICTY ABLE. YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE CARE WHILE CONDUCTING GANGA ON EARTH. SHE 1S ACCUSTOMED TO FLOWING ANYWHERE AT WILL. 1 witu TAKE CARE, MY LORD.HALFWAY DOWN; A THOUGHT [IN HEAVEN, GANGA MADE READY f SUDDENLY OCCURRED TO HER. | TO DESCEND. THE MIGHTY « ONE 15 OFF HIS © GUARD.1 SHALL Hi SWEEP HIM AWAY fit WITH ME TO THE Ail NETHER WORLD. \ * Sut een ty Nw te ae \" ee I BS ee a fone ala es 2A e iia os mee ene Nya ve Mee ae SO THAT 1S WHAT SHE PLANSAS GANGA FELL,SHIVA IMPRIS— | | BHAGIRATHA ONCE AGAIN ADORED. ONED HER IN HIS MATTED LOCKS.) | SHIVA AND THE MIGHTY GOD SHE SWIRLED ABOUT IN HER APPEARED BEFORE HiM. PRISON FOR MANY A YEAR, A UNABLE TO ® 5 ma we {}\\ ESCAPE. é § { LORD! you ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL KINDNESS. HAVE PITY ON ME AND. RELEASE YOUR DEVOTION MERITS IT. FOR YOUR SAKE | WILL ASHES OF THE SONS OF SAGARA AND MAY THEIR SOULS BEGANGA BECAME FURTHER PURIFIED BY HER CONTACT WITH THE LORD’S HEAD. PEOPLE RAN TO HER TO CLEANSE THEMSELVES OF ALL SINS. MOTHER GANGA Vag » WILL WASH AWAY . SHE HAS BEEN SANCTIFIED BY OUR SINS. . e ~{ “THE LORD’S SACRED HEAD.BUT BHAGIRATHA’S TRIALS WERE NOT YET OVER. THE NETHER WORLD BEYOND THE OCEAN WAS STILL FAR AWAY. ON THE WAY— / WHERE ARE TO THE THESE PEOPLE }{ SACRIFICE OF GOING © SAGE JAHNU. 1 WILL GO CLOSER- TAKE CARE- you*LL FLOOD THE SACRI— FICIAL FIRE AND DESTROY THE SACRIFICE. 1 WILL you MAY. BUT FLOW THAT } DO NOT DISTURB WAY. BUT THE IRREPRESSIBLE GANGA RUSHED FORWARD. ——AND THE FUMING SAGE CONSUMED HER IN ONE LONG GULP. THE SAGE WAS FURIOUS. YOu SHALL BE PUNISHED FOR FORGIVE HER, _ [HOLY ONE,AND RELEASE HER.OUT OF RESPECT FOR BHAGIRATHA’S PENANCES; JAHNY RELEASED GANGA. GANGA HAS BECOME EVEN MORE PURE BY HER CONTACT WITH THE SAGE. AND THE NETHER WORLD AND REDEEM THE SOULS MAY YOU LEAD HER SAFELY TO THE OCEAN OF YOUR ANCESTORS, HENCEFORTH , GANGA SHALL ALSO BE KNOWN AS JAHNAVI - YOUR DAUGHTER ,O HOLY ONE.WORLD BEYOND. GANGA FLOWED OVER THE ASHES OF THE SONS OF SAGARA AND ONTO THE OCEAN BED. FROM THAT DAY AT LAST, BHAGIRATHA AND GANGA REACHED THE OCEAN AND THE NETHER ONWARDS, THE OCEAN CAME TO BE KNOWN AS “SAGARA,HIS PROMISE FULFILLED, BRAHMA APPEARED BEFORE BHAGIRATHA « THE SONS OF SAGARA ARE IN HEAVEN AND WILL REMAIN THERE AS LONG AS GANGA FLOWS ON THE EARTH. BY YOUR. PENANCES, > SHE SHALL BE ff THEN BHAGIRATHA RETURNED TO HIS KINGDOM ,ASCENDPED THE THRONE AND RULED WISELY FOR MANY YEARS. re | %