Mahatyam of Akasa Ganga

Mahatyam of Akasa Ganga

Nambi was an old devotee. he used to bring water from Papavinasam and perform abhisekh(bath ceremony) to Lord Venkateswara. The Lord was pleasd with his Bhakti and pitied his suffering in getiing the water from a long distance. he wanted to lessen his burden. So he aimed his arrow and created a thirtha from Viyad Ganga, very near to the devotee. So this thitha is known as Akasa Ganga.

Once, on the bank of river Godavari there lived a Brahmin by the name Kesava Bhatt. He was a great scholar. He learnt all the vedas thoroughly. He used to receive his athidhis(guests) with respect and worship them. One day a pious brahmin came to him. That day Kesava Bhatt had to perform his father's annual ritual. Suddenly Kesava Bhatt's appearance changed. He got an ackward shape with his face looking like that of an ass. He felt sad. He reached the banks of Swarna mukhi river and met sage Agasthya and narrated to his plight.

Agsthya learnt by his spiritual knowledge the story behind. he told Kesava Bhatt that because his father's annual ritual was conducted by one, who had no issue, the offerings were not acceptable to his father and hence the curse. To get over that suffering, he was advised by the sage to bathe in the Akasa Ganga with devotion.

Kesava Bhatt thanked Agasthya and as per his instruction and got back his original form.