Holy River Ganges

What is it that makes water from different sources have different properties?On the surface,all water molecules appear the same but every water source has unique properties.Therefore,some rivers and springs are considered to be sacred.

The River Ganges is very revered and has always been a subject of study owing to its divinity and miraculous nature of water.The Ganges water stays fresh for long periods of time and King Akbar called it "The Water Of Immortality".Many studies have suggested that Ganges water has anti - microbial properties and high levels of oxygen capable of self - purification. During the British rule,sailors used only the Ganges water for long journeys as it remained fresh throughout their journey.

Eric Newby, a British travel author wrote in his book Slowly Down the Ganges: “To drink the water, having bathed in it, and to carry it away in bottles is meritorious. To be cremated on its banks, having died there, and to have one’s ashes cast in its waters, is the wish of every Hindu.

Origin of River Ganga:

King Bhagirath of Ayodhya did severe penance for thousands of years to bring the River Ganges down to the Earth from the heavens so that his ancestors, who were burnt to ashes by Sage Kapil for disrupting his penance could attain moksha.Lord Brahma granted his wish but warned him that the flow of water from the heavens would cause great devastation to the earth and that only Lord Shiva could control Ganga's descent.King Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva for the peaceful descent of River Ganges and so Lord Shiva trapped Ganga in his hair and made the river gradually flow onto the Himalayas from his long locks.Thus,King Bhagirath's ancestors souls were liberated and it is believed that whoever bathes in the Ganges will be absolved of all sin.   

Sources :

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18810537

http://omdasji.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/moksha-king-bhagirath.html