Ganga: The River that Flows from Heaven to Earth

Ganga: The River that Flows from Heaven to Earth
by Vatsala Sperling

Ganga: The River that Flows from Heaven to Earth
List Price: $15.95
Our Price: $10.49
You Save: $5.46 (34%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $9.88 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Vatsala Sperling
Illustrator: Harish Johari
Illustrator: Pieter Weltevrede
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-11-10
ISBN: 1591430895
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Bear Cub Books

Book Reviews of Ganga: The River that Flows from Heaven to Earth

Book Review: Excellent Book - Great for Kids
Summary: 5 Stars

Well I love books and whilst I am not a reviewer I can say that I loved this book. I am keeping it in my library for my kids to read and learn about the Holy River Ganga. The author dealt with the dark material (king Sagar's sons being burnt to ashes etc) extremely well and I guess as well as one can deal with a Voldemort in Harry Potter or Jesus being tortured and put on the cross. The moral of the stories are uplifting and try to push home the maxim that "truth and righteousness" and perserverance (in the case of Bhagiratha) shall aways prevail. Sometimes to know what is good, you have to know what is bad. I loved the fact that the authors explained the importance of the stories and how to deal with the unsavoury bits (violence etc) when reading the books to kids.

Summary of Ganga: The River that Flows from Heaven to Earth

Tells how the Hindu goddess Ganga came to Earth as the Ganges River

? Introduces children to one of the most beloved characters of Hindu mythology

? Illustrated throughout with full-color paintings in traditional Indian style

The Ganges River, which flows from the high reaches of the Himalayas all the way down to the Bay of Bengal, is sacred to the Hindu people, who consider it to be the earthly form of the goddess Ganga. The story of how Ganga was born, and how she became a river, tells of a journey from a place even higher than the Himalayan mountaintops--a journey from Heaven itself.

Born in a pot of sacred water, the baby Ganga grows into a beautiful and lighthearted girl, the darling of Heaven. But one day her sense of humor gets her in trouble. When grumpy Sage Durvasa is caught in a whirlwind that blows his clothes right off him, Ganga makes the mistake of laughing at him. In a rage, the sage puts a curse on her: ?You must go to Earth as a river!? Ganga is heartbroken and begs the sage to forgive her. He can?t take back the curse, but seeing that she is truly sorry, he gives her a blessing as well: her water will purify the souls of men, releasing them from sin.

When Sage Baghirath prays to the gods to help him release the souls of his ancestors, Ganga comes tumbling from the sky and follows the sage across India, the river unfurling behind her. To this day millions of people take comfort in her healing waters, and Ganga, too, takes comfort in relieving their suffering.

Eastern Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Eastern Books
Hindu Mandir (Keystones) ImageHindu Mandir (Keystones)
by Anita Ganeri
A. & C. Black, Ltd.; Published: 1998-07; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops: $8.95
The 14th Dalai Lama (A & E Biography (Econo-Clad)) ImageThe 14th Dalai Lama (A & E Biography (Econo-Clad))
by Whitney Stewart
Rebound by Sagebrush; Published: 2000-09; Library Binding; Book
Price in other shops: $16.60
Sacred Yantra Coloring Book (Dover Design Coloring Books) ImageSacred Yantra Coloring Book (Dover Design Coloring Books)
by Wil Stegenga
Dover Publications; Published: 2009-08-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.84
Price in other shops: $3.99
Buddha and the Bodhi Tree (Heinemann Stories from World Religions) ImageBuddha and the Bodhi Tree (Heinemann Stories from World Religions)
by W Owen Cole
Heinemann Library; Published: 1995-05-31; Hardcover; Book
Buddhism (Introducing Religions) (Introducing Religions) ImageBuddhism (Introducing Religions) (Introducing Religions)
by Sue Penney
Heinemann Library; Published: 2006-05-25; Hardcover; Book
Hinduism (Introducing Religions) ImageHinduism (Introducing Religions)
by Sue Penney
Heinemann Library; Published: 2007-04-26; Paperback; Book
Hinduism (A New Approach) ImageHinduism (A New Approach)
by Kevin O'Donnell, Jan Thompson
Hodder Murray; Published: 2005-05-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $25.98
Price in other shops: $41.00
Buddha: a Beginner's Guide ImageBuddha: a Beginner's Guide
Hodder Arnold H&S; Published: 2000-04-03; Paperback; Book
Ramayana and Hinduism (Sacred Texts) ImageRamayana and Hinduism (Sacred Texts)
by Anita Ganeri
Evans Brothers; Published: 2003-07-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $88.06
Landmarks in Life: Bk. 2 ImageLandmarks in Life: Bk. 2
by Christine Brittain, Michael Tredinnick
Nelson Thornes Ltd; Published: 1992-11; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Indian Children's Favourite Stories ImageIndian Children's Favourite Stories
by Rosemarie Somaiah, Ranjan Somaiah
Tuttle Publishing; Published: 2006-10-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.04
Price in other shops: $18.95
Story of Divaali ImageStory of Divaali
by Verma Jatinder
Barefoot Books; Published: 2007-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.77
Price in other shops: $7.99
Hanuman: The Heroic Monkey God (Minibook) ImageHanuman: The Heroic Monkey God (Minibook)
by Joshua Greene
Mandala Publishing; Mandala Publishing; Published: 2009-01-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.17
Price in other shops: $9.95
Hanuman's Journey to the Medicine Mountain ImageHanuman's Journey to the Medicine Mountain
by Vatsala Sperling
Bear Cub Books; Published: 2006-09-18; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.30
Price in other shops: $15.95
How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head ImageHow Ganesh Got His Elephant Head
by Harish Johari, Vatsala Sperling
Bear Cub Books; Published: 2003-10-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.86
Price in other shops: $15.95
The Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow ImageThe Little Book of Hindu Deities: From the Goddess of Wealth to the Sacred Cow
by Sanjay Patel
Ma's India; Plume; Published: 2006-10-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.86
Price in other shops: $15.00
How Parvati Won the Heart of Shiva (Classic Indian Stories for Children) ImageHow Parvati Won the Heart of Shiva (Classic Indian Stories for Children)
by Harish Johari, Vatsala Sperling
Bear Cub Books; Published: 2004-11-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.67
Price in other shops: $15.95
Our Most Dear Friend: An Illustrated Bhagavad-gita for Children ImageOur Most Dear Friend: An Illustrated Bhagavad-gita for Children
by Visakha Dasi
Torchlight Publishing; Published: 1996-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.70
Price in other shops: $9.95
Elephant Prince: The Story of Ganesh ImageElephant Prince: The Story of Ganesh
by Amy Novesky, Belgin K. Wedman
Mandala Publishing; Mandala Publishing; Published: 2004-10-20; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.19
Price in other shops: $16.95
The Magical Adventures of Krishna: How a Mischief Maker Saved the World (Classic Indian Stories for Children) ImageThe Magical Adventures of Krishna: How a Mischief Maker Saved the World (Classic Indian Stories for Children)
by Vatsala Sperling
Bear Cub Books; Published: 2009-11-16; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.65
Price in other shops: $15.95
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories