Importance and Sanctity of the Site

The traditional importance of the site lies in the fact that the river Ganga here becomes 'Uttarvahini' i.e. takes a turn to the north towards Mount Kailasa (the abode of Lord Shiva), a deviation from its general course towards the south. Since such sites are very uncommon, they are specially regarded as sacred and are often visited by pilgrims for religious ceremonies, especially on important days. However, among such Uttarvahini sites, Sultanganj, with its rocky island historically referred as Jahngira, has been of enormous sanctity. Buchanan in his report observed that there must have been some peculiar reason which made it the most frequented of the three such sites in the vicinity (other two being at Munger and Kahalgaon), even when the circumstance of the river running northward was not as well defined or remarkable as at the other two. Later, Cunningham also noted it as being the most holy and frequented of the three sites in the vicinity. 

In my opinion, the reason for such sanctity may not be far to seek and can surely be gauged from its nomenclature, believed to have been derived from Rishi Jahnu, associated in Hindu mythology with the story of rebirth of the river Ganga, which is also thus addressed as ‘Jahnavi’, or the daughter of Jahnu3. The ancient story mentions that the river, initially on her way to the ocean, on the route charted by the legendary sage Bhagirath, by the rush of her currents, had unknowingly interrupted Rishi Jahnu’s meditation, who suddenly became so enraged that he swallowed the whole incoming waters in a gulp with all his acquired miraculous powers. Bhagirath, having secured the river from heaven for its earthly course was deeply shocked and had to pray upon Jahnu for her release, and it was only upon such intercession, that the river was later released and thus reborn.

To be continued....