One day King Shantanu of Hastinapur was roaming on the banks of river Ganga. Then he saw an amazingly beautiful woman, who was Mother Ganga herself. Seeing her divine beauty the king was fascinated and proposed marriage. Ganga placed a condition that the king would never interfere in any of her work. The king accepted this promise.

After marriage, Ganga gave birth to seven sons one by one, but after the birth of each son, she threw him into the river Ganga. King Shantanu remained silent because of his promise, but there was deep sorrow in his heart. This mystery became a topic of discussion in the entire state as to why the queen was doing this.