Statue of the Goddess Ganga. Source: Wikimedia
King Shantanu and Ganga, by Donald A. Mackenzie
There were eight celestial beings called Vasus that were attendants of Indra. They were cast down to earth in human form by Vashishtha for blocking the sun during his holy meditations. They went to Ganga for help and to ask if she would be there human mother and cast them into the ganges at birth so they could return to the celestial realm. She agreed to this but made them all promise to each give one eighth of their power to her son who should remain a man for many years and will not marry or foster offspring. King Shantanu was walking along the Ganges one day and saw Ganga in human form by the river. He was instantly awe struck by her beauty and gaze and asker her to marry him right away. She agreed to wed him but she made him promise to never question her decisions or speak harshly to her or else she would leave immediately. She had children with the king and one after the other, cast 7 of them into the ganges. The king was horrified and before she killed the eighth, he lashed out at her. She revealed who she was and what she was doing and left him with the eighth child. She then returned some time later to give the king a son. The king takes the boy in and names him Devavrata.
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