JAHNU

[Hindu] A saint in Hindu mythology. According to the legend, when the celestial Ganga flowed to the earth from heaven, the hermitages of Jahnu and other saints were flooded and washed away by the flood of the river. Enraged at this, Jahnu drank the entire river waters by using his yogic power. At the request of gods and saints, he later released the river through his ear and told that Ganga would hereafter be known as his daughter. Thus, the river Ganga (the Ganges) came to be known as 'Jahnavi' (daughter of Jahnu).