Iconographic representations of Goddess Ganga vary from region to region. Local traditions depict Murti, or idol, of Goddess Ganga based on their local beliefs. In Hindu Temples, river Goddess Ganga is depicted as a young maiden. She holds an overflowing pot of water. She travels on an aquatic animal known as Makara – similar to crocodile. Symbolically, this murti conveys the idea of abundance and fertility, which nourishes the living beings. In some images Goddess Ganga is also represented as a mermaid wearing a crown and bearing on her forehead markings of sacred ash. In this form She is associated with Shiva. In some images she is depicted as a beautiful woman with the lower half of the body being flowing water. This symbolizes her cleansing and purifying attributes. Her popular emblems are water pot, flying whist and lotus. Her Vahana or Vehicle is Makara – a hybrid aquatic animal – it has the body of a crocodile, tail of a fish with feathery fronds, depic

Kaushika Purana is a minor Purana or Upapurana. Kaushik Puranam is not mentioned in any of the Mahapuranas. The reference of the text is found in the Dharmashastras. Kaushika Purana is named after Kaushika – Sage Vishwamitra. The name Kaushika as Sage Vishwamitra was the descendant of Kusha.  Kausika comes in the third generation from Kusha, i.e, Kusha, Kusanabha, Gadhi and Vishwamitra. The Rishi was a towering personality in the Kaushika Purana, as he had become Brahmarishi by the virtue of his deeds, though by birth he was of Kshatriya origin. The only reference to the Purana is found in New Catalogus Catalogorum of the Madras University, Chennai. The legends and stories of Chandal devotees are narrated in this Purana through the dialogues between Bhumi and Varaha. The text is not currently available in printed form and even the manuscripts are not traceable. As per New Catalogus Catalogrum of Madras University, a Telugu version of the purana was published i