PabanHindu Male Sanskrit name meaning

Paban, in Hindu mythology, is the goddess of the river Ganges. She is also known as Ganga Mata or Aditi. According to legend, the Gods churned the ocean (Samudra Manthan) to obtain the elixir of immortality (amrita). However, the poison produced during the process threatened to destroy the universe. Lord Vishnu in the form of Mohini, the enchantress, rescued the gods by consuming the poison and distributing it evenly throughout the universe. To prevent the poison from entering her body, Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva, held the goddess Ganga in her hair. When Ganga was released from Parvati's hair, she touched Lord Shiva's head and was transformed into river Paban.

Ancient India, circa 2nd millennium BCE

Another reference to Paban can be found in the Puranic texts. In this context, Paban is the mother of the river Saraswati. Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and learning. According to the Mahabharata, the sage Agastya, performing a yajna, invoked the goddess Saraswati. Paban, the mother of Saraswati, appeared in the form of a beautiful woman and blessed Agastya with the knowledge of all the Vedas.

Ancient India, circa 4th century BCE