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Ganga, originating from Vishnupada, falls on devayana glittering with crores of vimanas and therefrom it descends on Chandra mandala which it submerges. It follows its course again from there dividing itself into four tributaries called Sita, Chakshus, Alakananda and Bhadra and then falls in Brahmaloka wherefrom it flows in all directions.  

Ganga, originating from Vishnupada, falls on devayana glittering with crores of vimanas and therefrom it descends on Chandra mandala which it submerges. It follows its course again from there dividing itself into four tributaries called Sita, Chakshus, Alakananda and Bhadra and then falls in Brahmaloka wherefrom it flows in all directions.  

Of the four tributaries, Sita falls on the head of Mount Meru, flows down to Gandhamadana, then circling through Bhadrashva varsha falls into the eastern sea. Chakshus falls on the peaks of mount Malyavan, flows through Ketumala and falls into the western sea. Alakananda falls on mount Hemakuta, flows through Bharatavarsha and falls into the southern sea. And Bhadra falls on the head of mount Shrngavan flows through uttarakuru and falls into the northern sea. Alakananda that flows through Bharatavarsha is regarded as the most sacred of the four tributaries.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Course of Ganga.PNG|thumb|750x750px|Course of Ganga<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/276 Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref>|left]]

Of the four tributaries, Sita falls on the head of Mount Meru, flows down to Gandhamadana, then circling through Bhadrashva varsha falls into the eastern sea. Chakshus falls on the peaks of mount Malyavan, flows through Ketumala and falls into the western sea. Alakananda falls on mount Hemakuta, flows through Bharatavarsha and falls into the southern sea. And Bhadra falls on the head of mount Shrngavan flows through uttarakuru and falls into the northern sea. Alakananda that flows through Bharatavarsha is regarded as the most sacred of the four tributaries.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Course of Ganga.PNG|thumb|745x745px|Course of Ganga<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/276 Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref>|left]]

[[File:Tributaries of Ganga.PNG|center|thumb|820x820px|Flow of the four main tributaries of Ganga<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/276 Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref>]]

[[File:Tributaries of Ganga.PNG|center|thumb|820x820px|Flow of the four main tributaries of Ganga<ref>Vettam Mani (1975), [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/276 Puranic Encyclopaedia], Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.</ref>]]

gaṅgā which flowed through heaven fell on the earth after thousands of years of its origin. (bhāgavata, Pañcama, skandha, Chapter 17).

gaṅgā which flowed through heaven fell on the earth after thousands of years of its origin. (bhāgavata, Pañcama, skandha, Chapter 17).

== References ==

== References ==