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Vishnupadi, the flowing water of which washes away the papa of the people in the universe is the same as Ganga. It was called so because for many yugas (eras), this river confined itself to the heights of the sky, otherwise called Vishnupada. This particular spot is known as Dhruva mandala as it is here that Dhruva, son of Raja Uttanapada, did his penance. The Saptarshis (seven sages) who constantly go round and round the Dhruva mandala take their bath in this sacred river.<ref name=":0" />

Vishnupadi, the flowing water of which washes away the papa of the people in the universe is the same as Ganga. It was called so because for many yugas (eras), this river confined itself to the heights of the sky, otherwise called Vishnupada. This particular spot is known as Dhruva mandala as it is here that Dhruva, son of Raja Uttanapada, did his penance. The Saptarshis (seven sages) who constantly go round and round the Dhruva mandala take their bath in this sacred river.<ref name=":0" />

== गङ्गायाः पथः ॥ Course of the River Ganga ==

== गङ्गायाः पथः ॥ Course of the River Ganga ==

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. [[File:Course of Ganga.PNG|thumb|765x765px|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:Tributaries of Ganga.PNG|center|thumb|824x824px|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>]]

 

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|765x765px|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|824x824px|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>]]

== References ==

== References ==