Varāha Mahā Purana
82 - The descent of the rivers
Rudra said:
1. Now listen to the descent of the rivers. From what is known as the ocean of the sky, starts the river of the sky. This river is always agitated by the elephant of Indra. (As a result) it falls at the top of Meru in eighty-four thousand streams. And flowing up to the foot of the Meru, it forms into four and follows a clockwise direction for six thousand yojanas with the names Sitä, Alakanandä, Chakshus and Bhadrä. Among them the one that reaches earth slashing eighty-one thousand mountains is known as Gañgä.
2. Now we describe Amaragandika on the side of Gandhamädana. It is thirty-one thousand yojanas long and four hundred yojanas broad. This region is Ketumäla with mighty men black in complexion and beautiful women lotus-like in complexion. There we get big jack trees. The son of Brahma is the lord there. The people here drink water, are free from decay and disease and live for ten thousand years. On the eastern side of Mälyavän is the Pürvagandikä and from Ekašhruñga extends Mänasa for one thousand yojanas. This region is known as Bhadräšhva.
3. There we get the forest of wholesome Rasäla trees. The mangoes are black, men white, women lotus-coloured and their life is one thousand years. There are five great mountains, Shailavarna, Mäläkhya, Korajaska, Triparna and Nila. The regions watered (by the streams from these mountains) have the same names.
4. Those regions consume the water from the rivers Sitä, Suvähini, Hamsavati, Käsä, Mahävaktra, Chandravati, Käveri, Surasä, Äkhÿävati, Indravati, Añgäravähini, Harittoyä, Somavartä, Shatahradä, Vanamälä, Vasumatï, Hamsä, Suparnä, Pañchagañgä, Dhanusmati, Mapivaprä, Subrahmabhägä, Viläsini, Krishnatoyä, Punyodä, Nägavati, Shiva, Shaivälini, Manitatä, Kshiroda, Varupatäli and Those who drink the waters of these rivers live for ten thousand years and become devotees of Rudra and Umä.
Summary of chapter 82 of the Varāha Mahā Purana is as follows:
Maharshi Pulastya imparts the sacred ordinances, devotional vows, and daily worship rituals to be observed by pilgrims visiting Sannihatī Tīrtha. The chapter emphasizes the supreme importance of offering charity, sesame seeds, milk, and gold to virtuous brāhmaṇas while maintaining strict mental purity. Observing these holy rites with faith liberates seven generations of ancestors from subtle bonds and grants the devotee eternal spiritual merit and union with Parameśvara Śiva.