The Geography of the Puranas c8.82

c8.82

(iii) In the post-glacial period which followed, the snow-field melted and so did the glaciers on the three ranges mentioned above, i.e., on the three prongs of the Gaṅgā, named collectively as Tripathagā by the Purāṇas. The waters of the snow-field naturally found their way out of the confines of the bounding ranges. This event is expressed by the Purāṇas as the ‘release’ by the Lord of the goddess Tripathagā on account of King Bhagīratha’s entreaties and penance.