The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s5.10

c5.s5.10

Gaṇḍakî—The river Gaṇḍak. It rises in the Sapta Gaṇḍakî or Dhavalâgiri range of the Himâlaya, which is the southern boundary of Central Tibet, the remote source being called Dâmodarakuṇḍa, and enters the plains at a spot called Tribeṇî Ghâṭ (see Sapta-Gaṇḍakî). The river is said to have been formed from the sweat of the cheeks (Gaṇḍa) of Vishnu who performed austerities near its source and hence the river is called Gaṇḍakî (Varâha P., ch. 144). The source of the river is not far from Śâlagrâma, which was the hermitage of Bharata and Pulaha. The temple of Muktinâtha (an image of Nârâyaṇa) is on the south of Śâlagrâma. Hence the river is called the Śâlagrâmî and Nârâyaṇî (Varâha P., ch. 144). See Muktinâtha. The river now joins the Ganges at Sonepur in the district of Muzaffarpur in Bihar where the celebrated fair is held (see Visâlâ-chhatra Gajendramoksha, Hariharakshetra and Triveṇî.