A branch of the गन्गेस् . When the heavenly गङ्गा came down to the earth as a result of the penance of भगीरथ , शिव received it on his head. It is seen in वाल्मीकि रामायण , बाल काण्ड , Sarga 43 , that when the गङ्गा fell drown from the head of शिव it split into seven river-arms called ह्लादिनी , पावनी , नलिनी , सुचक्षुस् , सीता , सिन्धु and गङ्गा . The गन्गेस् which flows through North India is one of these seven river-arms.