The generally known seven sacred rivers are Ganga, Yamuna,
Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. It is given in the sloka:
गंगे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि
सरस्वति।
नर्मदे सिन्धु कावेरि
जलेस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु॥
In the Adiparva of Mahabharata, during the Pandavas’
encounter with Chitraratha, Arjuna enumerates the 7 holy rivers as follows:
गंगां च यमुनां चैव
प्लक्षजातां सरस्वतीम्।
रथस्थां सरयूं चैव गोमतीं
गण्डकीं तथा॥
It means the seven holy rivers are Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Rathastha, Sarayu, Gomati and Gandaki.
He further says that Ganga is known as Alakananda in Devaloka, Vaitarani in pitrloka and Ganga on earth.
