On being released, the river began to flow in seven channels. Three of them flowed towards the east and three to the west. The river Gaṅgā flows through seven channels. The Nalinī, Hrādinī and Pāvanī are those which flow towards the east. The Sītā, the Cakṣus and the Sindhu flow towards the west. The seventh among them followed Bhagiratha towards the south.