Why is Ganga called Tripathagā?

Tripathagā = “She who flows in three paths”
– Heaven (Swarga)
– Earth (Prithvi)
– Underworld (Patala)

In the Vedas and Puranas, the Ganga is revered as Tripathagā—the river that flows through three worlds. It is said she first descended from the heavens, sanctifying the celestial realm. Then she flowed on Earth, bringing purity and sustenance to human life. Finally, she was believed to extend into the underworld, granting liberation even to departed souls. This threefold presence made her not just a river, but a bridge across existence—linking the divine, the living, and the ancestral worlds. Hence, every dip in her waters is seen as cleansing body, mind, and soul across all realms.