A river in northern India which flows into the Ganga,

During the samudra manthan, a dispute arose on the ownership of the amrit. Vishnu, as Mohini, tricked the asuras into giving away the amrit. Shiva became infatuated with Mohini and embraced her. They began sweating and the sweat flowed as a river and that was Gandaki as per Skandapurana Asurakanda.

A few worms on its banks once fell into the river. They immediately gained salvation since the river was made of the sweat of Vishnu and Shiva. From then on, it became known as a holy river as per Skandapurana Asurakanda.

People who drink its water become free of sins as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 69 verse 20. It is also known as Narayani, Salagrami, Hiranyavati, Hiranwati as per Mahabharata Bhishmaparva Chapter 9 verse 25. When Krishna, Bhima and Arjuna were traveling from Indraprastha to Girivraja, they crossed this river as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 20 verse 27. The river is a mix of all the holy rivers. So those who bathe in it get the benefits of conducting ashwamedha and attain suryaloka as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 84 verse 113. It is also mentioned in Agni’s origins as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 222 verse 22.