Alaknanda is the name of Ganga as it flows through the heavens. It has yet not mingled with the earth. It is the main stream flowing through the Himalayas in its utter purity, hence a favourite of the gods who are supposed to come around its banks unseen by men. Alaknanda passes through five special holy regions before it is joined by another stream, which is called Bhagirathi. The latter gets its name from the King whose penance brought down the Ganga to earth and led it to different places throughout the earth. The name Ganga is given after the confluence of the two streams, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi. The mystical meaning of the confluence is the meeting of earth and its efforts and the purifying force that descends from the heavens.
I am not sure, where does a word spelt as Dow occurs. There is the word dowered that occurs twice in Savitri and refers to giving, endowing with, the usual meaning of the word.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
