365bet

Rivers in Ancient India (study)

by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words

This page relates ‘Historical Facts of the river Sarasvati� of the study on the rivers in ancient India as reflected in the Vedic and Puranic texts. These pages dicsusses the elements of nature and the importance of rivers (Nadi) in Vedic and Puranic society. Distinctive traits of rivers are investigated from descriptions found in the Vedas (Samhitas), Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads and Puranas. The research is concluded by showing changing trends of rivers from ancient to modern times.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

The ī river was the boundary of Brahmavarta, the home of the early Aryans. In ancient times, ī was supposed to be the goddess of the Bharatas tribe who held themselves as descending from her. It is the source of food and wealth of the descendants of ṣa and other living beings, viz. the five tribes such as the ٲ, Kurus, Kuśānas, Matsyas and Videhas, for it is said in the ṻ岹ṃh that the ī causes prosperity of five folks.[1] Sarsvatī is described to be excessively generous to the kings residing along the banks of the ī.[2] ī’s association with the ٲ proved that she would have flowed in the western part of the Indian Peninsula. Moreover, the references to the early kurus assign them to the western provinces of India. As they were closely associated with the ī, the letter must have flowed in the western part of India, especially in the Punjab. It can be said that the ī of the Ṛgvedic time flowed through their regions and made them flourish in the western part of India in Punjab and the south of Rajasthan.

ī as the embodiment of the ī river is significant in both a historical and a theological sense. The Vedic Aryans, who migrated into NorthWest India, and gradually spread throughout the subcontinent in the course of many generations. The reverence given to ī as the embodiment of a river in North-West India, is important which indicates that the Aryan had begun to identify their culture with a specific geographical location and were beginning to settle down to a non-nomadic way of life.

The river ī could not maintain its flow and it disappeared long ago. Max Müller is of the opinion that the ī did not disappear in the Ṛgvedic age, but later.[3]

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

ṻ岹 ṃh, 6. 61.12

[2]:

Ibid., 8. 21.18

[3]:

Vide, Max Müller (ed.,) Sacred Books of the East, Vol., 32, p.60

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Help to become even better: