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Rivers in Ancient India (study)

by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words

This page relates ‘The river Yamuna and its present status� 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 river ۲ܲ occupies an important place in the Vedic literature. In one mantra[1] of the ṻ岹ṃh, ۲ܲ river is mentioned among the ٲԻ󲹱� or seven rivers. It is one of the important rivers of Sapta Ի岹� ʰś. The present ۲ܲ river is not different to that of the old one. In the ٳ󲹰岹ṃh, there is a mention of ۲ܲ river as Aṅśumatī river.[2] In the ʳܰṇ� also, ۲ܲ is considered as a famous river. Another name of ۲ܲ in the ʳܰṇa is Իī.[3]

The ۲ܲ is one of the largest and the most important tributaries of the Ҳṅg. It arises from the Yamnotri icecap on the Bandarpunch Peak in Garhwal in Uttaranchal at an altitude of 6,330 m, a source which is very close to that of the Ҳṅg itself. After cutting across the Nag Tibba, the Mussoorie and Shiwalik ranges, the ۲ܲ river emerges out of the hilly area and enters plains near Tajewala. Many small streams such as the Ṛṣigaṅgā, the Umā and the Hanuman—Ҳṅg join it in the mountains. Its main affluent in the upper reaches is the Tons which also rises from the Bandarpunch glacier at an attitude of 3,900 m and joins ۲ܲ below kalsi before the latter leaves the hills. At this site, the water carried by the Tons is twice the water carried by the ۲ܲ. It is joined by the 256 km long Hindon in Uttar-Pradesh after completing a journey of about 300 km the plain area. The ۲ܲ takes a southerly course up to Mathura and south-easterly in its onward journey up to Allahabad where it unites with the Ҳṅg. The ۲ܲ receives some important tributaries originating from the peninsular elevation between Agra and Allahabad. These are, viz.the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken and after it joins to Ҳṅg. The total length of the ۲ܲ from its origin to its concourse with the Ҳṅg at Allahabad is 1,376km.[4]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

ṻ岹 ṃh,10.75.5

[2]:

adha drapso aṃuśmatyā upasthidhārayat ٲԱ� titvisāna� | viśo adevīrathyā’carantīrbṛhaspatinā yujendra� samāhe || Atharvaveda ṃhٲ, 20.137.9

[3]:

kālindesaṃjñakā vīṃdra yaṃunā yānujā smṛtā| kṛṣṇapatnītvakāmena cacārra tapa uttamam || Garuḍa ʳܰṇa, 21.2 (Brahma khaṇḍa)

[4]:

Khuller, D.R., India, A Comprehensive Geography, p.83

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