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Line 1: − + + + + + − Many rivers are mentioned in the Rigveda. The term "Sapta-sindhu" appears in many instances in this veda. But in the present situations, finding these seven rivers has been a little challenging. It is possible that the five rivers in Punjab, शुतुद्री (Sutlej), विपाश (Beas), पुरुष्णी (Iravati present Raavi river), वितस्ता (Jhelum), असिक्नी (Chandrabhaga presently Chenab river) along with Sindu and Sarasvati are the rivers that are accounted for the term Sapta Sindhu. Following are more details about the rivers in Rgveda.<ref name=":2">Upadhyaya, Baldev (1958) Vaidik Sahitya</ref>+ − *Nadi-sukta (नदीसुक्तम्) mentioned in Mandala 10, is a sukta fully dedicated to the rivers. At least nineteen rivers have been invoked in the 5th and 6th mantras of this sukta, listed from east to west, mentioning the major rivers along with the tributaries of the Sindu river. + − <blockquote>इ॒मं मे॑ गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वति॒ शुतु॑द्रि॒ स्तोमं॑ सचता॒ परु॒ष्ण्या ।</blockquote><blockquote>अ॒सि॒क्न्या म॑रुद्वृधे वि॒तस्त॒याऽऽर्जी॑कीये शृणु॒ह्या सु॒षोम॑या ॥५॥</blockquote><blockquote>तृ॒ष्टाम॑या प्रथ॒मं यात॑वे स॒जूः सु॒सर्त्वा॑ र॒सया॑ श्वे॒त्या त्या ।</blockquote><blockquote>त्वं सि॑न्धो॒ कुभ॑या गोम॒तीं क्रुमुं॑ मेह॒त्न्वा स॒रथं॒ याभि॒रीय॑से ॥६॥ (Rg.Veda. 10.75.5-6)<ref>Rg Veda ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-075/ Mandala 10 Sukta 75])</ref></blockquote>O Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Shutudri, Parushni, Asikni, Marudvrdha, Vitasta along with Sushoma and Arjikiya, accept and hear my praise for you. O Sindhu, you, to meet the swift-flowing Gomati, first joined with river Trshtama. Later you join with Susarta, Rasa, Sveta, Kubha, Krumu, and Mehatnu and travel in the same chariot (meaning flows as one river along with them).
Rivers in Rigveda (ऋग्वेदे नदीनां विवेचनम्) (view source)
Revision as of 13:37, 2 October 2021
, 13:37, 2 October 2021no edit summary
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While studying about the rivers of Rgvedic times, one must note that even though we find the same names of rivers at present in some instances, the course of the river may or mostly may not remain the same in the present times. It is well known that even now rivers change course of their flow due to various reasons. The Yangtsze river in China is one such famous example.
Rivers, freshwater bodies primarily, have played the most important role in the development of human settlements and civilizations around the world. We find many great civilizations such as the Nile Valley civilization in Egypt that flourished on the banks of river. Archeological evidence point to the fact that the Harappan and Indus valley civilizations on the banks of rivers flowing in the northwestern region of India represent some of the oldest human settlements in the world. While studying about the rivers of Rgvedic times, one must note that even though we find the same names of rivers at present in many instances, the course of the river may or mostly may not remain the same in the present times. It is well known that even now rivers change course of their flow due to various reasons. The Yangtsze river in China is one such famous example.
=== Introduction ===
While many rivers are mentioned in the Rigveda, the term "Sapta-sindhu" appears in many instances in this veda. In in the present day conditions, finding these seven rivers has been a little challenging owing to renaming them as well as disappearance or change of course. It is possible that the five rivers in Punjab, शुतुद्री (Sutlej), विपाश (Beas), पुरुष्णी (Iravati present Raavi river), वितस्ता (Jhelum), असिक्नी (Chandrabhaga presently Chenab river) along with Sindu and Sarasvati are the rivers that are accounted for the term Sapta Sindhu.
Nadi-sukta (नदीसुक्तम्) mentioned in Mandala 10, is a sukta fully dedicated to the rivers. At least nineteen rivers have been invoked in the 5th and 6th mantras of this sukta, listed from east to west, mentioning the major rivers along with the tributaries of the Sindu river.
<blockquote>इ॒मं मे॑ गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वति॒ शुतु॑द्रि॒ स्तोमं॑ सचता॒ परु॒ष्ण्या ।</blockquote><blockquote>अ॒सि॒क्न्या म॑रुद्वृधे वि॒तस्त॒याऽऽर्जी॑कीये शृणु॒ह्या सु॒षोम॑या ॥५॥</blockquote><blockquote>तृ॒ष्टाम॑या प्रथ॒मं यात॑वे स॒जूः सु॒सर्त्वा॑ र॒सया॑ श्वे॒त्या त्या ।</blockquote><blockquote>त्वं सि॑न्धो॒ कुभ॑या गोम॒तीं क्रुमुं॑ मेह॒त्न्वा स॒रथं॒ याभि॒रीय॑से ॥६॥ (Rg.Veda. 10.75.5-6)<ref>Rg Veda ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-075/ Mandala 10 Sukta 75])</ref></blockquote>O Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Shutudri, Parushni, Asikni, Marudvrdha, Vitasta along with Sushoma and Arjikiya, accept and hear my praise for you. O Sindhu, you, to meet the swift-flowing Gomati, first joined with river Trshtama. Later you join with Susarta, Rasa, Sveta, Kubha, Krumu, and Mehatnu and travel in the same chariot (i.e., flow as one river merging along with them).
Following are more details about the rivers in Rgveda.<ref name=":2">Upadhyaya, Baldev (1958) Vaidik Sahitya</ref>
*Rivers flow towards and empty into the sea (Rgveda 1.190.7, 6.19.5, 8.6.4)
*Rivers flow towards and empty into the sea (Rgveda 1.190.7, 6.19.5, 8.6.4)
*Seven rivers emptying into the sea has been referred in Rgveda 1.71.7.
*Seven rivers emptying into the sea has been referred in Rgveda 1.71.7.
=== Sarasvati River ===
=== Sarasvati River ===