Changes

=== Saptasindhu ===

=== Saptasindhu ===

While many rivers are mentioned in the Rigveda, the term "Sapta-sindhu" appears in many instances in this veda. The Sapta-sindhu region or the land of seven rivers is also stated to be the homeland of the Rgvedic people.<ref name=":3" /> The word "Sapta-sindhu" means "seven rivers". The word sindhu generally indicates a river is mentioned in th

While many rivers are mentioned in the Rigveda, the term "Sapta-sindhu" appears in many instances in this veda. The Sapta-sindhu region or the land of seven rivers is also stated to be the homeland of the Rgvedic people. The word "Sapta-sindhu" means "seven rivers". The word sindhu has the following connotations.<ref name=":3" />

 

* It generally indicates a river as mentioned in Rgveda, 1.27.6 and 2.25.3. In the context where Sindhu and samudra are mentioned together, the sindhu means the river (3.36.6).

* It stands for a river of the Saptasindhu as mentioned in Rgveda 10.75.6. Sindhu stands for river Indus, is said to be greater than all other flowing rivers as mentioned in Rgveda 10.75.1.

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. Many questions around the "seven rivers" have to be resolved; such as if it refers to important rivers or seven particular rivers. However, it is difficult to arrive at the rivers considered to be important in those days. We come across more than seven rivers; which of these are counted as important? Many versions about what constitute the "seven rivers" are given by various scholars. Most notably, A.C. Das and P.L. Bhargava opined that the five rivers in Punjab, शुतुद्री (Sutlej), विपाश (Beas), पुरुष्णी (Iravati present Raavi river), वितस्ता (Jhelum), असिक्नी (or Chandrabhaga presently Chenab river) along with the Sindhu and the Sarasvati - are the rivers that are accounted for the term Sapta Sindhu.<ref name=":2" /> D. C. Sircar states that the seven rivers are often taken to be the five rivers in Punjab together with the Indus and the Sarasvati, though some scholars are inclined to substitute the Sarasvati by the Kabul.<ref name=":3" />

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. Many questions around the "seven rivers" have to be resolved; such as if it refers to important rivers or seven particular rivers. However, it is difficult to arrive at the rivers considered to be important in those days. We come across more than seven rivers; which of these are counted as important? Many versions about what constitute the "seven rivers" are given by various scholars. Most notably, A.C. Das and P.L. Bhargava opined that the five rivers in Punjab, शुतुद्री (Sutlej), विपाश (Beas), पुरुष्णी (Iravati present Raavi river), वितस्ता (Jhelum), असिक्नी (or Chandrabhaga presently Chenab river) along with the Sindhu and the Sarasvati - are the rivers that are accounted for the term Sapta Sindhu.<ref name=":2" /> D. C. Sircar states that the seven rivers are often taken to be the five rivers in Punjab together with the Indus and the Sarasvati, though some scholars are inclined to substitute the Sarasvati by the Kabul.<ref name=":3" />

Mandala 7: Suktas 95 and 96.  

Mandala 7: Suktas 95 and 96.  

It has been referred to in nine out of the ten mandala except the 4th mandala. The Sarasvati is so important in the whole of this veda that we see it's worship as one of the three great deities in the AprI-suktas, while Indus river finds no place.<ref name=":1" />  

It has been referred to in nine out of the ten mandalas except the 4th mandala. The Sarasvati is so important in the whole of this veda that we see it's worship as one of the three great deities in the AprI-suktas, while Indus river finds no place.<ref name=":1" />

 

According to Shri. A. C. Das, in the Rg vedic times Sarasvati river flowed and ended its journey in what was once a vast water body in area where we now see the desert sands of Rajasthan. The Mahabharata also describes the Sarasvati as flowing westward and getting "lost in the desert". It was, according to some scholars, in this sea that Sarasvati joined and drained into. Dr. P. L. Bhargava has called this water body as Sarasvat sea of the Rgvedic times. There are at least two suktas in which Sarasvat and Sarasvati are described and that Sarasvat is that sea into which Sarasvati river had drained into. In the Rg veda we find several occurrences about the vast, swift flowing Sarasvati river.<blockquote>एकाचेतत्सरस्वती नदीनां शुचिर्यती गिरिभ्य आ समुद्रात् ।.... (Rg. Veda. 7.95.2)</blockquote>

According to Shri. A. C. Das, in the Rg vedic times Sarasvati river flowed and ended its journey in what was once a vast water body in area where we now see the desert sands of Rajasthan. The Mahabharata also describes the Sarasvati as flowing westward and getting "lost in the desert". It was, according to some scholars, in this sea that Sarasvati joined and drained into. Dr. P. L. Bhargava has called this water body as Sarasvat sea of the Rgvedic times. There are at least two suktas in which Sarasvat and Sarasvati are described and that Sarasvat is that sea into which Sarasvati river had drained into. In the Rg veda we find several occurrences about the vast, swift flowing Sarasvati river.<blockquote>एकाचेतत्सरस्वती नदीनां शुचिर्यती गिरिभ्य आ समुद्रात् ।.... (Rg. Veda. 7.95.2)</blockquote>