Changes

*'''The Eastern rivers''':  

*'''The Eastern rivers''':  

*#Ashmanvati (Assan, a tributary of the Yamuna)

*#Ashmanvati (Assan, a tributary of the Yamuna)

*#Yamuna/Amshumati, Ganga (Jahnavi)

*#Yamuna/Amshumati  

*#Ganga (Jahnavi)

Many names given above are under investigation for evidences pertaining to transfer of river-names and places in geographical context are being considered. For example, JahnAvi is the name of river Ganga mentioned in the Rgveda.  

Many names given above are under investigation for evidences pertaining to transfer of river-names and places in geographical context are being considered. For example, JahnAvi is the name of river Ganga mentioned in the Rgveda.  

== Key rivers in the Rgveda ==

== Key rivers in the Rgveda ==

Nadi-sukta (नदीसुक्तम्) mentioned in Mandala 10, is a sukta (75) 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 Sindhu river.

Nadi-sukta (नदीसुक्तम्) mentioned in Mandala 10, is a sukta (75) 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 Sindhu river.

<blockquote>इ॒मं मे॑ गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वति॒ शुतु॑द्रि॒ स्तोमं॑ सचता॒ परु॒ष्ण्या । अ॒सि॒क्न्या म॑रुद्वृधे वि॒तस्त॒याऽऽर्जी॑कीये शृणु॒ह्या सु॒षोम॑या ॥५॥  

<blockquote>इ॒मं मे॑ गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वति॒ शुतु॑द्रि॒ स्तोमं॑ सचता॒ परु॒ष्ण्या । अ॒सि॒क्न्या म॑रुद्वृधे वि॒तस्त॒याऽऽर्जी॑कीये शृणु॒ह्या सु॒षोम॑या ॥५॥ तृ॒ष्टाम॑या प्रथ॒मं यात॑वे स॒जूः सु॒सर्त्वा॑ र॒सया॑ श्वे॒त्या त्या । 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>

तृ॒ष्टाम॑या प्रथ॒मं यात॑वे स॒जूः सु॒सर्त्वा॑ र॒सया॑ श्वे॒त्या त्या । 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 (गङ्गा), Yamuna (यमुना), Sarasvati (सरस्वती), Shutudri (शुतुद्रि) or Shatudri, Parushni (परुष्णी), Asikni (असिक्नी), Marudvrdha (मरुद्वृधा), Vitasta (वितस्ता) along with Sushoma (सुषोमा) and Arjikiya (आर्जीकीय), accept and hear my praise for you. O Sindhu (सिन्धू), you, to meet the swift-flowing Gomati, first joined with river Trshtama (तृ॒ष्टामा). Later you join with Susarta (सुसर्ता), Rasa (रस), Sveta (श्वेता), Kubha (कुभ), Krumu (क्रुमु), and Mehatnu (मेह॒त्नु) and travel in the same chariot (i.e., flow as one river merging along with them).

O Ganga (गङ्गा), Yamuna (यमुना), Sarasvati (सरस्वती), Shutudri (शुतुद्रि) or Shatudri, Parushni (परुष्णी), Asikni (असिक्नी), Marudvrdha (मरुद्वृधा), Vitasta (वितस्ता) along with Sushoma (सुषोमा) and Arjikiya (आर्जीकीय), accept and hear my praise for you. O Sindhu (सिन्धू), you, to meet the swift-flowing Gomati, first joined with river Trshtama (तृ॒ष्टामा). Later you join with Susarta (सुसर्ता), Rasa (रस), Sveta (श्वेता), Kubha (कुभ), Krumu (क्रुमु), and Mehatnu (मेह॒त्नु) and travel in the same chariot (i.e., flow as one river merging along with them).

In the Rgvedic times Sarasvati was worshipped both as a deity of learning as well as a deity of a river. She was revered as the most sacred and is the most well-known river in these texts. In the past eras the vast river gradually dried up in the desert areas of the northwestern region of India. It now remains as a small well-known river by the name 'Sarsuti'. It flowed between Yamuna and Shutudri (Sutlej) and drained into the western ocean as per Rgvedic texts.<ref name=":2" /> As per D. C. Sircar, Sarasvati or the modern Sarsuti rises in Sirmur, passes by Thanesar in the Ambala district and loses itself in the sands of Patiala.<ref name=":6">Dvivedi, Kapil Dev. (2000) ''Vaidika Sahitya evam Samskrti (Vedic Literature and Culture).'' Varanasi: Vishvavidyalaya Prakashan. (Pages 249-252)</ref>

In the Rgvedic times Sarasvati was worshipped both as a deity of learning as well as a deity of a river. She was revered as the most sacred and is the most well-known river in these texts. In the past eras the vast river gradually dried up in the desert areas of the northwestern region of India. It now remains as a small well-known river by the name 'Sarsuti'. It flowed between Yamuna and Shutudri (Sutlej) and drained into the western ocean as per Rgvedic texts.<ref name=":2" /> As per D. C. Sircar, Sarasvati or the modern Sarsuti rises in Sirmur, passes by Thanesar in the Ambala district and loses itself in the sands of Patiala.<ref name=":6">Dvivedi, Kapil Dev. (2000) ''Vaidika Sahitya evam Samskrti (Vedic Literature and Culture).'' Varanasi: Vishvavidyalaya Prakashan. (Pages 249-252)</ref>

In the earlier period, the territory lying between the Sarasvati and the Drshadvati called BrahmAvarta, was a holy land built by the devatas and the cradle of Vedic culture. Manusmrti mentions that <blockquote>सरस्वतीदृशद्वत्योर्देवनद्योर्यदन्तरम् । तं देवनिर्मितं देशं ब्रह्मावर्तं प्रचक्षते । । २.१७ । । तस्मिन्देशे य आचारः पारम्पर्यक्रमागतः । वर्णानां सान्तरालानां स सदाचार उच्यते । । २.१८ । ।</blockquote>It is in this place, BrahmAvarta, that pious sages performed the sacred ceremonies.<ref name=":3" /> 

In the earlier period, the territory lying between the Sarasvati and the Drshadvati called BrahmAvarta, was a holy land and the cradle of Vedic culture. Manusmrti mentions that <blockquote>सरस्वतीदृशद्वत्योर्देवनद्योर्यदन्तरम् । तं देवनिर्मितं देशं ब्रह्मावर्तं प्रचक्षते । । २.१७ । ।

तस्मिन्देशे य आचारः पारम्पर्यक्रमागतः । वर्णानां सान्तरालानां स सदाचार उच्यते । । २.१८ । ।</blockquote>It is in this place that pious sages performed the sacred ceremonies.

Sarasvati is associated with the rule of Yayati, Trtsu king Vadhyryasva etc.<ref name=":3" /> However, the Brahmana literature points to the evidence that drying up of Sarasvati has started. Tandya Brahmana (25.10.16) mentions that Sarasvati river has disappeared in a place called Vinashana (विनशन). Puranas mention that this river disappears outside but flows beneath the earth to meets Ganga and Yamuna rivers at Prayaga (the modern Prayagraj). In the Jaiminiya Brahmana (4.26.12) Sarasvati river is said to reappear in a place called Plaksha praasravana (प्लक्ष प्रास्रवण), Ashvalayana shrautasutra (12.6.1) mentions this place as Plaksha prasravana (प्लक्ष प्रस्रवण).<ref name=":2" />  

 

However, the Brahmana literature points to the evidence that drying up of Sarasvati has started. Tandya Brahmana (25.10.16) mentions that Sarasvati river has disappeared in a place called Vinashana (विनशन). Puranas mention that this river disappears outside but flows beneath the earth to meets Ganga and Yamuna rivers at Prayaga (the modern Prayagraj). In the Jaiminiya Brahmana (4.26.12) Sarasvati river is said to reappear in a place called Plaksha praasravana (प्लक्ष प्रास्रवण), Ashvalayana shrautasutra (12.6.1) mentions this place as Plaksha prasravana (प्लक्ष प्रस्रवण).<ref name=":2" />  

The Sarasvati river has been referred to many times in the three oldest mandalas of the Rgveda. Three whole suktas are dedicated to this river,   

The Sarasvati river has been referred to many times in the three oldest mandalas of the Rgveda. Three whole suktas are dedicated to this river,   

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" />

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 Rgvedic 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 Rgvedic 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 Rgveda we find several occurrences about the vast, swift flowing Sarasvati river.<blockquote>एकाचेतत्सरस्वती नदीनां शुचिर्यती गिरिभ्य आ समुद्रात् ।.... (Rg. Veda. 7.95.2)</blockquote>

[[File:Sarasvati in Mahabharata Age.PNG|right|frameless|446.992x446.992px]]

[[File:Sarasvati in Mahabharata Age.PNG|right|frameless|446.992x446.992px]]

Here it is mentioned that Sarasvati river flows from the mountains to the sea. Dr. Bhargava gives references of Puranas and mahakavyas to support his theory that the large parts of the modern day Rajasthan was once covered by a large sea into which Sarasvati river drained into. Other investigations identify the "sea" into which the Sarasvati drained into was the present day Arabian sea.<ref name=":4">Pt. Upadhyaya, Baldev. (2012 Second Edition) ''Samskrit Vangmay ke Brihad Itihas, Vol 1, Veda.'' Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan. (Pages 515-531)</ref>

Here it is mentioned that Sarasvati river flows from the mountains to the sea. Dr. Bhargava gives references of Puranas and mahakavyas to support his theory that the large parts of the modern day Rajasthan was once covered by a large sea into which Sarasvati river drained into. Other investigations identify the "sea" into which the Sarasvati drained into was the present day Arabian sea.<ref name=":4">Pt. Upadhyaya, Baldev. (2012 Second Edition) ''Samskrit Vangmay ke Brihad Itihas, Vol 1, Veda.'' Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan. (Pages 515-531)</ref>

=== River Yamuna ===

=== River Yamuna ===

Yamuna has been mentioned thrice in this Veda, the name of which is seen mentioned in Atharvaveda (4.9.10) and Aitareya Brahmana (8.83). This river is mentioned in connection with Dasharajna Yuddha (7.18.19).

Yamuna has been mentioned thrice in this Veda, the name of which is seen mentioned in Atharvaveda (4.9.10) and Aitareya Brahmana (8.83). This river is mentioned in connection with Dasharajna Yuddha (7.18.19) the famous battle of ten kings.<ref name=":3" />

 

 

 

 

== Other Rivers in the Rgveda ==

== Other Rivers in the Rgveda ==