Changes

*# असिक्नी - Asikni or Chandrabhaga (Chenab) मरुद्वृधा - Marudvrdha (Maruvardhvan) is said to be small river, a western tributary of Chenab.

*# असिक्नी - Asikni or Chandrabhaga (Chenab) मरुद्वृधा - Marudvrdha (Maruvardhvan) is said to be small river, a western tributary of Chenab.

*# परुष्णी - Parishni (Ravi)

*# परुष्णी - Parishni (Ravi)

*# विपाश - Vipaash or Vyas (Beas),

*# विपाश - Vipash or Vyas (Beas),

*# शतुद्री (शतद्रू) - Shatudri or Shatadru (Sutlej)

*# शतुद्री (शतद्रू) - Shatudri or Shatadru (Sutlej)

Mandala 10: 43.3; 67.12  

Mandala 10: 43.3; 67.12  

Sindhu with its tributaries like Trshtama, Susartu, Rasa, Kubha etc falls into the western ocean as per Rgveda 5.53.9 and 10.75.6. According to D. C. Sircar, Sindhu or the Indus rises in Tibet, passes through Kashmir, the Punjab and Sind and discharges its waters into the Arabian sea. The banks of Sindhu was full of everything required by the people of that age (Rgveda. 10.75.8).

Sindhu with its tributaries like Trshtama, Susartu (Susarta), Rasa, Kubha etc falls into the western ocean as per Rgveda 5.53.9 and 10.75.6. According to D. C. Sircar, Sindhu or the Indus rises in Tibet, passes through Kashmir, the Punjab and Sind and discharges its waters into the Arabian sea. The banks of Sindhu was full of everything required by the people of that age (Rgveda. 10.75.8).

=== River Sarasvati ===

=== सरस्वती ॥ Sarasvati ===

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>

Dr. Michel Danino, who authored the chapter: The Sarasvati River - Issues and Debates<ref name=":0">S. K. Acharya, Kunal Gosh, and Amal Kar (2020) ''Saraswati: The River par Excellence.'' Kolkata: The Asiatic Society (Pages 217-234)</ref>, mentions that the identification of the Ghaggar river as the Sarasvati river of the Vedic times was initially proposed in 1855 by a French geographer, Louis Vivien de Saint-Martin. He proposed this based on the surveys of the Thar Desert by British topographers, who reported the presence of a huge dry bed (the Ghaggar) between the Yamuna and Sutlej, precisely where in the Rgveda is located the Sarasvati. Many British maps (from 1760 onwards) also showed a small river named 'Soorsuty' or 'Sursooty' or 'Sarsuti' in the same location. Local tradition describes a seasonal river 'Sarsuti' as one of Ghaggar's tributaries and that there was once a vast river whose drying up caused the region's desolation. The gradual disappearance of Sarasvati is also known from the later Vedic literature, the Brahmanas, in which it is mentioned that Sarasvati breaks up at a point called Vinashana or Adarshana; and it a sacred tirtha.<ref name=":0" />

Dr. Michel Danino, who authored the chapter: The Sarasvati River - Issues and Debates<ref name=":0">S. K. Acharya, Kunal Gosh, and Amal Kar (2020) ''Saraswati: The River par Excellence.'' Kolkata: The Asiatic Society (Pages 217-234)</ref>, mentions that the identification of the Ghaggar river as the Sarasvati river of the Vedic times was initially proposed in 1855 by a French geographer, Louis Vivien de Saint-Martin. He proposed this based on the surveys of the Thar Desert by British topographers, who reported the presence of a huge dry bed (the Ghaggar) between the Yamuna and Sutlej, precisely where in the Rgveda is located the Sarasvati. Many British maps (from 1760 onwards) also showed a small river named 'Soorsuty' or 'Sursooty' or 'Sarsuti' in the same location. Local tradition describes a seasonal river 'Sarsuti' as one of Ghaggar's tributaries and that there was once a vast river whose drying up caused the region's desolation. The gradual disappearance of Sarasvati is also known from the later Vedic literature, the Brahmanas, in which it is mentioned that Sarasvati breaks up at a point called Vinashana or Adarshana; and it a sacred tirtha.<ref name=":0" />

=== River Ganga ===

=== गङ्गा ॥ Ganga ===

Ganga as the name of a river finds very scarce mention in the Rgveda; in  one context उरुकक्षो न गाङ्ग्यः (Rgveda. 6.45.31) the word गाङ्ग्यः can be considered as indirect reference by the mention of a person originating on the banks of river Ganga. However, it is not a clear explanation. It can be said that people of those times were not familiar with this river as much as they were with Sindhu or Sarasvati rivers, according to Pt. Baldev Upadhay. But one important reference to Ganga has been made in the Nadi sukta. References to Ganga are amply found in the subsequent [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana]] and [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyaka]] texts such as in Shatapatha Brahmana (13.5.4.11) and Taittriya Aranyaka (2.10).<ref name=":2" />

Ganga as the name of a river finds very scarce mention in the Rgveda; in  one context उरुकक्षो न गाङ्ग्यः (Rgveda. 6.45.31) the word गाङ्ग्यः can be considered as indirect reference by the mention of a person originating on the banks of river Ganga. However, it is not a clear explanation. It can be said that people of those times were not familiar with this river as much as they were with Sindhu or Sarasvati rivers, according to Pt. Baldev Upadhay. But one important reference to Ganga has been made in the Nadi sukta. References to Ganga are amply found in the subsequent [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmana]] and [[Aranyaka (आरण्यकम्)|Aranyaka]] texts such as in Shatapatha Brahmana (13.5.4.11) and Taittriya Aranyaka (2.10).<ref name=":2" />

The nadi-sukta begins with the enumeration of the rivers with the Ganga and moves westward. JahnAvI (जह्नावी) is mentioned in the Rgveda which correlates to JAhnavI (जाह्नवी) in the modern times, another name of the Ganga. JahnAvI is clearly the earlier Rgvedic form of the later word JahnAvI, the former word is not found after the Rgveda and the latter word is not found in the Rgveda. This word belongs to a class of words in the Rgveda which underwent a particular phonetic change in the course of time.<ref name=":1" /> Besides Yamuna or the Jumna there is no other reference at all to the other tributaries of Ganga flowing eastward.<ref name=":3" />

The nadi-sukta begins with the enumeration of the rivers with the Ganga and moves westward. JahnAvI (जह्नावी) is mentioned in the Rgveda which correlates to JAhnavI (जाह्नवी) in the modern times, another name of the Ganga. JahnAvI is clearly the earlier Rgvedic form of the later word JahnAvI, the former word is not found after the Rgveda and the latter word is not found in the Rgveda. This word belongs to a class of words in the Rgveda which underwent a particular phonetic change in the course of time.<ref name=":1" /> Besides Yamuna or the Jumna there is no other reference at all to the other tributaries of Ganga flowing eastward.<ref name=":3" />

=== River Yamuna ===

=== यमुना ॥ 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) the famous battle of ten kings.<ref name=":3" />

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" />

=== River Shutudri or Sutlej ===

=== शुतुद्रि ॥ Shutudri or Sutlej ===

Shutudri or Satadru, is identified as Sutlej is mentioned in the Rgveda together with Vipaas (Beas). It is the eastern most river of the Punjab.  Rising in the Himalayas, it runs through Punjab as a boundary between the Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar districts on the right and Ambala and Ludhiana districts on the left.<ref name=":3" />

Shutudri or Satadru, is identified as Sutlej is mentioned in the Rgveda together with Vipaas (Beas). It is the eastern most river of the Punjab.  Rising in the Himalayas, it runs through Punjab as a boundary between the Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar districts on the right and Ambala and Ludhiana districts on the left.<ref name=":3" /> In Ramayana this river is mentioned as Shatadru.<ref name=":2" />

=== River Parushni or Iravati or Ravi ===

=== परुष्णी ॥ Parushni or Iravati or Ravi ===

Parushni, the river of Punjab mentioned in Rgveda and called in later times as Iravati, is identified as the Ravi river. It arises in Kulu in the Kangra Distric of Himachal Pradesh and joins the Chenab river. It is on the banks of this river that the famous battle of Sudas with the ten kings took place where Sudas defeated his rivals. It is mentioned as a deep river which was crossed by Sudas with the aid of Indra.<ref name=":3" />

Parushni, the river of Punjab mentioned in Rgveda and called in later times as Iravati, is identified as the Ravi river. It arises in Kulu in the Kangra Distric of Himachal Pradesh and joins the Chenab river. It is on the banks of this river that the famous battle of Sudas with the ten kings took place where Sudas defeated his strong rivals.<ref name=":2" /> It is mentioned as a deep river which was crossed by Sudas with the aid of Indra.<ref name=":3" />

=== River Asikni or Chandrabhaga or Chenab ===

=== असिक्नी ॥ Asikni or Chandrabhaga or Chenab ===

Asikni (Chenab) rises in Lahul in the Himalayas and runs through Kashmir and the Punjab. It is mentioned in the Veda together with Vitasta, Marudvrdha, and Sindhu.<ref name=":3" />

Asikni (Chenab) rises in Lahul in the Himalayas and runs through Kashmir and the Punjab. It is mentioned in the Veda together with Vitasta, Marudvrdha, and Sindhu.<ref name=":3" /> This river appears black and hence called as Asikni. Its present names are Chandrabhaga and Chenab.<ref name=":2" />

=== River Vitasta or Jhelum ===

=== वितस्ता ॥ Vitasta or Jhelum ===

Vitasta, the most western of the five rivers of the Punjab has been mentioned as one of the rivers in the Nadisukta. It is famous in Kashmir as Veth. It is mentioned in the Nirukta as Vitasta, the mightly river having high banks (Nirukta. 9.26).<ref name=":3" />

Vitasta, the most western of the five rivers of the Punjab has been mentioned as one of the rivers in the Nadisukta. It is famous in Kashmir as Veth. It is mentioned in the Nirukta as Vitasta, the mightly river having high banks (Nirukta. 9.26).<ref name=":3" />

== Other Rivers in the Rgveda ==

== Other Rivers in the Rgveda ==

While the rivers, Sindhu, Sarasvati and to a lesser extent Ganga are familiar geographical landmarks in the Rgveda, there are many other rivers described in the veda, such as those mentioned in the Nadi-sukta. Most of the rivers mentioned here are of the Punjab region. The rivers that arise in Afghanistan and the Suleiman range in Pakistan and which drain into the Indus are Rasa, Kubha, Suvastu, Krumu and Gomati are also mentioned. Marudvrdha (10.75.5) found to be located in the Kashmiri region, indicates that Kashmir valley could have been known to the people of those times.     

While the rivers, Sindhu, Sarasvati and to a lesser extent Ganga are familiar geographical landmarks in the Rgveda, there are many other rivers described in the veda, such as those mentioned in the Nadi-sukta. Most of the rivers mentioned here are of the Punjab region. The rivers that arise in Afghanistan and the Suleiman range in Pakistan and which drain into the Indus are Rasa, Kubha, Suvastu, Krumu and Gomati are also mentioned.    

 

Marudvrdha (10.75.5) found to be located in the Kashmiri region, indicates that Kashmir valley could have been known to the people of those times.<ref name=":1" /> It is not a big river, said to be a western tributary of Chenab.<ref name=":2" />   

 

 

 

 

'''Susartu or Susarta (सुसर्ता)''' another tributary mentioned which is famous for flowing from south to the north. Presently called as "Khuru" it has eastern and western tributaries to it. It joins the Sindhu river after Jasakar river.<ref name=":2" />    

 

From the study of the rivers of Rgveda, it can be said that at that time people knew the regions like Afghanistan, Punjab, some parts of the Sindhu region, Rajputana, North-western region, Kashmir and the area extending up to the river Sarayu.   

From the study of the rivers of Rgveda, it can be said that at that time people knew the regions like Afghanistan, Punjab, some parts of the Sindhu region, Rajputana, North-western region, Kashmir and the area extending up to the river Sarayu.