2. The rivers in the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺蝉

Rivers in Ancient India (study)

by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words

This page relates 鈥楾he rivers in the Brahmanas鈥� 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.

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2. The rivers in the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺蝉

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The centre of gravity of Aryan civilization was shifting from the Northwest to the eastern regions in the later Vedic age. In the 峁歡vedic age, the cradleland of Aryan civilization was located in the land of the traditional 笔补帽肠补-箩补苍补蝉 in the Punjab and extended eastward to the region bordered by the rivers 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨 and 顿峁涐梗补诲惫补迟墨, the home of Bharatas. In the Br膩hma峁噄cal era, the civilization shifted from the Indus valley to the Gangetic plain; Aryan civilization is a definite thing in the more eastern regions in that age with 碍耻谤耻办峁迟谤补 as its centre bounded on the north by Turghna, on the south by the 碍丑腻峁囜笉补惫补, and on the west by Par墨na岣�.^[1] 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 refers to the eastern and western oceans. The Himalayas and the T峁沰akud (three peaked) mountain nestled amidst the Himalayan range are mentioned in the 罢补颈迟迟颈谤墨测腻谤补峁噛补办补. So far as the rivers are concerned, the far-famed holy river 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨 of the 峁歡vedic age which is invoked as the greatest among rivers(苍补诲墨迟补尘别), the greatest among mothers(ambitame) and the greatest of goddesses(devitame) in the 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻^[2] faded into insignificance and lost her former glory in the Br膩hma峁噄cal era. The name of the Ganges is met with along with other rivers such as 驰补尘耻苍腻, 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨 etc. in the tenth 尘补峁囜笉补濒补 of the 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻.^[3]

In the earlier 尘补峁囜笉补濒补s of the 峁欢惫别诲补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, the name of the Ganges is never heard; this fact proves that the river 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨 gradually receded into the background and the rivers of the Gangetic plain came into prominence during the later Vedic age. The rivers of the eastern region became prominent in this period. The 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 mentions the river 厂补诲腻苍墨谤腻 as the boundary line between the Kosalas and Videhas.^[4] A. Weber and J.Eggeling identify this river with Ga峁囜笉ak. The Vedic index lends support to the identification of 厂补诲腻苍墨谤腻 with Ga峁囜笉ak. The name 厂补诲腻苍墨谤腻 is very significant; it seems this river never ran dry.^[5] The Aryan civilization so long nestled and nutured in the Indus Valley or the 厂耻惫腻蝉迟耻 region sanctified by the waters of the holy 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨 shifted towards the Gangetic plain crossed the river 厂补诲腻苍墨谤腻, the eastern boundary of Ga峁囜笉ak and reached the land of Videha.

Videha M膩thava, the king of the Videha along with his priest Gotama R膩huga峁嘺, is described as carrying the sacred sacrificial fire eastward from the banks of the 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨 over Kosala (Oudh) across the river 厂补诲腻苍墨谤腻 and finally settling at Videha (Tirhut) after the tribal name of M膩thava.^[6] The memorable passage of the 艢补迟补辫补迟丑补产谤腻丑尘补峁嘺 proves categorically that the Videhas received their culture from the west that Kosala, was Aryanised before Videha and that the territory bordered by the river 厂补诲腻苍墨谤腻 was conquered by the Vedic Aryans.

Now, in the following pages, a discussion is made on the various rivers as found in the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺蝉.Here, it is to be noted that except some information on 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨, there is a little bit of information on the other rivers in the 叠谤腻丑尘补峁嘺蝉. Though, the information regarding the river 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨 is very little, but it has given the emphasis on the identification of 厂补谤补蝉惫补迟墨 with 痴腻办.