Story of Sindhu

A river in India, very famous in the Purāṇas.

General information.

It is assumed in the Purāṇas that this river is a branch of the heavenly Gaṅgā. By the efforts of Bhagīratha, the heavenly Gaṅgā fell on the earth in the Lake Bindu. After that it had six channels. Three channels flowed to the east and three to the west. The rivers which flowed to the East were Hlādinī, Pāvanī and Nalinī. The three rivers Sucakṣus, Sītā and Sindhu flowed to the west. This seventh branch followed Bhagīratha and flowed to Pātāla to perform obsequies to the sons of Sagara.

Other details.

(i) Saṃvaraṇa, a King, who was defeated by his enemies, hid himself for a while in the natural arbours on the basin of Sindhu. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 94, Verse 40).

(ii) Sindhu remains in the palace of Varuṇa and glorifies him. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 19).

(iii) Once Mārkaṇḍeya happened to see the river Sindhu in the stomach of child Mukunda. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 188, Verse 103).

(iv) Sindhu is considered to be the origin of Agni (Fire.) (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 242, Verse 22).

(v) Sindhu is one of the seven channels of Gaṅgā. (Mahābhārata Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 6, Verse 48).

(vi) By bathing in the river Sindhu, one could attain heaven. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 25 Verse 8).

(vii) Once Pārvatī held a talk on the duties of women. All the rivers met to hear the talk. Sindhu was prominent among the rivers who were present. (Mahābhārata Anusāsana Parva, Chapter 146, Verse 18).

(viii) This is one of the rivers which ought to be remembered every morning and evening. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 165, Verse 19).

(ix) Mention about river Sindhu occurs throughout the Ṛgveda. Prominent rivers mentioned in Ṛgveda are Kubhā, Sindhu, Suvāstu, Vitastā, Asiknī, Paruṣṇī, Vipāśā, Śatadrū, Sarasvatī etc.