Rivers in Ancient India (study)

by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words

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Summary: This essay studies the distinctive traits of the rivers in ancient India as reflected in the Vedic and Puranic texts. The first chapter introduces the elements of nature and the derivation of the word Nadi. The following chapters deal with rivers found in the Vedas (Samhitas), Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads and Puranas. The final chapter investigates the changing trends of rivers from ancient to modern times.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Rivers in Ancient India (study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Acknowledgement

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. 1. The Vedic Literature

. 2. Descriptions of nature and natural objects

. 3. Naturural elements worshipped as god

. 4. Descriptions of Waters and rivers

. 5. The rivers and ancient civilizations of the world

. 6. Derivation of the term Nadī

. Scope, Literature and Methodology

+ Chapter 2 - The Rivers in the Saṃhitā Literature

. Introduction to Saṃhitā literature

. 1(a). The river Sarasvatī in the Ṛgveda-saṃhitā (Introduction)

. 1(b). The anthropomorphic description of Sarasvatī

. 1(c). Depiction of Sarasvatī as mother

. 1(d). Sarasvatī as friend

. 1(e). Sarasvatī as sister

. 1(f). Sarasvatī as wife

. 1(g). Function of Sarasvatī

. 1(h). Sarasvatī and Sarasvān

. 1(i). Sarasvatī and her association with other Gods and Goddesses

. 2(a). The river Sarasvatī in the Vājasaneyī-saṃhitā (Introduction)

. 2(b). Different epithets of Sarasvatī

. 2(c). Sarasvatī and Sārasvata

. 3(a). The river Sarasvatī in the Atharvaveda-saṃhitā

. 3(b). The trinity of goddesses

. 3(c). Sarasvatī and marriage ceremony

. 3(d). Medicinal aspect of Sarasvatī

. 4. The river Sindhu in the Ṛgveda-saṃhitā

. 5. The river Sindhu in the Atharva-vedasaṃhitā

. 6. The river Yamunā

. 7. Other Rivers in the Samhitās

+ Chapter 3 - The Rivers in the Brāhmaṇa Literature

. Introduction to Brāhmaṇa Literature

. 1. Samudra (ocean) in the Brāhmaṇas

. 2. The rivers in the Brāhmaṇas

. 3a. Association of river Sarasvatī with Vāk

. 3b. Sarasvatī and Sarasvān

. 3c. The Legend of Vāk in the Aitareya-brāhmaṇa

. 3d. The legend of Vāk in the Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa

. 3e. Some epithets of Sarasvatī in the Brāhmaṇas

. 4. Other Rivers in the Brāhmaṇas

+ Chapter 4 - The Rivers in the Āraṇyaka and Upaniṣadic Literature

. Introduction to Āraṇyaka and Upaniṣad Literature

. 1. The rivers in the Āraṇyakas

. 2. The rivers in the Upaniṣads (Introduction)

. 3. The rivers in the Major Upaniṣads

. 4. The rivers in the minor Upaniṣads

+ Chapter 5 - Rivers in the Purāṇic Literature

. Introduction (changing pattern of the rivers)

. Introduction to Purāṇa Literature

. 1. Meaning of the term Purāṇa

. 2. The rivers in the Purāṇic Literature

. 3a. Sarasvatī in the Purāṇic Literature (Introduction)

. 3b. The Origin of Sarasvatī as a river

. 3c. The sacred aspect of the river Sarasvatī

. 3d. The Image of Sarasvatī

. 3e. Some epithets of the Sarasvatī

. 4a. Sarasvatī’s relation with Brahmā

. 4b. Sarasvatī’s relation with Viṣṇu

. 4c. Sarasvatī’s relation with Manu

. 4d. Sarasvatī’s relation with Sārasvata

. 5a. The river Gaṅgā in the Purāṇas (Introduction)

. 5b. Greatness of Gaṅgā

. 5c. Image of Gaṅgā

. 5d. Gaṅgā as Śiva’s consort

. 5e. Bhāgīratha brought down Gaṅgā on earth

. 6. The river Narmadā in the Purāṇas

. 7. The river Sindhu in the Purāṇas

. 8. The river Gomatī in the Purāṇas

. 9. The river Yamunā in the Purāṇas

. 10. Various other rivers in the Purāṇas

. 11. Descriptions of the rivers in the Jambudvīpa

. 12. List of rivers as found in the Purāṇas

+ Chapter 6 - Changing trends of the Rivers from Vedic to Purāṇic Age

. 1. The river Sarasvatī and its Present Status

. 2. The Geographical Facts of the river Sarasvatī

. 3. Historical Facts of the river Sarasvatī

. 4. Disappearance of Sarasvatī

. 5. The river Sindhu and its present status

. 6. The river Vipāṭ (Beas) and the Śutudrī (Sutlej) and its present status

. 7. The river Yamunā and its present status

. 8. The river Gaṅgā and its present status

. 9. The river Chenāb or Asiknī and its present status

. 10. The river Puruṣṇī or Ravi or Irāvatī and its present status

. 11. The river Narmadā and its present status

. 12. The river Sarayu and its present status

. 13. The river Vitastā or Jhelum and its present status

. 14. The river Gomatī and its present status

. 15. The river Lauhitya or Brahmaputra and its present status

Chapter 7 - Conclusion

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Last Updated: 10 October, 2022

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