Rivers in Ancient India (study)
by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words
This page relates ‘The river Sarasvati in the Atharvaveda-samhita’ 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.
3(a). The river Sarasvatī in the Atharvaveda-saṃhitā
The Atharvavedasaṃhitā gives many references about places, rivers and mountains. Seven rivers are mentioned at many places in the Atharvavedasaṃhitā.[1] These rivers most probably are the five rivers flourished from Punjab; those are—Jhelum (Vitastā), Chenāb (Asiknī), Ravi (Puruṣṇī), Beas (Vipāśā), and Sutlej (Śutudrī). The other two rivers are Sarasvatī and Sindhu. At one place in the Atharavedasaṃhitā, ninety rivers are mentioned.[2]
Only a few mantras of the Atharvadasaṃhitā refer to Sarasvatī, and some of them are taken up from the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā.
The river Sarasvatī plays an important role in the Atharvaedasaṃhitā. The neighbouring areas of the river Sarasvatī are described to be very fertile, abounding in the yeilds of grains, particularly for making offering to gods. The fields on its banks were ploughed by gods for the crop of barley. Indra is portrayed as the lord of the plough (sīrapatiḥ) and the maruts as the farmers. (kinaśaḥ)[3]
Sāyaṇācārya explains this as—
madhunā madhurasena saṃjitaṃ sāṃpraptaṃ gavaṃ dirghaśukaṃ imaṃ dhanyaviśesaṃ sarasvatyām adhi sarasvatyākhyāyayā nadyāḥ samīpe manau manusyajātau devāḥ acarkṛsuḥ kṛtavantaḥ śatakṛatuḥ indraḥ sīraptiḥ halasyādhisthātā savmmi sudanavaḥ sobḥanadana marutaḥ kinasaḥ korsaka āsan ||[4]
Thus, the Sarasvatī river, which was pious not only to men but also to gods, was the best river promoting agriculture. Though a terrestrial river, the gods had close affinity with it and, thus, divinity was attached to it, too. The example of Indra and the Maruts as agriculturists show the greatness and divine message for the occupation of cultivation. Agriculture depends on water, specially obtained in the form of rain, without which no harvest is possible. Sarasvatī, as the name itself suggests, abounds in water. She is also associated with the clouds. In a mantra, she is requested to provide water from her clouds so as to save cultivation from burning in the scorching heat of the Sun as well as not to shatter it with the thunder of the clouds.[5]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Atharvaveda Saṃhita,4.6.2;4.5.2;6.26.1;6.61.3;6.4.1;7.112.1; 20.17.3; 20.92.3; 20.91.12; 20.17.3
[2]:
[3]:
[4]:
Sāyaṇācārya’s com. on Ibid
[5]:
Khan,I., Sarasvatī in Sanskrit literature, P.94