1. The rivers in the Āraṇyakas

Though Āraṇyakas are stated as the forest literature, still, there are no descriptions of rivers in it, but only the name of one or two rivers are found categorically. In the Sāṅkhyāyaṇāraṇyaka, there is only mention of the name of a river called Vijarā.^[1]

In the Aitareyāraṇyaka, there is a mention of water. In the words nadaṃ va odatīnām, odatyaḥ are the waters in heaven, for they water all this, and they are the waters of the mouth, for they water all proper food. In nadaṃ yoyuvatīnāṃ, yoyuvatyaḥ are the waters of the sky, for they inundate as it were; and they are the water of perspiration, for they run constantly as it were. In the words patiṃ vo aghnyānām, aghnyāḥ are the waters that are born of the smoke of fire, and they are the waters that spring from the organ. In dhenūnām iṣudhyasīti, the dhenavaḥ are the waters.^[2] Besides these, this water is above the heaven, and heaven supports it. The lights are the sky. The mortal is the earth; those under the earth are the waters.^[3] According to the Taittirīyāraṇyaka, water is rain and water is medicine.^[4] Besides this, in the beginning of creation, there existed nothing but a sea of water.^[5] Sarasvitī is just mentioned as sumṛdīkā in this Āraṇyaka.^[6]