The Drishadvati River (IAST:Dṛṣad-vatī, "She with many stones") is a river hypothesized by Indologists to identify the route of the Vedic river Saraswati and the state of Brahmavarta. According to Manusmriti, the Brahmavarta, where the Rishis composed the Vedas and other Sanskrit texts of the Vedic religion, was at the confluence of the Saraswati and Drishadvati rivers during the Vedic period.
Vedic and present-day Gagghar-Hakra river-course, with Aryavarta/Kuru Kingdom, and (pre-)Harappan Hakkra/Sutlej-Yamuna paleochannels.[1][2][a] See also this satellite image. 1 = ancient river 2 = today's river 3 = today's Thar desert 4 = ancient shore 5 = today's shore 6 = today's town 7 = dried-up Harappan Hakkra course, and pre-Harappan Sutlej paleochannels.[1]Cemetery H, Late Harappan, OCP, Copper Hoard and Painted Grey ware sites.
Although the Drishadvati is mentioned several times in Sanskrit Granthas, a detailed description of the river is not found in other ancient literature and this has generated speculation about its source and route. The Latyayana Srautasutra (10.17) describes it as a seasonal river, with the Saraswati a perennial river until its vinasana (10.15-19).
The Drishadvati is mentioned in Brahmanas written primarily in the state of Brahmavarta. According to these texts, the river originated in the pot of Brahma: Pushkar Lake, near Ajmer. The Sarasvati, with four branches flowing in different directions, originated in the hills near Pushkar. Drishadvati was the branch flowing north. Most of the ashrams of the Rishis who compiled the Rigveda were on the river, between Pushkar and Dhosi Hill in Brahmavarta.[3] According to the Rigveda, the Drishadvati was preferred for religious sacrifices by the Vedic people.
In the Manu Smriti, the Drishadvati and the Sarasvati define the boundaries of the Vedic state of Brahmavarta:[4] "It says that the land, created by the Gods, which lies between the two divine rivers Sarasvati and Drishadvati, the (sages) call Brahmavarta." The text also says that although the Sarasvati formed the northern boundary of Kuru Pradesh, the Drishadvati flowed in south of Kuru Pradesh and north of Brahmavarta. According to the Mahabharata, the southern boundary of Kuru Pradesh was GuruDrona's ashram (present-day Gurgaon at one end and Rohtak and Jhajjar at the other); therefore, the Drishadvati flowed in the southern portions of these cities. Although about 100 streams flowed south to north in the 200-kilometre (120 mi)-wide Aravalli Range during the Vedic period, the only large river is the present-day Sahibi.[5] The Sahibi has a lower flow at present because of low rainfall in its catchment area and has a wide, dry bed which carries water from the districts of Jaipur, Sikar, AlwarRewari, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Delhi in Yamuna.
The Drishadvati is mentioned in the Rigveda (RV 3.23.4) with the Sarasvati and Apaya. According to the Rigveda, the Brahmanas and the Kalpa, Vedic sacrifices were performed on this river and on the Sarasvati. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, the Drishadvati is a transcendental river.
Originedit
The Drishadvati was identified by Oldham as the Chautang River,[6] and in 2000 Talageri identified it with the Hariyupiya and Yavyavati Rivers. In 1871 Alexander Cunningham identified the Rakshi River as the old Drishadvati and demonstrated its flow to have been from Chunar, near Varanasi. According to the Brahman Granthas, before its confluence with the Saraswati the Drishadvati flowed from the east to west. The Saraswati flowed from north to south during the Vedic period close to Aravallies, and the Drishadvati flowed from south to north through the Aravallis from Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan to Nangal Chaudhery in southern Haryana. The river then turned to reach Satnali and meet the Saraswati. After major tectonic/seismic activity in the Aravalli Range some 6500 years ago, the river Saraswati changed its course, to what is now known as Ghaggar-Hakra river bed at present times, and dried up later.[7]
^See Clift et al. (2012) map and Honde te al. (2017) map.
Referencesedit
^ abClift, P. D.; Carter, A.; Giosan, L.; Durcan, J.; Duller, G. A. T.; Macklin, M. G.; Alizai, A.; Tabrez, A. R.; Danish, M.; VanLaningham, S.; Fuller, D. Q. (1 March 2012). "U-Pb zircon dating evidence for a Pleistocene Sarasvati River and capture of the Yamuna River". Geology. 40 (3): 211–214. doi:10.1130/G32840.1.
^Khonde, Nitesh; Singh, Sunil Kumar; Maurya, D. M.; Rai, Vinai K.; Chamyal, L. S.; Giosan, Liviu (14 July 2017). "Tracing the Vedic Saraswati River in the Great Rann of Kachchh". Scientific Reports. 7 (1). doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05745-8. PMC5511136.
^Sudhir Bhargava, Convenor, Brahmavarta Research Foundation, Rewari, "Location of Brahmavarta and Drishadwati river is important to find earliest alignment of Saraswati River", Presentation in Seminar 'Saraswati River-a perspective', on Nov. 20-22, 2009, Kurukshetra university, Kurukshetra, pages 114-117, Seminar report, published by Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan, Haryana.
^e.g. Keith and Macdonell. 1912. Vedic Index of Names and Subjects.; Oldham: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 25, 58; see Amal Kar and Bimal Ghose 1984
^Sudhir Bhargava, "Location of Brahmavarta and Drishadwati river is important to find earliest alignment of Saraswati river" Seminar, Saraswati river-a perspective, Nov. 20-22, 2009, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, organised by: Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan, Haryana, Seminar Report: pages 114-117
^Namah Shivaya Shantaya, English edition, chap. 7, Ananda Marga Publications, 1982 (written under the spiritual name of P. R. Sarkar, that is, Shri Anandamurti).
Amal Kar, Bimal Ghose: Drishadvati River System of India: An assessment and new findings. The Geographical Journal, Vol 150, No 2, 1984.
Shrikant G. Talageri, The Rigveda, a historical analysis, Aditya Prakashan, New Delhi (2000), chapter 4
April 10, 2024
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The Drishadvati River IAST Dṛṣad vati She with many stones is a river hypothesized by Indologists to identify the route of the Vedic river Saraswati and the state of Brahmavarta According to Manusmriti the Brahmavarta where the Rishis composed the Vedas and other Sanskrit texts of the Vedic religion was at the confluence of the Saraswati and Drishadvati rivers during the Vedic period Vedic and present day Gagghar Hakra river course with Aryavarta Kuru Kingdom and pre Harappan Hakkra Sutlej Yamuna paleochannels 1 2 a See also this satellite image 1 ancient river 2 today s river 3 today s Thar desert 4 ancient shore 5 today s shore 6 today s town 7 dried up Harappan Hakkra course and pre Harappan Sutlej paleochannels 1 Cemetery H Late Harappan OCP Copper Hoard and Painted Grey ware sites Contents 1 Location 2 Origin 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesLocation editAlthough the Drishadvati is mentioned several times in Sanskrit Granthas a detailed description of the river is not found in other ancient literature and this has generated speculation about its source and route The Latyayana Srautasutra 10 17 describes it as a seasonal river with the Saraswati a perennial river until its vinasana 10 15 19 The Drishadvati is mentioned in Brahmanas written primarily in the state of Brahmavarta According to these texts the river originated in the pot of Brahma Pushkar Lake near Ajmer The Sarasvati with four branches flowing in different directions originated in the hills near Pushkar Drishadvati was the branch flowing north Most of the ashrams of the Rishis who compiled the Rigveda were on the river between Pushkar and Dhosi Hill in Brahmavarta 3 According to the Rigveda the Drishadvati was preferred for religious sacrifices by the Vedic people In the Manu Smriti the Drishadvati and the Sarasvati define the boundaries of the Vedic state of Brahmavarta 4 It says that the land created by the Gods which lies between the two divine rivers Sarasvati and Drishadvati the sages call Brahmavarta The text also says that although the Sarasvati formed the northern boundary of Kuru Pradesh the Drishadvati flowed in south of Kuru Pradesh and north of Brahmavarta According to the Mahabharata the southern boundary of Kuru Pradesh was Guru Drona s ashram present day Gurgaon at one end and Rohtak and Jhajjar at the other therefore the Drishadvati flowed in the southern portions of these cities Although about 100 streams flowed south to north in the 200 kilometre 120 mi wide Aravalli Range during the Vedic period the only large river is the present day Sahibi 5 The Sahibi has a lower flow at present because of low rainfall in its catchment area and has a wide dry bed which carries water from the districts of Jaipur Sikar Alwar Rewari Jhajjar Rohtak and Delhi in Yamuna The Drishadvati is mentioned in the Rigveda RV 3 23 4 with the Sarasvati and Apaya According to the Rigveda the Brahmanas and the Kalpa Vedic sacrifices were performed on this river and on the Sarasvati In the Srimad Bhagavatam the Drishadvati is a transcendental river Origin editThe Drishadvati was identified by Oldham as the Chautang River 6 and in 2000 Talageri identified it with the Hariyupiya and Yavyavati Rivers In 1871 Alexander Cunningham identified the Rakshi River as the old Drishadvati and demonstrated its flow to have been from Chunar near Varanasi According to the Brahman Granthas before its confluence with the Saraswati the Drishadvati flowed from the east to west The Saraswati flowed from north to south during the Vedic period close to Aravallies and the Drishadvati flowed from south to north through the Aravallis from Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan to Nangal Chaudhery in southern Haryana The river then turned to reach Satnali and meet the Saraswati After major tectonic seismic activity in the Aravalli Range some 6500 years ago the river Saraswati changed its course to what is now known as Ghaggar Hakra river bed at present times and dried up later 7 According to Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar 8 the Drishadvati originated in the Vindya Mountains of Baghelkhand and joined the Charmanwati After an earthquake it flowed north to join the Son River Sarkar believes that the Drishadvati is the Ghaghara See also editGhaggar Hakra RiverNotes edit See Clift et al 2012 map and Honde te al 2017 map References edit a b Clift P D Carter A Giosan L Durcan J Duller G A T Macklin M G Alizai A Tabrez A R Danish M VanLaningham S Fuller D Q 1 March 2012 U Pb zircon dating evidence for a Pleistocene Sarasvati River and capture of the Yamuna River Geology 40 3 211 214 doi 10 1130 G32840 1 Khonde Nitesh Singh Sunil Kumar Maurya D M Rai Vinai K Chamyal L S Giosan Liviu 14 July 2017 Tracing the Vedic Saraswati River in the Great Rann of Kachchh Scientific Reports 7 1 doi 10 1038 s41598 017 05745 8 PMC 5511136 Sudhir Bhargava Saraswati a perspective 2009 Manusmriti Chapter 2 Shalok 17 Sudhir Bhargava Convenor Brahmavarta Research Foundation Rewari Location of Brahmavarta and Drishadwati river is important to find earliest alignment of Saraswati River Presentation in Seminar Saraswati River a perspective on Nov 20 22 2009 Kurukshetra university Kurukshetra pages 114 117 Seminar report published by Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan Haryana e g Keith and Macdonell 1912 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects Oldham Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 25 58 see Amal Kar and Bimal Ghose 1984 Sudhir Bhargava Location of Brahmavarta and Drishadwati river is important to find earliest alignment of Saraswati river Seminar Saraswati river a perspective Nov 20 22 2009 Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra organised by Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan Haryana Seminar Report pages 114 117 Namah Shivaya Shantaya English edition chap 7 Ananda Marga Publications 1982 written under the spiritual name of P R Sarkar that is Shri Anandamurti Amal Kar Bimal Ghose Drishadvati River System of India An assessment and new findings The Geographical Journal Vol 150 No 2 1984 Shrikant G Talageri The Rigveda a historical analysis Aditya Prakashan New Delhi 2000 chapter 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Drishadvati River amp oldid 1193575765, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
