The Saraswati River, a significant feature in ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas, was once a mighty river that flowed from the Himalayas through modern-day Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, before disappearing around 3000 BCE. According to Vedic literature, the river was sacred, often associated with the goddess Saraswati, representing knowledge and purity. It played a crucial role in the development of early Indian civilisation, with many Harappan sites located along its course.
The Saraswati River, as described in ancient Hindu texts, was not only a geographical entity but also a symbol of great cultural and spiritual significance. The Rig Veda mentions the river eighty times, more than the Ganges, highlighting its importance as the “best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses.” One of the hymns praises the river:
“ambitame naditame devitame Saraswati, aprasasta iva smasi prasastimamba naskridhi” (Rig Veda 2.41.16),
which translates to “Best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses, Saraswati, we are ignorant and untrained, give us wisdom and knowledge”.
The river supported early Vedic civilisation, providing fertile land that nourished communities and enabled agriculture. It was considered a source of wisdom, and its banks were home to many significant settlements, including those of the Harappan civilisation.
The river’s paleochannels, discovered through modern remote sensing techniques by Dr. B. K. Bhadra and his team at Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), indicate that it once flowed alongside the Indus River (see Figure 1). The river system stretched from the Himalayas, through Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, before draining into the Arabian Sea. This vast river system supported large civilisations and played a pivotal role in shaping Vedic culture.
In the Mahabharata, the Saraswati River was associated with various pilgrimage sites, and its eventual disappearance into the desert was recorded. Today, remnants of the Saraswati exist as underground paleochannels, which still hold potential for groundwater exploration.
In 2023, the Hindu Council of Australia hosted a webinar on this subject, presented by Dr B. K. Bhadra, then Deputy General Manager, Regional Remote Sensing Centre (North), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This article is summarised by Shanti Reddy, Chair Hindu Council of Australia, ACT Chapter, based on the Dr Bhadra’s presentation.
