Saraswati River: Myth or Lost River?

Nov15,2023

Amid the Aravalli mountain range in Rajasthan originated a river named Saraswati or Sarasvati. It is said to be a tributary of the Alaknanda River that has an origination point near Badrinath in Uttarakhand.

Origin

The river passes through Patan and Sidhpur before merging with the Rann of Kutch. It is believed that the river existed several thousand years ago, and it dried up or disappeared.

Merge

The earliest mentions of the Saraswati River are found in the ancient Hindu scriptures. It was also mentioned in the post-Vedic texts

Ancient river

Some texts in Mahabharata mentioned a river that disappeared in a town, presently known as Sirsa, in Haryana. Geographical history and archaeological findings suggest that Rajasthan has not always been arid.

Sirsa

Lord Parshuram, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, bathed in the water of Saraswati River to repent for the sin of killing tyrant Kshatriyas. 

Existence of Saraswati

Researchers believe that the Saraswati River is not a myth. It was among the perennial rivers that flowed through the north-western terrains of India. 

Not  a myth

American Satellite Landsat shared digital photographs that showed the presence of the river and definitive patterns under the ground of the Jaisalmer area.

Still alive