The Lost River Saraswati: Myth Or Reality?

You must have heard of the tales of the sacred rivers. Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are considered to be the most sacred rivers on Earth. We all are familiar with the stories of Ganga and Yamuna. But have you ever heard of the tale behind the lost river Saraswati? Not likely. So, today we will tell you about the long lost river Saraswati and how She disappeared from the face of Earth.

According to the scholars, about ten thousand years ago when the mighty rivers from the Himalayas started flowing down the slopes, the areas that are now desrts were green and fertile. Saraswati was one of the rivers which provided abundant water needed for cultivation and sustenance of life. But six thousand years later, the river Saraswati suddenly dried up. Several other rivers flowing through the region also changed courses and the western Rajasthan turned into a barren desert.

WHO IS ADI SHAKTI?

River Saraswati has been described to be much bigger than the Indus river. The ancient Vedic texts are full of hymns praising the river as the lifeline of the people living in that region. It was one of the greatest rivers which formed the confluence of three holy rivers at Allahabad Prayag. But what made the mighty river to disappear completely from the Earth? It is one of the greatest mysteries of India which not many people know of.
So, let us take a look at the theories about the river Saraswati and its disappearance. Rest is upon you to decide whether you believe that the river was a myth or a reality? Read on.

Saraswati: The Hidden River

It is commonly believed that river Saraswati is still present on Earth but is hidden underground. Some scholars who have traced the trails of the lost river have claimed that it exists in the form of a dried up river beneath the sands of the Thar desert. There is an enormous 3500 years old palaeochannel in the Thar desert which is actually a huge dried up river. Myths suggest that the original Saraswati river flows underground and meets Ganga and Yamuna at Prayag in Allahabad. However neither archaeological findings nor satellite images have shown any evidence of Saraswati flowing eastwards towards Allahabad.

Saraswati: The Goddess Who Hid Herself From Creator

Apart from being a river, Saraswati has also been referred to as being a Goddess. She was created by the mind of Lord Brahma. After creating Her, Brahma fell in love with Her beauty. Since She was not interested in His advances, Goddess Saraswati hid Herself and kept shifting places to find a safe shelter. This is the reason why it is believed that Saraswati is a hidden river and Her brief appearance on Earth is only during the time when She rested on Earth while running away from Brahma.

The Fire Of Knowledge

Another legend states that as the human race evolved, the need for knowledge was realised. The sages took upon the responsibility to impart the heavenly knowledge to all the beings. They needed a channel through which the heavenly knowledge could be transferred to the Earth. The only channel that could sustain the knowledge was fire because fire is the elemsnt which has all the traits of containing the knowledge. So, Lord Brahma asked Goddess Saraswati to help in carrying the heavenly fire to the sages on Earth. The only thing that can control fore is water. So, Saraswati carried the fire of knowledge and descended on Earth as a river.

The Warm Waters Of Saraswati

By holding the fire, Saraswati slowly started evaporating. She handed over the fire of knowledge just in time to the sages and rushed to the glaciers to calm down Her burning body. Her waters retained the heat of the fire and slowly the river evaporated due to the heat. Interestingly, geologists have also suggested that Saraswati apparently had 'warm waters'.

How Did The Mighty River Die?

The main reasons which are attributed to the disappearance of the river is the loss of its important tributaries. The climate change, long periods of draught and water seepage through Earth's fissures have also been a reason for the mighty river to get wiped off from Earth. The rivers Satluj and Yamuna were major tributaries of the Saraswati river during the Vedic era. Geological shifts in the Himalayan region around 6000 years ago caused the Sutluj river to be diverted to join Indus and similarly Yamuna joined river Ganga to create the present Ganga-Yamuna plain. This caused the Saraswati to dry up as its major sources of water were lost.