River Saraswati, Rigveda, Mahabharata and Our Civilization.

Saraswati has been a point of discussion when we look at the antiquity of civilization. It has been concluded that gradually drying Saraswati led to outward migrations at regular interval in past thousands of years, result of which there are many ancient civilization in western Asia having Vedic and Sanatana roots.

Let's take a look at some facts and try to understand our civilization. River Saraswati was completely dried up by 1500 BCE - 2000 BCE. Archeological evidence of Harappan establishment are during that time.

There has been many Researchers working on hydrogeological study of the Saraswati River bed and when we combine the research of all these studies, we find that: River Saraswati completely dried up in 2000 BCE. It was drying up and was on support of few other local rivers showing herself at few places during 3000 BCE - 4000 BCE It was flowing at some places beautifully while became invisible at few places, but met with other rivers near West of Gujarat during 4000 BCE - 6000 BCE. It was flowing as perennial river supported by heavy monsoon during 10,000 to 13,000 BCE It was most grand River of the Indian subcontinent with span of few kilometres and was flowing from Himalayan glaciers flowing directly to sea during 22,000 BCE and before.

River Saraswati has changed its course of flow at many points of time as it's flow gradually lessened before completely drying up. Sources: Geological studies (Mary courty 1986, Frankfort 1992, Khonde 2007, Bhadra 2009, Clift 2012, Sarkar 2016, Singh 2017, Dave 2018 and many more)

Now look at few description from our scriptures:

Rigveda 10:75 says, that River Saraswati is most grandest of rivers and it's flow is coming from high mountains breaking hills with its steady flow in the course. When we corroborate this Verse if rigveda, it's certain that composer was describing river Saraswati during 24,000 BCE or before. In later Mandal of Rigveda, River Saraswati is mentioned but it looses the grand stature of RV 10:75. That means composer is now looking at River Saraswati as one of the main River of North India along with other rivers. Certainly not during or after 6000 BCE.

Mahabharata Anushashan Parva (139-140, 146) Saraswati is described as one of the main rivers flowing beautifully.

Pic credit - pinterest and @NileshOak