The Date of the Disappearance of Rigvedic Sarasvati

River and Post-Vedic Sarasvati River

Vedveer Arya

Numerous scientific studies have been undertaken for mapping and dating of the
palaeochannels of Sarasvati River. Recent studies of Great Ran of Kachch and Nd & Sr isotopic
measurements suggest that a distinct source of water (Sarasvati River) may have been
present before 10000 years. Later in Holocene, under a drying climate, sediments from the
Thar Desert probably chocked the signature of an independent Sarasvati like river. The new
research undertaken by IIT, Kanpur and Imperial College, London has also concluded that
Sarasvati River might have been dried up around 8000-12000 years ago. Based on these
scientific findings, IITK’s Prof Rajiv Sinha and his team claimed that “Our paper clearly
demolishes the age-old river-culture hypothesis that assumed that the disappearance of the
river triggered the demise of the Harappan civilization. This has clearly been demonstrated
by the large difference in age data between the demise of the river (8000-12000 years ago)
and the peak of mature civilization 3000-4000 years ago.”

The study of IITK also suggests that between 15000 and 8000 years ago the Sutlej River
avulsed (migrated) to its present day course to the northwest. The abandonment of the
former course left a topographic low formed by the former channel in the landscape. The
Dating of the sediments in the palaeochannels was done by IITK using a technique known as
Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). It may be noted that the OSL method is not an
accurate method and therefore, the date arrived by the OSL method may be an
underestimate of ~10%.

Let us analyze these scientifically calculated dates with reference to the archaeoastronomical
dates of Vedic and Post-Vedic texts. I have already presented the following timelines of
various eras from Svayambhuva Manu to Mahabharata war.

 Proto-Vedic Period – 16000-14500 BCE

Vedic Sarasvati and Post-Vedic Sarasvati

First of all, it is pertinent to understand the difference between the course of Vedic Sarasvati
River and that of Post-Vedic Sarasvati River. Vedic Sarasvati River was originated at a place
called Plaksha Prasravana (near Badrinath) and flowed up to Prithudaka (Pehova), close to
Kurukshetra. Vedic Sarasvati took a south-western course from Kurukshetra region and
flowed from Hisar, Sambhar Lake, Pushkar and Jodhpur to Great Ran of Kachch and Gulf of
Kachch. Post Vedic Sarasvati changed the course at Kurukshetra region and started flowing
westwards. The Map of Sarasvati Palaeochannel course given below clearly indicates the
Channel II to be the course of Vedic Sarasvati River and the palaeochannels marked in blue
colour belonged to Post-Vedic Sarasvati River.

Panchavimsha Brahmana explicitly mentions the change in the course of Sarasvati. It says that
Sarasvati started flowing from east to west and became नुञ्जिमती. Sāyana interprets नुञ्जिमती
as वक्रोपेता (tortuous). The map of palaeochannel given above also confirms that Sarasvati
became नुञ्जिमती (tortuous) when the River changed the course towards west instead of
flowing on south-western course. Panchavimsha Brahmana also indicates that the east and
the west banks of Sarasvati were no more existed in the region of Kurukshetra because
Sarasvati started flowing from east to west. Therefore, Panchavimsha says that the Diksha for
Sarasvati Satra must be undertaken on south bank of Sarasvati at Vinashana (the area where
Sarasvati had disappeared in the Thar Desert or changed the course).

Sarasvati and her tributaries

Sarasvati had many tributaries. Rigveda (6.61.10) indicates that Sarasvati had seven main
tributaries. This may be the reason why Sarasvati was referred to as Saptasvasā (having seven
sisters).

Shutudri, Yamuna and Drishadvati were the main tributaries of Sarasvati. Shutudri (Sutlej)
changed the course during the early Vedic period around 14500-13000 BCE. IITK has dated
the palaeochannel of Sutlej River around 13000 BCE (15000 years ago) by OSL method.
Considering the error margin of 10%, Sutlej might have changed the course around 14500
BCE.
Evidently, Sutlej changed the course and started flowing westwards in the early Vedic period.
This may be the reason why Shutudri (Sutlej) had no importance in Sarasvati Satra Vedic ritual.
Yamuna and Drishadvati continued to be the tributaries of Sarasvati River. In all probability,
Yamuna had two channels in Vedic period. One Yamuna channel flowed westwards and
merged with Sarasvati in Karapachava region of Himachal Pradesh (close to Paonta Sahib)
whereas another channel flowed eastwards and merged with Ganga River at Prayaga.
The Yamuna Palaeochannels of Y1 & Y2 as shown in the map above were the tributaries of
Sarasvati. It is difficult to say when Y2 palaeochannel changed the course because some
scientists have also dated this change of course around 50000 years ago. Interestingly, the
Avabhritha ritual was performed in Yamuna River in the Janapada of Kārapachava at the end
of the Sārasvatiya Satra as mentioned Panchavimsha Brahmana and Latyayana Shrautasutra.
Seemingly, Yamuna, a tributary of Sarasvati (Y1 palaeochannel) had changed the course in
later Vedic period. Probably, this change of course occurred at the same time when Sarasvati
lost in the sands of desert. It appears that the Avabritha ritual might have been introduced to
commemorate the past confluence of Sarasvati and Yamuna. Most probably, the confluence
of Sarasvati and Yamuna was located in Kārapachava Janapada in Rigvedic era and this
Janapada was located in between Nahan and Paonta Sahib and before Jagadhari,
Yamunanagar in Haryana.

IITK has dated the demise of Sarasvati River around 12000 years ago (10000 BCE). Considering
the error margin of 10%, Sarasvati might have lost at Vinashana around 11200-10500 BCE.
Panchavimsha Brahmana and Latyayana Shrauta sutra indicate that Drishdvati was still a
tributary of Sarasvati River. Manusmriti mentions that Drishdvati flowed in the south of
Kurukshetra.
Though Yamuna changed the course around 11200 BCE but Drishadvati continued to be the
tributary of Post-Vedic Sarasvati River. Drishdvati and Post-Vedic Sarasvati Rivers survived for
many thousand years after Rigvedic era and finally dried up after Mahabharata war (3162
BCE) around 3000-2600 BCE.
Sarasvati River lost at Vinashana
Panchavimsha Brahmana (25.10) mentions that Sarasvati River lost at a place called
Vinashana. Sāyana says that since Sarasvati had lost or gone underground at Vinashana, the
rites were performed on the south bank of the River. Evidently, Thus, Sarasvati had only north
and south banks in post-Vedic period.

The Vedic story of Devāpi and Shāntanu (10500 BCE) and the drought of 12 years clearly
indicates the weakening of south-west monsoon in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat areas
around 10500-10200 BCE. Most probably, the palaeochannels I & II had been gradually dried
up around 11200-10200 BCE. According to Vedic legends, Kalmashapada killed the sons of
Vasishtha. Aggrieved Vasishtha wanted to commit suicide in Sarasvati River but the water in
the River was not enough to drown him. There is also a legend that Sarasvati turned into many
lakes. Vishvamitra turned the waters of Sarasvati into red colour. Probably, the copper ore of
Khetri area (Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan) turned the waters of dying Sarasvati River into
red colour. The legend of King Videha and Gautama Rahugana indicates that King Videha
migrated to the banks of Sadārirā (Gandaki) River. Seemingly, Sarasvati dried up during the
lifetime of King Videha. King Nami, son of Sāpya was the first Videha king who performed
Sarasvati Satra from Plaksha Prasravana to Vinashana. Rajarshi Vaikuntha Indra (10800 BCE)
mentions King Nami Sāpya in his Sukta of Rigveda (10.48.9). King Vaikuntha Indra was a
descendant of the lineage of Indras (Shakra, Arjuna and Kutsa). Saptagu Angirasa was the
junior contemporary of Vaikuntha Indra.

PB quotes an anecdote of the Videha king Nami, the son of King Sapya who performed
Sarasvatiya Satra.
I have already explained the dates of Vasishtha, Kalmashapada, Vishvamitra (11200 BCE), King
Videha, Rishi Gautama Rahugana (10900 BCE) and King Nami Sapya (10800 BCE). Evidently,
Sarasvati River lost in desert during the lifetime of king Videha (10900 BCE) and his priest Rishi
Gautama Rahugana.
Latyayana Shrautasutra also refers to similar procedure of Sārasvata satra as given in
Panchavimasha Brahmana. Sarasvati lost at Parina Sthali (Vinashana = Uchana) close to
Kurukshetra and used to flow westwards from Vinashana. Lātyāyana states that the ritual
must be performed on the south banks of Sarasvati Rivers. Latyayana also indicates that
Drishadvati was reduced to be a seasonal river before the lifetime of Acharya Dhānanjayya
(7500 BCE).
The location of Vinashana
According to Bhāgavata Purana, Vinashana, the place of disappearance of Sarasvati was
located close to Kurukshetra. PB mentions that Sarasvati originates from Plaksha Prasravana
and the distance between Plaksha Prasravana and Vinashana was 44 Ashvinas. Sarasvati
originated from the hills of Badrinath. Mahabharata also indicates that Plaksha Prasravana
was located in Shivalik hills.

Ahnya, Ashvina and Yojana were the oldest measures of distance during Vedic and post Vedic
era. Ahnya was longer than Ashvina whereas Yojana was shorter than Ashvina. Panchavimsa
Brahmana (9400 BCE) refers to the distance of 44 Ashvina. Evidently, Ashvina means the
distance a horse could travel without a break in a day. Seemingly, Ashvina was equal to 10 to
15 miles. During later Rigvedic era (11200-10200 BCE), the south-west monsoon weakened
after 11000 BCE. Yamuna also changed the course at the same time. Thus, the south-western
channel of Vedic Sarasvati River dried up around 10900 BCE. Sarasvati River also changed the
course and started flowing westwards from Kurukshetra, Sirsa to Kalibanga and Anupgarh.
Drishadvati River also joined Post-Vedic Sarasvati River.
Vedic sources clearly tell us that Sarasvati originated from Plaksha Prasravana and lost in
desert at Vinashana. Vinashana was not a city but the area at which Sarasvati disappeared.
The original Vinashana was probably Sambhar Lake. Sambhar Lake was formed from the
waters of Sarasvati River. Asura King Vrishaparva’s kingdom was located close to Sambhar
Lake. His daughter Devayāni married to King Yayāti (11200 BCE). The point of Vinashana might
have gradually shifted northwards. Vinashana was at Uchana, Haryana close to Kurukshetra
during Pre-Ramayana era (7000-6000 BCE). This is the reason why Bhagavat Purana indicates
the location of Vinashana close to Kurukshetra.
Interestingly, the shifting of Vinashana point also affected the length of the measurement
unit of Ashvina. Sarasvati’s disappearance marked the end of Rigvedic era. Sarasvatiya Satra,
a Ritual was introduced after the disappearance of original course of Sarasvati. Videha king
Nami, the son of King Sapya was the first who performed Sarasvatiya Satra. In all probability,
King Nami Sapya travelled 44 Ashvinas from Plaksha Prasravana to Vinashana. Considering
Sambhar Lake as Vinashana, there was a distance of 1000 or 1050 km from Badrinath to
Sambhar Lake. Thus, one Ashvina was equal to 23 or 24 kms (15 miles).
During the period of Panchavimsha Brahmana, Vinashana might have shifted close to
Sadulpur, Rajasthan. Therefore, the distance of 44 Ashvinas reduced from 1050 kms to 730
or 770 km. Thus, one Ashvina was equal to 16.5 or 17.5 km. Since the travel of 44 Ashvinas
was linked the ritual Sarasvatiya Satra, the number of Ashvinas remained 44 only but the
distance had been gradually reduced. Finally, the point of Vinashana has been shifted to
Uchana, Haryana around 7500 BCE during the time of Latyayana Shrautasutra. The distance
between Badrinath to Uchana is around 598 km. Thus, Ashvina became equal to 13.5 kms.
Since Ashvina was a greater measuring unit than 13.5 kms, a Unit of Krosha equal to 13.5 kms
came into practice during the period 7000-5500 BCE and the use of Ashvina measure was
abandoned. Valmiki Ramayana refers to the Krosha of 13.5 kms and a small unit of Yojana
(165 or 175 meters). Later, a standardization of measuring units was undertaken during Pre-
Mahabharata era and a Yojana of 13.5 kms came into practice.
Conclusion
As discussed above, we can fix the following important dates related to Sarasvati River.

 Shutudri or Sutlej, an ancient tributary of Vedic Sarasvati River changed the course
around 14500-13000 BCE.
 Yamuna (Y1 palaeochannel), a tributary of Vedic Sarasvati River also changed the
course around 11200 BCE.
 Vedic Sarasvati River lost in Thar Desert or disappeared in the sands around 10900
BCE.
 Vedic Sarasvati River changed the course and started flowing westwards and became
tortuous around 10900-10500 BCE.
 The first Vinashana was probably Sambhar Lake around 10900 BCE but Uchana or
Parina Sthali in Kurukshetra was the Vinashana point around 10500-10000 BCE.