Reviving Rivers And Rediscovering Saraswati’s Legacy

Rivers are considered lifelines of the world and are on the verge of extinction. So, the disruption of a vital water artery means the whole system suffers. Across India and the world, global warming, pollution, and ecological imbalance pile up, drying up rivers, ponds, and other freshwater resources.

This worrying situation happens even though water covers almost 70% of our Earth and less than 3% of this water is freshwater that sourced through rivers. Hence, restoration activities have begun. Communities, local governance, and private buyers are stepping up. On World Environment Day, Amazon also announced water replenishment project in the Yamuna River watershed to tackle water scarcity and over-extraction of groundwater. The project is expected to replenish more than 400 million litres of water annually once completed.

Such efforts signify increasing perception that the saving of rivers is not just another environmental issue but an issue of survival.

Researchers, historians, and spiritual seekers are captivated by the once-mighty Saraswati River, which during Vedic age times was considered the holiest river. Satellite technology and the field of remote sensing have developed over the years,_traces had been laid_of this "lost river" beneath the Thar Desert, offering new views on its various aspects-historical, cultural, and environmental.

Running from the Himalayas, Vedic Saraswati was between the Indus in the west and the Ganges in the east, after flowing through Punjab, Haryana, western Rajasthan, and Gujarat, its waters went into the Arabian Sea's Gulf of Kachchh. About 5000 BP, both climatic and tectonic changes could have brought about the cessation of the river. . But its legacy is thought to persist in the form of palaeochannels that are buried beneath aeolian sand and alluvium. These underground water routes still hold evidence of its former flow.

In the ancient Indian literature, Saraswati's importance is thus well-documented. The Yajurveda names five tributaries for it, Drishadvati, Sutlej (Satudri), Chenab (Chandrabagha), Vyas (Vipasa), and Ravi (Iravati), while the Rigveda calls it "Best of Mothers, Best of Rivers, Best of Goddesses." The Atharvaveda speaks of an agrarian population flourishing on its gigantic banks, cereal cultivation being aided by deities such as Indra and the Maruts. The Manusmriti calls the land between the Sarasvati and Drishadvati rivers Brahmavarta, considered the sacred place from where mankind arose. Depletion of the river is extremely well cited in the legends like Mahabharata, wherein it is said that the river finally disappeared into the desert sands at Vinasana.

With scientists, especially ISRO scientists employing advanced technologies such as remote sensing and GIS to identify paleochannels and build connections with modern Himalayan rivers like the Somb and the Yamuna, the Himalayan origin of this river is very much built upon. Some of these linkages are supposed to go all along from Mansarovar to the coastal town of Dwaraka, and some from the Saraswati Nadi at Adi Badri to the Sutle.

The implications of these findings are significant. Identifying Saraswati's course helps with the restoration of historical sites and the planning of archaeological digs for cultural heritage. Palaeochannel maps also help in groundwater exploration and recharge initiatives, providing fresh optimism for arid areas. In addition, these discoveries pave the way for new forms of cultural and religious tourism, since temples and ritual locations along the river's ancient route may be restored and brought back to the public.

Scientific investigation and cultural rediscovery are now giving a voice to the revival of Saraswati's legacy, which had been buried for millennia beneath the desert sands. This brings India's sacred geography closer to its historical reality.