Saraswati, a sacred river. Every Indian is familiar with the name Saraswati as it is named after Mother Saraswati, the goddess of education. Where did such a sacred river disappear? Did this river ever exist or is it just part of a fabricated story?
In the world's oldest text, Rig Veda, Saraswati River has been mentioned 60 times and it has been said that the waves of Saraswati River were very fast and high. It is mentioned in Rigveda that this river flowing from North India towards west also brought heavy floods.
Scientists have done research and discovered multiple paleo channel of a big river flowing from the Himalayas through suratgarh- Ghaghar river- Anupgarh till the Runn of Kutch which proves the description of Rigveda. A number of archaeologists and geologists have identified the Sarasvati river with the present-day Ghaggar-Hakra River, or the dried up part of it, it has become a small seasonal river now. This river was formerly the lifeblood of the Indian states in the northwest, and a plethora of colorful civilizations, ranging from the Mahabharat era to Harappa, thrived along its banks. This river passed through states like Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
A sample of sand from the river skeleton was tested which turned out to be 5000 years old. Senior Professor of Geology and Geophysics, IIT Kharagpur, Shri. Anindya Sarkar says it was a path-breaking discovery that provided solid evidence that the river was active and present. Looking at the facts we can say that Saravasti river was an important medium of trade which connected Dholabira-Harappa-Mohenjodaro and other civilizations.
Apart from Dholabir, concrete evidence of Savaswati river is also found in Anupgarh and Hanumangarh of Rajasthan. If a well or borewell up to 10 meters is dug there, a thick layer of white grayish micaseous sand is seen in the lower layer of the soil. Which cannot be of any temporary rain fed river. Temporary rain fed river brings mud with it only.
Oxygen isotopic analysis revealed that the shells found at Dholabira were from a freshwater river flowing from the glacier. The map released by ISRO also proves the path of Saraswati River. One of the main reasons for the merging of Saraswati river could be any major natural change occurring in the earth at that time such as earthquake or famine. Because along with Dholabir, the major civilizations of that time like Juni Guran, Kuntasi, Mahen Jodaro, Harappa and Kalibangan all became extinct around the same time.
