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cludes from this reference that as the river Saraswati loses itself into the sands of the desert of Rajputana; that a Sea once existed there and actually covered a very large portion of modern Rajputana extending as far South and East as the Aravalli mountains.15
Let us consider the relationship between the river Sindhu and river Saraswati. The word Sindhu in Rgveda generally means a river.16 Agni is spoken of as the leader of rivers (Netā Sindhūnām). Mitra and Varuna have been referred as powerful lords of rivers (Sindhupati kṣatriyāh)).1 It is very seldom that Sindhu is referred as a proper river. In some contexts where it is referred as a proper river; it is of smaller significance. Saraswati, beyond doubt, is the biggest river of Rgveda.
Sapta-Sindhavah means seven rivers. It is contended that at one place it means a definite country." Sāyaṇa Sapta-Sindhavah interprets the relevant pada as 'the banks of not a country the seven rivers'. Indra is said to bring enrichment on the seven rivers. 19 Indra in relation to rivers
brings enrichment in the shape of more waters. This hymn does not indicate any region nor any country but only eulogises the quality of Indra as rain bringer.
Saraswati is a large river. Her banks were largely populated. Famous Rgvedic Panchajanah, the five preAryan, Bhartiya republics, were located in the Saraswati region. Saraswati is best of all the rivers, the most mighty of rivers, the chief and purest of rivers. Saraswati is the mother of the Sindhu and of those rivers that flow copious and fertilizing, bestowing abundance of food and nourishing the people by their water. Saraswati has seven sisters20. This clearly reveals that the Saraswati river occupied the most prominent position among the rivers of the region. Thus
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