Regional Remote Sensing Centre – West

NRSC/ISRO, Department of Space, Govt. of India

CAZRI Campus, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Dr. B. K. BhadraScientist/Engr.`SF’

Geographical Entity of the Vedic Saraswati

River in Relation to the Harappan

Settlements in Northwest India

27 March, 2015

Int. Seminar `The Indus-Sarasvati (Harappan) Civilization vis-à-vis The Rigveda’

Organized by: Draupadi Dream Trust, New Delhi

Saraswati, as described in the Rigveda

ambitame nadi tame devitame Sarasvati

aprasasta iva smasi prasastimamba naskridhi (2:41:16)

i.e. Best of mothers, best of rivers, best of Goddesses, Saraswati, we are ignorant and

untrained, give us wisdom and knowledge.

Saraswati is regarded as the holiest and mightiest river of Vedic Period (8000-5000 BP)

aa yatsaakam yashaso vaavashaanah Sarasvati saptathi sindhumaataa

yaah susvayanta sudughaah sudhaa raa abhiswena payasaa pipyaanaah (7:36:6)

May the glorious seventh (stream) Saraswati, the mother of Sindhu and other (rivers)

charged with copious volume of water, flow vigorously; come together, gifting abundant

food and milk.

• Saraswati in Yajurveda (34:11) (1803):

pancanadhyah Sarasvatimapi yanti sasrotasah

Sarasvati tu pancadhaa so deshe abhavat sarit

The five equally celebrated rivers, merged with the mighty Saraswati. Sraswati has five important tributaries

viz. Drishadvati, Satudri (Sutlej), Chandrabagha (Chenab), Vipasa (Vyas) and Iravati (Ravi). All these

rivers merges to Saraswati to meet Sindhu Sagar (the Arabian Sea).

• Saraswati in Atharvaveda (6:30:10):

devaa imam madhunaam sanyutam yavam sarasvatyaa madhi manaavacarkriyuh

aasit sirapatih shatakratuh kinasha aasan marutah sudaanavah

God bestowed the people on the bank of the Saraswati, with sweet juicy barley, where generous Maruts

became farmers & Indra as the Lord of agriculture. This Mantra suggests that farming of cereals was

practiced on the fertile soil of Saraswati during Vedic times.

• Saraswati in Manusmriti (3.17):

Saraswati drisadvatvor devanadhyory dantaram

Tam deva nirmitam desham brahmavart pracakshate

The land between the Saraswati and Drishadvati is created by God; this land is defined as Brahmavarta.

• Saraswati in Mahabharata: The Saraswati River continued to be a celebrated river during the Mahabharata

time also. It was referred as mother of the Vedas.

Vedanam mataram pusya (Mbh. Santiparva 12920)

Mahabharata gives clear geographical accounts of a number of pilgrimage sites spread along the

course of the Saraswati River. Sri Balaram’s pilgrimage, along the upsteam course of the Saraswati from

Samudra Samgam to Plaska prasaravana give a vivid description of most of these holy places. Balaram after

visiting a number of holy places reaches to Vinasana, the place where the Saraswati disappeared. During

Mahabharata period, the discharge of water in Saraswati became extremely low. As a result, the river

vanished in the desert sand at certain place along its regular course i.e. at Vinasana. Hence, the river

channel appeared dry. However, underground flow of water continued to exist in the river bed.

Saraswati River in Other Literatures

Geographical Identity of River Saraswati

Saraswati River originated in the Himalayas and flowed between Indus

and Ganges through Punjab, Haryana, western Rajasthan and Gujarat. It

finally drained into Arabian Sea.

It is believed that River Saraswati still flows below the desert sand and its

Himalayan connectivity is still alive.

Palaeo-drainage systems in NW India have been a topic of research for

many decades as remnants of Saraswati River are present even today.

Himalayan Rivers of NW India

1. Indus River – It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in Tibetan

region at an altitude of 4164m in Kailash Mountain Range.

2. Sutlej River – It originates from Rakas Lake at an altitude of 4555m

in Tibet and is connected with Man Sarovar Lake by a stream.

3. Ganga River - It originates at Gangotri glacier near Gomukh in Garhwal

Himalayas in Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3,900m in the central highlands.

4. Yamuna River - It rises at Yamunotri Glacier at an altitude of 6316m on

Bandarpunch range and enters the Ganga plain.

Saraswati River was fed by melt from Himalayan glaciers, after the receding

of the last ice age during 10,000 BP.

Gujarat Madhya Pradesh

Rajasthan

Haryana

PunjabUK

UP

HP

The Lost `Saraswati

River System’

between Indus and

Ganges River

System

DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN NW INDIA

Tibet

Pakistan

India

Satellite Image showing Three Distinct Drainage Systems in NW India

Luni R.

Allahabad

Delhi

Chandigarh

Jodhpur

Hisar

Ahmedabad

Jaipur

Rann of Kutch

Adi Badri

Indus River

System

Ganges River

System

Luni River

System

Remote Sensing Techniques Used for

Delineating Palaeochannels

Palaeochannels are basically the old course of river channels which

appears on the satellite image as serpentine drainage course with high

moisture content (dark tone).

• “Piece-wise Histogram Stretching” technique has been used to

enhance the palaeochannel signatures on the image. The feature

enhancement is carried out by way of loading sub-scenes of 1k x 1k

size on computer terminal in full resolution and improving the feature

contrast by histogram stretching interactively.

• This technique has been found unique in enhancing palaeochannel

details in the sandy as well as alluvial and vegetated areas.

• These palaeochannels also have been validated through collateral

ground data such as geomorphic anomalies, drilling data (litholog) of

tube wells, hydrological parameters (discharge and groundwater

quality), age of ground water, archaeological data and published old

maps.

Course of Saraswati in

Rajasthan

IRS WiFS FCC of Part of Saraswati River Basin

I.G.Canal

Jaisalmer

Ghaggar R.

Palaeo Drainage

Map of The

Indian Desert

Region using

IRS P3 WiFS

Satellite Image

Rann

Mohenjo-daro Jaisalmer

Jodhpur

Ganweriwala

Banawali

Dholavira

Surkotada

Simplified

Courses

Ground Validation of Palaeochanels

• Through Drilling data: 14 wells drilled by CGWB &

GWD.

• Potable quality water found along the Palaeo

Channels

• Occurrence of Gravel & coarse grained sand

reported

• Channels occur at 20-40 m depth

• Palaeo Geomorphic features - Corn Cob structure

• Archaeological data

• Ground Water Quality & age data

• Palaeo Maps British and Mughal Period

GWD (8)

CGWB (16)

Total=24 wells

DRILLING SITES ALONG THE PALAEOCHANNELS IN RAJASTHAN

Tube well drilled on Saraswati Palaeochannel

at Tanot (Border area) in Jaisalmer district,

Rajasthan during 1999-2000

Extensive Desert Sands with Dunes in Jaisalmer

district, Rajasthan (March, 2008)

FIELD PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE GROUND REALITY

Ages of groundwater samples from Jaisalmer district

(Analysed by BARC)

Sample ID Location Well Type Age Uncorrected (Before Past)

Model Age, a (Pearson)-BP

D1 Dharmikua DW 1900 M

T1 Kishengarh TW 6190 M

D3 Kuriaberi DW 4390 1340

D4 Nathurakua DW 3000 M

T2 Ghantiyali TW 9630 5550

D5 Ghantiyali DW 4960 1550

T3 Ranau TW 5930 1930

T7 Ghotaru I TW 18700 12400

D12 Ghotaru-II DW 3860 M

D17 Dost Md.Kua DW 5780 2000

Age of Saraswati ground water ~ 1340 to 12400 BP

Course of Vedic Saraswati

in Haryana

MAJOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN NORTHERN HARYANA

Adi Badri

Siwalik Hills

Bata R

YAMUNANAGAR

DISTRICT

AMBALA

DISTRICT

Lesser Himalaya

3-D View of Adi Badri Area by SRTM DEM & Landsat ETM image

IRS P6 LISS-III IMAGE WITH DELINEATED PALAEOCHANNELS IN HARYANA

Sirsa

Fatehbad

Hisar

Jind

Kaithal Karnal

Panipat

Sonipat

RohtakBjiwani

Kurukshetra

AmbalaYamuna-

nagar

Panch-

kula

PUNJAB

RAJASTHAN

UTTAR

PRADESH

HIMACHAL

PRADESH

Palaeochannels

District Boundary

NHisar

Su

tlej P

ala

eo

ch

an

el

Sirsa

Course of Vedic Saraswati

in Punjab

Optical (IRS P6) and SAR (Radarsat) images showing the delineated Sutlej palaeochannels between

Ropar and Shatrana in Punjab. Note a large number of archaeological sites lie along the palaeochannels.

Radarsat SAR image (Dec.,2000)IRS P6 LISS-III image (Feb.,2004)

Palaeo channels (PC)

Archaeological sites

Archaeological sites on Sutlej PC

Su

tle

j P

ala

eo

ch

an

ne

l

Sutlej Palaeochannels along Ropar-Sirhind-Rajpura section (N-S)

MAJOR RIVERS AND PALAEOCHANNELS IN PUNJAB

Sutlej R.

Sutlej

Palaeochannel

Course of Vedic Saraswati

in Gujarat

Satellite Image showing the Saraswati palaeo-drainage

network (blue lines) in Rann of Kachchh area, Gujarat

Saraswati Delta Structure at Rann of Kachchh (Gujarat)

Digital image processing of IRS-P6 AWiFS and Radarsat

SAR images reveals deltaic drainage pattern (Bird’s Foot

type) which is made up of complex intertwined channels.

The delta structure was formed in the past by huge sediment

discharge of Saraswati River within marshy land of Great

Rann of Kachchh.

These palaeochannels can be traced upto the Gulf of

Kachchh which might have a link to the submerged Dwarka

of Mahabharata times.

SARASWATI CONFLUENCE AT DWARKA

Dwarka was the capital of the Yadavas which is mentioned in

Indian epic Mahabharata. It is believed that Lord Krishna has

founded this town by reclaiming 12 yojana land from the Sea

at about 3,600 years ago.

Mahabharata describes that Balaram travelled along the dry

banks of Saraswati River from Dwaraka to Mathura. It is

possible that Saraswati River might have continued beyond

Little Rann upto Dwarka along the Gulf of Kachchh.

Archaeological excavation revealed the existence of Harappan

settlements in Dwarka as well as port city of Lothal. Rise in

sea level caused submergence of Dwarka in 3443 BP.

Integrated Study of Vedic

Saraswati in NW India

Palaeochannel

Network in NW India

Mansarovar

LakeRakas

Lake

Perennial Source of Sutlej River

Perennial Source of Yamuna-Tons River

Yamunotri

Bandarpunch

Simplified map of Vedic Saraswati River from Mansarovar to Dwaraka

Saraswati River System

(8000 to 5000 BP)

Present Day River

System

Allahabad

ManSarovar

Bandarpunch

Delhi

Jodhpur

Kurukshetra

Arabian

Sea

Jaisalmer

Bet Dwarka

Rann of Kutch

Geographical Distribution

of Archaeological

Settlements of

Indus-Saraswati

Civilisation

Satellite Image showing the Archaeological Sites of Indus-Saraswati Civilization

Allahabad

Man

Sarovar

Present Day Rivers

Archaeological Sites

Jodhpur

Delhi

Sutlej R.

Dwarka

Distribution of Archaeological Sites between the Indus and the Ganges Rivers

Present Day Rivers

Archaeological Sites

Allahabad

Man

Sarovar

Jodhpur

Delhi

Sutlej R.

Dwarka

R A J A S T H A N

GUJARATMADHYA PRADESH

PAKISTAN

HARYANA

PUNJAB

UP

UK

HP

Satellite Image showing Archaeological Sites and Saraswati Palaeochannels

Present Day Rivers

Palaeochannels

Archaeological Sites

Allahabad

Man

Sarovar

Jodhpur

Delhi

Sutlej R.

Dwarka

Spatial Relationship of the Harappan Settlements and Saraswati Palaeochannels

Allahabad

Man

Sarovar

Jodhpur

Delhi

Sutlej R.

Dwarka

Simplified Course of Saraswati River and the Associated Archaeological Sites

Allahabad

Man

Sarovar

Jodhpur

Delhi

Sutlej R.

Dwarka

Geographical Distribution

of Archaeological

Settlements of

Indus-Saraswati

Civilisation in Pakistan

Archaeological Sites in Pakistan along Indus and Saraswati Rivers

Mature Harappan Settlements in Pakistan along Indus & Saraswati Rivers

Mature Harappan

Other Harappan

Geographical Distribution

of Archaeological

Settlements of

Indus-Saraswati

Civilisation in Haryana

Archaeological Sites and the Palaeochannels in Northern Haryana

Sirsa

Hisar

FatehbadJind

Sonipat

Karnal

Kuru

Kaithal

Ambala

Yamuna

nagar

Panipat

Rohtak

BhiwaniS

utl

ej P

C

Mature Harappan

(4600-3900 BP)

Sothi Harappan

(~Mature Harappan)

Post Harappan

(3500 BP to Medieval)

Late Harappan(3900-3300 BP)

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITESMature to Late

Harappan Sites

Palaeochannels/

Present day drainages

Mature Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Haryana

Mature Harappan

Sothi Harappan

Sothi Harappan Settlements in Haryana along the Saraswati Palaeochannels

Late Harappan

Late Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Haryana

Post Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Haryana

Post Harappan

Geographical Distribution

of Archaeological

Settlements of

Indus-Saraswati

Civilisation in Punjab

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES, MAJOR RIVERS AND PALAEOCHANNELS IN PUNJAB

Mature Harappan

Mature Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Punjab

Post Harappan

Post Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Punjab

Geographical Distribution

of Archaeological

Settlements of

Indus-Saraswati

Civilisation in Rajasthan

IRS WiFS image showing Harappan Sites along Ghaggar River in

Ganganagar and Hanumangarh Districts of Rajasthan

Mature Harappan

Mature Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Rajasthan

Post Harappan

Post Harappan Settlements along the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Rajasthan

Geographical Distribution

of Archaeological

Settlements of

Indus-Saraswati

Civilisation in Gujarat

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WITH PALAEOCHANNELS IN NORTHERN GUJARAT

Little Rann

Pachham Island

Patan

Mehsana

Tharad

Great Rann of Kachchh

Bet Dwarka

Dholavira

Bhuj

Lakhpat

Surendranagar

Jamnagar

Bela

Palanpur

Ahmedabad

RajkotDwarka

ARABIAN

SEA

Khadir Island

Pre-Harappan

Post-Harappan

Present Drainage

Palaeochannel

Mature Harappan

Legend

Extension of Palaeochannel

Mature Harappan

Mature Harappan Settlements and the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Gujarat

Late Sorath Harappan

Late Sorath Harappan Settlements and the Saraswati Palaeochannels in Gujarat

Archaeological sites of Indus-

Saraswati Civilisation (till 2005)

The entire course of Vedic Saraswati River has been delineated using

latest satellite images and validated with archaeological, drilling and

hydrogeological data.

Present day perennial sources of Sutlej and Yamuna/Tons rivers have

been considered as part of Vedic Saraswati River.

Close association of archaeological sites and the palaeochannels indicate

existence of Vedic Saraswati River during 8000 to 5000 years ago.

Spatial distribution of Harappan settlements shows the growth of Indus-

Saraswati valley civilization during Vedic period. The population has

migrated towards NE direction with the desiccation of Saraswati River in

Thar Desert area during 3792 years BP.

Radiometric ages of river sediments suggests that the age of Saraswati

River (older palaeochannels) may be as old as 28,000 years. However, it

was flourished during 8000 to 5000 years ago (younger palaeochannels).

Age of trapped groundwater in the palaeochannels in Rajasthan shows

contemporary age of Saraswati (1340-8910 BP) and as old as 18800BP.

CONCLUSIONS

RESTORE THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE COUNTRY…