Sapta Sindhu And Other Minor Rivers of Rigveda

Sapta Sindhu And Rivers of Rigveda

There are total of 31 rivers mentioned in the Vedic texts. Out of which Sapta Sindhu plays an important role in defining the geography and borders of the Aryavarta. Though, there is no clarification over what consists Sapta Sindhu. Nadistuti sukta, hymn of praise of rivers, is an important hymn describing about nineteen rivers of Rigvedic times.

Seven Rivers of Sapta Sindhu are Saraswati, Sindhu, Satudru (Satluj), Vipasa (Beas), Asikni (Chenab), Parusni (Ravi) and Vitasta (Jhelum).

Northwestern Rivers (western tributaries of the Indus):
1. Trstama
2. Susartu
3. Anitabha
4. Rasa
5. Svetya (Gilgit River)
6. Kubha (Kabul River)
7. Krumu (Kurrum River)
8. Mehatnu
9. Suvastu (Swat
10. Gauri (Panjkora)
11. Kusava (Kunar)

The Indus and its minor eastern tributaries
12. Sindhu (Indus)
13. Sushoma (Sohan)
14. Arjikiya (Haro)

Central Rivers (Rivers of Punjab)
15. Vitasta (Jhelum)
16. Asikni (Chenab)
17. Parusni (Ravi)
18. Vipas (Beas)
19. Sutudri (Sutlej)
20. Marudvrdha

East-central Rivers (rivers of Haryana):
21. Sarasvati
22. Drsadvati

Eastern Rivers:
23. Asmanvati (Assan)
24. Yamuna
25. Ganges
26. Sarayu
27. Gomati
28. Gandaki
29. Silamavati
30. Urnavati
31. Yavyavati (Zhob river)

The nineteen rivers mentioned in the Nadistuti Sukta are Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Sutudri, Parusni, Asikni, Marudvrdha, Vitasta, Arjikiya, Sushoma, Trstama, Susartu, Rasā, Shvetya, Sindhu, Kubha, Gomati, Krumu, and Mehatnu.