The role of Sarasvati in the spirituality of the 7 rivers civilization

The Sarasvati occupies a central place in the spirituality of the Indus Civilization, testifying to its importance both religiously and culturally. Mentioned in the Rig Veda , it is the only river personified as a goddess and plays a major role in the Vedic hymns. Its association with knowledge, purity and prosperity reflects its importance to the people of this region.

1. The Sarasvati in the Rig Veda and the Nadi Shukta (10.75)

The Nadi Shukta of the tenth mandala of the Rig Veda (10.75) lists the sacred rivers of ancient India, among which the Sarasvati is mentioned with particular reverence. This text presents it as a majestic river, with abundant waters, which flows with force and fertilizes the earth.

The Rig Veda emphasizes its uniqueness as the supreme Vedic river, illustrating its role not only physical, but also spiritual. It is described as a flow of wisdom and divine inspiration, evoking the idea that its gradual disappearance symbolizes a move away from Vedic spiritual truth.

2. The only deified river: Rig Veda (6.61)

In hymn 6.61 of the Rig Veda , Sarasvati is explicitly worshipped as a goddess, distinguishing her from other rivers mentioned in ancient texts. She is depicted as a scourge to her enemies, endowed with destructive but also nourishing power.

Her role as the goddess of speech, wisdom and knowledge has continued through time, giving rise to the Sarasvati worshipped in modern Hinduism as the goddess of learning. The fusion of the river element and the intellectual dimension illustrates the Vedic ideal that material and spiritual reality are intimately linked.

3. Place of establishment of the Purus ( Rig Veda 7.96)

Hymn 7.96 mentions the Purus, one of the major Vedic tribes, as having settled on the banks of the Sarasvati. This settlement reflects how crucial the river was to the socio-religious life of the ancient inhabitants of the region. The Purus, considered the ancestors of the Bharatas, formed one of the most important lineages in the Vedic world. Their presence on the banks of the Sarasvati underlines the centrality of this river in the development of Vedic thought and the spirituality of the Indus civilization.

The gradual drying up of the Sarasvati contributed to the dispersion of populations and the transformation of the Vedic tradition. Its drying up around 1900 BCE coincides with the end of the civilization of the 7 rivers, because most of the cities were located on its banks. This disappearance led to a decline in urban centers and a migration of populations to other regions, marking the end of a golden age.

Conclusion

The Sarasvati represents much more than a river to the Indus civilization and the Vedic world. Its deification in the Rig Veda , its role in the lives of the Purus, and its evocation in the Vedic hymns make it a symbol of spiritual and cultural continuity. Its association with knowledge and speech shows that, for the Indus peoples, water was not only a source of physical life, but also a source of spiritual enlightenment.