Page 39 - MANN KI BAAT (English)

Indus Valley Civilization emerged against Vritra for 360 days.
along the Indus, while the Vedic Ultimately, he shattered
civilisation prospered along the Vritra’s 99 fortresses and
Ganga. Given the vital role rivers struck him down with Vajra, a
played in sustaining life, it is no thunderbolt forged from the
surprise that Hindu mythology bones of Rishi Dadhichi.
reveres them as sacred, living In Hindu mythology,
entities with divine powers. some rivers are considered
The Rigveda’s early hymns incarnations of divine beings.
frequently praise the Indus and The Kosi River, once known as
the Saraswati, while later ones Kausiki, is believed to be the
often glorify the Ganga. Hindu transformed form of Satyavati
texts frequently mention the after her death. Satyavati,
concept of Sapta Sindhu, or the the elder sister of the revered
seven sacred rivers; the most Rishi Vishwamitra, belonged to
commonly cited are the Indus, the Kushak dynasty. Similarly,
Saraswati, Ganga, Yamuna, the Ganga is personified as a
Godavari, Narmada, and goddess and, in her earthly form,
Cauvery. was the wife of King Shantanu
One story from the Rigveda and the mother of Bhishma.
recounts how the Danava Vritra, According to Hindu
the embodiment of drought, mythology, the Ganges is
imprisoned the rivers. To free believed to have descended
them, Indra waged a battle from heaven to purify the
souls of the dead and provide

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