TheSaraswata kingdom was an ancient kingdom, territory, or region on the banks of theSarasvati River during the pre-historic ages. This region is mentioned in detail in as many as 20 chapters in theMahabharata from (9:35) to (9:54).Balarama traced the Saraswati river through its partially dried up course from the ocean nearPrabhasa (close toDwaraka) to its origin in theHimalayas.
The regions called Saraswata on the banks of Saraswati River are mentioned at (3:83, 84).
Saraswata kings are mentioned as performing a sacrifice (3:129) atPlakshavatarana, a place on the banks of the Sarasvati at its origin from theHimalayas. This place is to the north ofKurukshetra inHaryana. The Saraswata sacrifice is mentioned again at (3:90) as being performed at Plakshavatarana. KingYayati had also constructed many sacrificial fire-altars here.
According to Adi parva of Mahabharata (1.90.25-26), it is mentioned that "King Matinara performed yagya (sacrifice) in Fire altars at the bank ofsarasvati river".[1][2][3]Kalibangan is a town located on the left or southern banks of the Ghaggar (Ghaggar-Hakra River), identified with theSarasvati river.[4][5] At Kalibangan fireVedi (altar)s have been discovered[6][7][8][9] similar to those found atLothal.[10] This lonely structure may perhaps have been used for ritual purposes.[11][12]
King Prithu is mentioned as having Saraswatas for his companions. (12:58)
KingPrithu was the son of KingVena, in the line of Kardama. His lineage is described at (12:58) as follows: Virajas – Krittimat – Kardama – Ananga – Ativala – Vena. Descendants of Vena became theNishadas who established themselves close to the Saraswati valley (inRajasthan to the north ofAnarta kingdom inGujarat). Those tribes that had the hills and the forests for their abode and practiced fishing and hunting as their chief occupation, as also those hundreds and thousands of others called the Mlecchhas, residing on theVindhya mountains were all the descendants of Vena. However Prithu became a great king. Clad in mail, armed with scimitars, bows and arrows, and well-versed in the science of weapons, he was fully acquainted with theVedas and their branches.Sukra, the great scholar ofBrahma-knowledge, became his priest. The Valakhilyas became his counsellors, and theSaraswatas his companions. The great and illustrious Rishi Garga became his astrologer (12:58).
Prithu, the royal son of Vena, gave unto the Sutas the lands lying on the eastern sea-coast (Anga andVanga), and unto the Magadhas the country since known asMagadha. Sutas and Magadhas were till then bards and panegyrists in royal courts. Prithu made the land levelled for making roads. Vena’s son removed the rocks and rocky masses lying all around. He cultivated 17 kinds of crops for producing food (12:58).
Saraswati valley seems to have witnessed the clashes of many ancient tribes (most times mentioned asDevas andAsuras but originallyKshatriya-like tribes). It was the origin of Hindu traditions and scriptures
On the banks of the Saraswati River was a place calledAditya. HereVaruna the son ofAditi had performed a greatRajasuya yagna. Upon the commencement of that foremost of sacrifices, a battle ensued between theDevas and theDanavas (who were mentioned here asKshatriyas (9:49)). It is mentioned as the place where all theDevas, the Vishwadevas, the Maruts, theGandharvas, theApsaras, theYakshas, theRakshasas, and thePisachas could be seen (9:49). HereVishnu himself, having in days of yore slain theAsuras, Madhu and Kaitabha, had performed his ablutions (9:49). Another place on the banks of the Saraswati River calledSoma, is mentioned as the place where King Soma performed hisRajasuya sacrifice. Here a great battle was fought in whichTaraka was the enemy (9:51).
The island-born sage (Vyasa) also having bathed in this place, obtained great Yogic powers and attained great success. Endowed with great ascetic merit, the Sage Asita-Devala also, having bathed in that very Tirtha with his soul rapt in highYoga meditation, obtained great Yogic powers (9:49).
These passages are from the narration ofYadavaBalarama's pilgrimage along the ancient river Saraswati. Saraswati was partially dried up then. It disappeared into the desert and only the dried river bed can be seen after a place called Vinasana. SeeSudra Kingdom for more details.
Saraswati valley was the seat ofVedas (knowledge) and Vedic traditions. It was for this reason that the river Saraswati was later considered asthe goddess of knowledge. At (9:51) we found mention of the decline of Vedic culture due to the drying up of Saraswati River and its revival by a sage belonging to the same region.
There (in a place called Soma on the banks of Saraswati River), during a drought extending for twelve years, the Sage Saraswata, in former days, taught theVedas unto many foremost ofBrahmanas (9:51).
Saraswata was born to family of sagebrighu, his father was sage (some time prince) dhadichi (not one who donate his bones). In battle 99 heroes in the army of theDaityas, (a clan ofAsuras) were slain. After this great war there was a drought extending for 12 years. During that drought extending for twelve years, the great sages (who practiced Vedic traditions and who were settled on the banks of Saraswati River) for the sake of sustenance, migrated from the river valley (9:51). However, Sage Saraswata continued to live on the banks of the Saraswati.
After the drought of 12 years had died, the great sages solicited one another for lectures on theVedas. While wandering with famished stomachs, the sages had lost the knowledge of the Vedas. There was, indeed, not one amongst them that could understand the scriptures. It chanced that someone amongst them encountered Saraswata, that foremost of sages, while the latter was reading the Vedas with concentrated attention. Coming back to the conclave of rishis, he spoke to them of Saraswata, of unrivalled splendour and god-like form engaged in reading the Vedas in a solitary forest. Then all the great Rishis came to that spot, and jointly asked him to teach them the Vedas. Those sages duly became his disciples and obtaining from him their knowledge of the Vedas, once more began to practice their rites. A total of 60,000 sages became disciples of the venerable Rishi Saraswata for the sake of acquiring their knowledge of the Vedas from him (9:51). The present day Saraswat Brahmins who are kashmiri pandits, punjabi brahmins, Goud saraswat brahmins, Shenvis, Chitrapur saraswats, bhalvalikar, Rajapur Saraswats, and pednekars, have this event as part of their culture.[citation needed]
This event is repeated again at (3:85): At the forest ofTungaka in olden days sage Saraswata taught theVedas to the ascetics. When theVedas had been lost in consequence of the sages having forgotten them. Here (3:85) he is mentioned as the son of Angirasa. The asylum of Aditya, the place of Soma and the hermitage of Dadhichi were mentioned as adjacent places on the banks of Saraswati at (3:83). Here it is mentioned that Angirasa – a great sage belonging to the Saraswata race. At (13:50) Saraswata is sometimes mentioned as Sage Atri’s son. Saraswata is mentioned as a sage from the western regions of India at (12:207, 13:165).
Nakula the son ofMadri, hath intended to take as his share the deceitful Uluka.
After theMausala Parva, which claims the lives of almost all Yadavas, thePandavas bring the survivors with them.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link); sanskrit verse 1.90.25-26