Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c39.6

v2.c39.6

During the beginning of the second millennium BC, there were neo-tectonic movements in the northern part of India (Rajaguru, 1977: 69-72) causing diversion of the earlier channels of Sutlej and Yamunā away from the Sarasvatī. (Raikes, 1968; Pal, Sahai et al., 1980) This caused gradual drying up of the Sarasvatī. The Sanskrit literatures mentioned some of these events in the form of legends: shifting of the course of Yamunā towards Brndābana (Visnupurānam, 5.18 and 5.26.11), submergence of the old city of Hastināpura (Śrīmadbhāgavatam, 10.68.41-42), desertion of the Sarasvatī river valley and migration of the Ṛgvedic people towards the east for sadānīra or the perennial rivers.