--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, george knysh <gknysh@...> wrote:
> --- On Mon, 8/17/09, Francesco Brighenti <frabrig@...> wrote:
>
> A map of Greater Panjab is shown here based on the river-names
> mentioned in the Rgveda (from the Kubha in the west to the Yamuna,
> and even the Ganges -- mentioned twice in the Rgveda -- in the east):
>
> http://www.bharatvani.org/books/rig/img21.jpg
>
> ****GK: Is this in line with the oldest mandalas (2-7)? I thought
> the mention or reference to the Ganges was very problematic (if even
> real) in them. And that the first clear mention was in mandala 10,
> which is "younger" by centuries... What would be the "geography" of
>RV 2-7?****
The oldest books of the RV are 4-6, marking the early Rgvedic period according to the layering of the RV proposed by M. Witzel. In his analysis, books 3, 7, and probably also 2 belong to the middle (i.e., main) Rgvedic period.
http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/IndusLang.pdf
[Books 4-6] "contain data covering all of the Greater Panjab: note the rivers Sindhu 4.54.6, 4.55.3, 5.53.9 'Indus'; Asiknii 4.17.5 'Chenab',
Parus.n.ii 4.22.3, 5.52.9 'Ravi'; Vipaas' 4.30.11 (~ Vibaalii) 'Beas'; Yamunaa 5.52.17; Gangaa 6.45.31 with gaangya 'belonging to the Ganges', but also the Sarayu 5.53.9, 4.30.18 'Herat River', and
the Kubhaa 5.53.9 'Kabul River'... Interestingly, one and the same poet, S'yaavaas'va, refers to both the river Yamunaa on the one hand (5.52.17)and the Raså (on the upper Indus), Anitabhaa, Kubhaa, Krumu (Kurram), Sindhu and even the Sarayu on the other (5.53.9); this
covers all of the Greater Panjab and Afghanistan and indicates a large network of intertribal relations."
As to the two mentions of the Ganges in the RV (which actually do seem late), see Witzel at
http://tinyurl.com/p2wr76 (note 76).
Best,
Francesco