Shankaracharya seeks revival of Vedic names for Indian rivers

The Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth, Swami Shri Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Ji, has penned a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, advocating for the revival of Vedic names for the rivers of the country, with a special reference to the rivers of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a letter flashed to the Prime Minister, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth (One of the four Dharmic institutions established by Adi Shankaracharya), underscores the paramount historical and cultural importance of the holy rivers.
Citing excerpts from the sacred Hindu scriptures such as the Shrimad Bhagwat Puran and the Rig Veda, he illuminates the eternal significance of the rivers to the people, nature and heritage of our country, as well as the Vedic names bestowed upon them.
Expressing concern over recent changes or distortions in the names of these sacred rivers, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has impressed upon the Narendra Modi to make a historic decision towards reinstating their Vedic appellations. The Shankaracharya makes a special emphasis for the restoration of Vedic names for the rivers currently flowing through Jammu and Kashmir – ‘Asikni’ for Chenab, ‘Vitasta’ for Jhelum, ‘Parushni’ for Ravi, and ‘Sindhu’ for Indus.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Vedic rivers hold a sacred place in the hearts and minds of people of our country, serving as lifelines that sustain life, cultures and civilizations. Their Vedic names reflect the essence of cultural identity and spiritual connection with nature. Merely uttering the Vedic names invokes a sense of purity, pride and respect in the individual, and society.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Ji’s letter to the Prime Minister, while it keeps with the traditions and legacy of Adi Shankaracharya- the great philosopher who re-established the Vedic Sanatana Dharma, it also reflects a collective aspiration to preserve and honour the sanctity of the Vedic rivers, as well as India’s ancient wisdom and cultural legacy.