Abstract:
Rivers have served as the life line for mankind and play an important role in the available water resources of the country. Rivers carry a major part of available water resources as surface water and play an important role in the economic & social development of the country. From the ancient period of India, the oldest civilization such as Indus valley civilization and Aryan Civilization were developed on the banks of Indus and Ganga River basins. Presently, the maximum development of population as well as agriculture is being developed in the river valleys in India. Due to the trade & transport facilities during the ancient time, the major cities were developed on the banks of the rivers and today almost all the religious places of the country are located on the banks of any river.
Based on the topography, the river system of India can be classified into four groups. These are (i) Himalayan rivers, (ii)Deccan Rivers, (iii) Coastal Rivers and (iv) Rivers of the inland drainage basin. Indus river system in north India, Ganga River in Central India, Brahmaputra in North —East part of the Country and Narmada, Cauvery, Mahanadi etc rivers of peninsular part of are the major river systems of India.
Naming of rivers is as interesting topic and the Indian rivers are known from different mythological as well as other names based on their life, culture and behavior etc. In the present paper, different mythological and other names of Indian rivers in addition to their original names have been described.
