Shipra River

Source-This post on Shipra River is based on the article CAG alert on unacceptable pollution of Kshipra river in Madhya Pradesh” published in “The Indian Express” on 16th March 2024.

Why in the News?

Recently, a performance audit was conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) on the degradation of the Shipra River.

About Shipra River

1. Location: The Shipra River (also known as the Kshipra) is a river in Madhya Pradesh.

2. Type: It is a perennial river and is considered as sacred as the Ganga River by the Hindus.

3. Origin: 

a) The Shipra River originates in the Vindhya Range from a hill called Kakri-Tekdi, situated approximately 11 kilometers north of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.

b) This perennial river flows across the Malwa Plateau and eventually joins the Chambal River.

c) Kahn and Gambhir are its major tributaries.

4. Religious Significance:

a) According to ancient Hindu texts (the Puranas), the Shipra River is believed to have sprung from the heart of Varaha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in the form of a boar.

b) Along the banks of the Shipra lies the ashram (hermitage) of Sage Sandipani, where Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, received his education.

c) The holy city of Ujjain, situated on the right bank of the Shipra, hosts the famous Kumbha Mela (Sinhastha fair). Pilgrims gather on the city’s elaborate riverside ghats to celebrate the river goddess Kshipra.

d) The Shipra River also finds mention in Buddhist and Jain texts.

Read more: Surface (River) Water Pollution

UPSC Syllabus: Geography