rivers in vedam

[Rajaram Krishnamurthy]

RIVER AND HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS:

गंगे च यमुने चैव गोदावरि सरस्वति । नर्मदे सिंधु कावेरि जलेऽस्मिन् सन्निधिं कुरु!

This is the beginning of Sankalp Mantra shows for powerful the rituals are giving importance for river waters!

Introduction:

Rivers in the world especially in India, speak in a very deep and contralto voice, similar to the voice of classical female singer and mezzo – soprano, in a scientific pitch notation, whose voice is generally divided into the coloratura, lyric and dramatic mezzo-soprano/ Such is the beauty of the Indian Rivers. Sometimes they flow silently like a sleeping tigress, at other times roaring like lioness which will create panic in the minds of the onlookers. There is a saying that, “pahar kaa paani aur jawani, kabhi pahar ke kaam nahin aati” (the youth, the water of the mountains, never serve the mountains!). So, is true.

Vedic and River civilization instrumental for River Consciousness:

They flow downstream like out migration of youths for jobs. So also, the discharge water has an unwritten commitment to the Humanity to serve by sacrificing them. How real it is that, without water the whole world will be fish out of water. So much of importance, the five elemental nature has bestowed upon us. We are in no relative terms, totally related to the five bhutaas. People have been living for millennium and using river water for various purposes like agriculture, drinking, bathing and immersing, producing power through hydroelectric schemes and for many religious oblations. Hindus believe that water is God, meaning sacred rivers. We have seen many civilizations were thriving along side the river starting from sindu, ganjetic plains, Godavari, krishna and Cauvery deltas, which are flowing across the country. Brahmins offer Sandhya Vandana and sradha rituals only by doing Sankalpam with water and it has its own important role. We can say that the people have utmost faith and consciousness relating to the rivers and they have realized the importance of rivers flowing with water. Civilization prospered because of their existence. We have been witnessing war on water only recently basically due to the fact of the increase in population and the demand for agricultural products. The whole world will be paralysed if there were no waters. Already cape town in Africa is struggling for water. In many parts of the world as well as in India, we have similar problem.

नमामि गंगे तव पादपंकजं सुरासुरैर्वन्दितदिव्यरूपाम्।

भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च ददासि नित्यं भावानुसारेण सदा नराणाम् ।( Ahnika Sutravali Verse 106)

Every Brahmin and others have the faith that they should visit Ganges, Prayagraj and Gaya for offering oblation to their manes and pitrus as well perform Ganga Aarti and poojas, once in a lifetime. This reflects the tradition followed by the people by and large. People have utmost consciousness in offering oblation to Ganges and other rivers in India. This is happening only in Santana Dharma. On auspicious days people across the country visit various rivers to offer Sankalpam, sradha and tarpan to their pitrus and in turn expecting their blessings to ward off their sins if any committed.

 We have twelve important rivers flowing in this Bharat Bhumi. Everyone has their own legends, infact, each one of them brings with it a unique myth or mythological explanations, which creates curiosity to explore more. The entire citizens of the country had their own river consciousness as they understand the importance of the rivers.

One can find poetical verses on rivers. Rivers are inspiration to everyone. River Chenab is called the River of Romance in many folk stories. Romance of Mahiwal and Sohni brewed on the banks of Chenab and Ravi. Sohni drowned during the attempt to swim across the river to meet her lover, Mahiwal but she lives on in folklores. The flow of Chenab reminds me of a couplet by Mustafa Zaidi:

Kachay garhay ne jeet li naddi charhi hui mazboot kashtion ko kinara nahe mila

The earthenware pot triumphed over the stormy river Where strongly-built boats failed to find a landing.

Saraswathi River no longer exists, it originated from Saraswathi Rupin glaciers of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

In Rig Veda, the name of the river Saraswathi is mentioned more than fifty times. In all the religious ceremonies performed either at home or in the temples or in the river streams or after performing Sathya Narayana Pooja, Mantra Pushpa is uttered propiating the Pancha Bhutaas, especially water, “Yopam Pushpam Veda, Pushpavan Prajavan Bhavati” * and many more. Rivers of India, a book written by Sunil Vaidyanathan, an internationally acclaimed author, in his book explored the symbiosis between the major rivers of Bharat Desh and the people with river consciousness who live along them.

* “Om Yopam Pushpam Veda, Pushpavan Prajavan pashuman Bhavati

chandrama-va-apam Pushpam, Pushpavan Prajavan pashuman Bhavati

ya Evam Veda, yopamayatanam Veda, ayatanam Bhavati”

He who understands the flowers of water, He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle. Moon is the flower of the water, He who understands this fact; He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle. He, who knows the source of water, Becomes established in himself.

“agnirva apamayatanam, ayatanavan Bhavati yO-agnerayatanam Veda, ayatanavan Bhavati apo va angerayatanam, ayatanavan Bhavati”

“ya Evam Veda, yopamayatanam Veda, ayatanavan Bhavati”

Vedic King of Indus Valley Civilization praise water

 Indus Valley king Sindhudvipa was the son of Amabrisha. He is the seer for the following Vedic hymn. Brahmins recite the first three verses every day. Priests use this in full in all the house and temple consecration ceremonies. Brahmins of India do a prayer called ‘Sandhya Vandhana’ three times a day, in which they praise water as the energy giver and a healer. It begins with ‘Apo hista mayo bhuva:’….:

 “Waters! You are health giving,

Give us energy, so that

We may look on great delight.

 Give us a portion of the sap, the most

Beneficent you have,

Like mothers longing with love.

 So gladly do we go with you

To the home for which you make us live.

Waters! Give us progeny.

 Gracious be Divine waters for

our protection, be there for our drink,

and stream on us bliss and happiness.

 Sovereigns  over precious things,

 and rulers over men, Waters!

We seek healing balm of you.

 Within waters  -- so Soma has

Told me – all healing balms,

And Agni, benign to all.

 O waters, teem with medicine to keep

My body safe from harm,

So that I long may see the sun.

 Whatever sin is found in me,

whatever evil I have wrought

if I have lied or falsely sworn

waters remove it far from me.

 The waters I this day have sought,

And to their moisture have we come

O Agni, rich in milk, come you, and

with your splendour cover me .”-- (RV. 10-9)

 Satapata Brahmana says, “Waters are indeed sacred” (Medhya va Apah S.B.1-1-1-1) and “Water is in fact nectar” (Amrtahyapah SB 3-9-4-16).

Fire is the source of water, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself, Water is the source of fire, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself. He, who knows the source of water, Becomes established in himself.

In Tamil Literature

Two thousand year old Sangam Tamil literature praise Holy Ganga in several places and Yamuna with Gopis in another place! Powerful Chera King Chenguttuvan of second century CE came all the way to Ganges two times in his life just to wash the stone for sacred sculptures.

 Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar says in the Tamil Veda Tirukkural (verse 20),

“Even as life on earth cannot sustain without water, virtue too depends ultimately on rain”. Kapilar in Natrinai (verse 1) repeats the same words.

 Tamil epic Silappadikaram describes the rivers Kaveri of Choza country and Vaigai of Pandya country in beautiful verses. Paripatal, part of Sangam literature has lengthy poems in praise of River Vaigai.

Plenty of Tamil proverbs are there stressing the importance of preserving water and optimum use of water (‘Neeraiyum Seeraadu’ in Tamil).

Conclusion:

The Indus valley civilization grew on the banks of major rivers like the river Indus. Vedic civilization which was instrumental for developing river consciousness among the population, also grew on the banks of the major rivers and forests. Thus, rivers have a divine origin from Ganges to Cauvery. It is true that almost all the civilizations appeared on the banks of the big rivers. It shows how vital water is for our survival. But for the Hindus, water is more important. Their entire life is based on water, from birth to death, and all the ceremonies use water.

 {By Dr K Srinivasan M K university}    K Rajaram IRS 171225