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
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