Rivers in Ancient India (study)
by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words
This page relates ‘The rivers in the minor Upanishads� of the study on the rivers in ancient India as reflected in the Vedic and Puranic texts. These pages dicsusses the elements of nature and the importance of rivers (Nadi) in Vedic and Puranic society. Distinctive traits of rivers are investigated from descriptions found in the Vedas (Samhitas), Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads and Puranas. The research is concluded by showing changing trends of rivers from ancient to modern times.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
4. The rivers in the minor 貹Ծṣa
In the minor 貹Ծṣa, there are some references have been found related to the rivers. In one mantra of the Śṇḍⲹ 貹Ծṣa, ī is described as an aged woman of black colour riding on a bull having a trident in her hand.[1] People who drink the air with his mouth during the two Ի and the last two hours of the night, within three months the auspicious ī (goddess of speech) is present in his (speech), i.e. he becomes eloquent and learned in his speech. In six months, he is free from all diseases. Drawing the air by the tongue retain the air at the root of the tongue. The wise man thus drinking nectar enjoys all prosperity.[2]
In the īrahasyopaniṣad, ī is stated directly as a goddess, not as a river except one mantra. Here she is described as ṇ� (the goddess ī). She is with the white brilliance like the beauty of snow, garland of pearl, camphor and the moon. She is all benevolent, duly adorned with garlands of yellow jasmine and whose parts of body are most fascinating with the breast duly developed.[3]
In one mantra of this 貹Ծṣa, it is stated that ī’s nature is the sole element of Brahman, the substantial meaning of the ձԳٲ. That is why, the devotees prayed ī to provide them with perfect protection. She is known with various names and several complexions.[4] It is also stated that, ī is the greatest donor and her stock of food is undepleted. ī is said to be the mother goddess because she provides us with the food in abundance. She provides her devotees and the persons arranged offerings for her pleasure with sheer pleasure.[5]
Besides these, in this 貹Ծṣa ī is said to be the protector because she is the exclusive power of the supreme.[6] ī is adorable to all. In this 貹Ծṣa, goddess ī is expected to come to the place of offering descending from the world of Sun (in the form of light) and by crossing the clouds analogous to shape of vast mountains. The goddess ī voluntarily listens to over pleasing hymns recited by the devotees and feels all pleasure.[7]
ī exists everywhere in letter, word (pada) and sentence etc., in the form of meaning. She is beyond the beginning and the end.That is why, she provides the devotees with protection. She has uncountable complexions, properties (ṇa) etc.[8] It is said that ī is present in our offering and provide all cooperation until it is completed. ī makes all devotees holy and well to do. ī has undepleted stock of food. She is the cause for the yield of wealth after due performance of the deeds etc., requisite for it.[9]
ī is the administrator of all gods, viz. inspiring power. ī is in the form of metaphysics and the supreme divine. She exists in the form of Ѳⲹ speech.[10] It is said that ī inspires the devotees for using the humble and true words. She every moment monitors the intelligent, industrious people by making ex-facie their supreme duty. Such mother goddess ī has hold this offering made by the devotees.[11] ī controls the three worlds by virtue of her intuitive power. She is enshrined in the form of Rudra and Ā徱ٲⲹ.[12]
In one place of this 貹Ծṣa, ī is regarded as a river. It is said that the mother goddess ī originated in the form of a river identifying with the unending stock of water. She is embedded within her by virtue of her work in a flow. She awakes the duty-consciousness of all kinds through her divine form.[13]
In this 貹Ծṣa, ī is being perceived in a number of forms for all living organisms. She has the power of initiation and that is why she provides her devotees with protection. She is enshrined at all places in the form worth–knowing.[14] It is also said that ī is in the eight forms as a result of classifications under name, cast and concomitantly is being seen in the single form.[15]
ī’s expressive and inexpressive speech is used by all living organisms including gods etc. She is in the form of speech and competent to provide with all desired things like milk from 峾Գ.[16] That is why, it is believed that she provides her devotees with kind protection. It is stated that ī is present in the form of speech before the devotees duly pleased by the best hymns.[17]
Again, ī is realized by Dzī as - and then they are liberated from all worldly ties. The supreme immortal position is secured when the route of this learning is followed.[18]
Mother goddess ī provides the devotees with protection in the form of Brahma. She is worshipped by all scholars of Brahma while living in this illusory world which is recognized with the name and the complexion. They, thus, surrender this illusory network at the feet of goddess ī.[19]
It is stated that ī enshrines daily in Բ-sarovara of mind who moves like flaming in the lotus forest of ʰ貹پ ’s mouth. ī lights all directions with her white brilliance. ī is the imparter of վ (learning). A garland made of pearls is always adorned in ī’s breast region. ī resides on the tongue always and provide devotees the six kinds of properties individual 峾, 峾 etc. She is in forms of obeisance, faith, wisdom and mistress of the law.[20] In another place, ī has been addressed as the greatest among all motherly powers, rivers and goddesses. The people are suffering from the lack of wealth. So, ī provides them with all kinds of upliftments which make them prosperous from all angles.[21]
Thus, in the Āṇy첹 and the 貹Ծṣa, ī is eulogized as a goddess, not as a river properly.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
sandhyayorbrāhmanaḥkālevāyumākṛṣyayaḥpivet| trimāsāttasyakalyāṇ� jāyate vāk sarasvatī || Ibid.,1.7.46
[4]:
yā vedāntārthatattvaikasvarūpā paramārthata� | nāmarūpātmanā vyakā sā mā� patu sarasvatī || Ibid.,7
[7]:
[8]:
yā varnapadavākyārthasvarūpeniva vartate | anādinidhanānantā sā ma� ٳ sarasvatī || Ibid.,13
[10]:
adhyātmamadhidaiva� ca devānā� samyagīśvarī | pratyagāste vadantī yā sā mā� ٳ sarasvatī || Ibid.,16
[11]:
blūṃcodayitrīsunṛtānāṃcetantīsumatīnām | ⲹñ� dadhe sarasvatī || Ibid., 17
[12]:
[14]:
yā pratyagdṛṣṭibhirjīvaivyajyamānānubhūyote | 辱ī jñaptirūpaikā sā mā� patu sarasvatī || Ibid., 22
[15]:
nāmjātyādibhirbhedairṣṭadhā yā vikalpitā | nirvikalpātmanā vyaktā sā ma� patu sarasvatī || Ibid., 25
[16]:
vyaktāvyaktagira� sarve vedādyā vyāharantiyāmsarvakāmadudhā | Գ� sā ma� ٳ sarasvatī || Ibid., 28
[17]:
[20]:
caturmukhamukhāmbhojavanahaṃsavadhūrmam | ԲeramatāṃԾٲⲹṃsarvaśuklāsarasvatī || ————namaste śārade ī———| Բ� ca dehi me | akṣasūtrāṅkuśadharā———| vāci tiṣṭhatu me || kambukaṇthī sutāmroṣṭhī———| mahāsarasvatī ī—�-|| yā ś ṇ�——| śamādiṇadāyinī || Բ峾 峾ī|bhānīṃ———sudhānadīm || ya� 첹ٱ� Ծٲṅk bhuktimukte ca vāñccati | so’bhyarcyainā� daśaślokyā Ծٲⲹ� stouti sarasvatim || Ibid., 36-41
[21]:
aiṃambitame nadītame devitame sarasvatī | apraśastā iva smasi praśastimamva naskṛdhi || Ibid.,43