Rivers in Ancient India (study)
by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words
This page relates �3d. The legend of Vak in the Shatapatha-brahmana� 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.
3d. The legend of in the Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa
In the Śٲ貹ٳṇa, the above legend has been propounded elaborately. The legend runs thus: The soma was in the heaven. The gods were desirous of performing the soma sacrifice on the earth. But it was not possible in the absence of the soma. They, therefore, created two illusions, ܱ貹ṇ� and ū, for bringing the soma. ܱ貹ṇ� and ū quarreled with each other and the latter defeated the former. Consequently, ܱ貹ṇ� had to retrive the soma. For this purpose, she turned herself into metres; and of them, ⲹٰī, the goddess of metres, brought the soma.
ⲹٰī speculating the form of bird flew to the heaven to bring the soma. While on her way back, the Gandharva վś insinuated her and the Gandharvas robbed her of the soma. The unexpected delay in the ⲹٰī’s bringing the soma, caused anxiety to the gods. They themselves thought that the sole reason for it should lie in the snatching away of the soma by the Gandharvas. With no hopes of redeeming it, they thought it. As the Gandharvas were fond of women, they decided to send to them in or to take the soma back.
There is a difference in the above interpretations of the legend. According to the ٲⲹṇa,[1] it is , who took initiative. disclosed to gods the fact that the Gandharvas were fond of women and, therefore, offered herself from bringing back the soma from them. She insured the gods to come back to them with the soma. According to the Śٲ貹ٳṇa,[2] the gods already knew the nature of the Gandharvas that they were fond of women. Therefore, sent her to them. She accomplished in getting the soma from the Gandharvas; but according to the version of the Śٲ貹ٳṇa, while she was returning with it, they chased her and demanded the gods to offer her to them in exchange for the soma. The gods agreed to it with the condition that if wanted to come back to them, the Gandharvas should not force her to remain with them against her will. Consequently, both the gods and the Gandharvas began to woo her. The Gandharvas chanted the Veda and the gods played on a lute in order to win her over. The gods were victorious and consequently, the Gandharvas had to lose the soma as well as .[3] (as ī) is held to be the patroness of arts and sciences and is invoked as a muse in the classical literature. Her affiliation with the arts and sciences goes back to the ṇa where she is described to have been pleased by the gods playing on a lute, which shows that she had a great liking for music.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Śatapatha ṇa, 3.2.4.4
[3]:
Ibid., 3.2.4.6-7
[4]:
Vide., Khan, I., ī in Sanskrit Literature, p.103