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Rivers in Ancient India (study)

by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words

This page relates ‘The river Narmada in the Puranas� 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.

6. The river in the ʳܰṇas

The is a famous river in India. In the ʳܰṇa, another name of this river is found as .[1] is a very sacred river, glorified in various ʳܰṇas next to Ҳṅg. This is a highly meritorious river goddess, resorted to by Devas and Gandharvas, and is famous in the world. It is a river that is the most sacred of all holy rivers. It is auspicious and destructive of all sins.[2]

In the Ѳٲⲹܰṇa, it is stated that the is the most excellent of all rivers, it flowed out of Rudra’s body. It shall redeem all living beings-mobile and immobile.[3]

The river is considered as an auspicious river. Ҳṅg is auspicious in Kanakhala and ī is meritorious in ܰܰṣeٰ. But whether in the village or in the forest, is meritorious everywhere.[4]

The holy water of ī sanctifies one in three days; the water of ۲ܲ sanctifies one in seven days; the water of Ҳṅg sanctifies immediately; but the water of sanctifies one at its very sight.[5] It has its source in the western half of ṅg, on the Mountain 첹ṇṭ첹. It is very holy. It is the most beautiful and charming in the three worlds. Leading king, Devas, Asurus, Gandharvas, Saints and the ascetics have attained the highest Siddhi by performing penance on her banks.[6] The same description of is also found in the ūܰṇa[7] also. On the southern bank of , there is a great river named Kapila. It is stationed not very far and covered by juicy Arjuna trees.[8]

A second holy river is the blessed and auspicious վśⲹ첹ṇ�. A man taking bath in that holy river becomes free from pains, sins and grief.[9] Kapila and Viśalaya are heard as the two excellent rivers mentioned by Đsvara formerly with a desire for the well being of the worlds.[10]

On sprinkling the head with the holy and sacred water of along with its foam, one is relieved of all sins. is holy everywhere. It dispels sins of 󳾲ṇa-slaughter. By observing fast for a day and a night, one is absolved of the sin of 󳾲ṇa slaughter.[11]

The river 屹ī is well known as the destructive of sins. One should take bath there and worship the bull-bannered Ѳ𱹲. One who takes bath at the confluence of is honoured in the Rudraloka. This 屹ī is the northern branch of the .[12] Those who stay on the banks of river go to the heaven just like the saintly men of good activities when they die.[13]

Besides these, ṣu is a meritorious and well known river in the three worlds. It is stated that Ś is present there. On taking bath in the river ṣu, a man shall obtain the chieftain-ship of Ҳṅg’s.[14] One who takes bath in the melting point of and the ocean obtain three times the benefit of a horse–sھ.[15]

Moreover, is the most excellent of all rivers. It is the beloved of Ѳ𱹲. There is no doubt that he who mentally remembers , obtains the benefit of a hundred Իⲹṇa rites, or even more.[16]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

bhīmātīre saṃsthitasyāpi viṣṇoa� ܻܰ� 岹śԲ� cāhurāryā� || revātīre saṃsthitasyāpi viṣṇorgayākṣetre viṣṇupādasya caiva || Ibid.,19.45

[3]:

Բ śresthā rudradehād viniḥsrtā | tarayet sarvabhūtāni sthāvarāṇi caraṇi ca || Matsya ʳܰṇa,190.17

[4]:

dharmaśītā jitakrodhā nirmama niyātendriyā� | dhyānayogaparā� sidhi� gacchanti paramāvyayām || Ibid.,185.10

[5]:

yogino yogasidhāśca yogamokṣapradā� vibhum | upāsnate bhaktiyuktā� śԳ yogagatiṅgattā� || Ibid.,185.11

[6]:

ٳԲ� ܳⲹ� śmaśānānā� sarvesāmetadu-cyati | na hi yogādṛte ǰṣa� prāpyate bhuvi mānavai� || Ibid.,185.12

[7]:

ū ʳܰṇa,ch.,40&41

[8]:

sā tu ṇy triṣu lokesu viśrutā | tatra kotiśata� 岵� īٳԳٳ ܻṣṭ󾱰 || Ibid.,40.25;Matsya ʳܰṇa,185.53

[9]:

屹ī tu 岵 viśalyakaraṇ� śܲ | tatra tīrthe Բ� snātvā viśalyo bhavati kṣaṇāt || ū ʳܰṇa,40.27; Matsya ʳܰṇa,185.54-55

[10]:

첹辱 ca ś ca śruyete sariduttame | īśvareṇa ܰ prokte lokānā� hitakāmyayā || ū ʳܰṇa, 40.28

[11]:

Բya� Ჹ� ܲԲⲹ� phenormi saphalikṛtam | 貹ٰ� śirsā dhṛtvā sarvapāpai� pramucyate || Բ sarvata� ṇy brahmahatyāpahārinī | ahoratropavāsenāmucyate brahmahatyayā || Ibid.,40.33-34

[12]:

屹ī Բī kalmaṣanāśinī | tatra snātvā mahādevamarccayed vṛṣabhadhvajam || saṃgame Բyāstu rudraloke mahīyate || Ibid., 40.40

[13]:

Բtatamāśritya ye ca tisthanti mānavā� | te ṛt� Գپ Գٲ� sukṛtino yathā || tato dīpteśvara� gacchedvyāsatīrtha� tapovanam || Ibid.,41.24-25

[14]:

tato gaccheta rajendra ikṣunadyāstu saṃgamam | trilokyaviśruta� ṇy� tatra ԲԾ󾱳ٲ� ś� || tatra snātvā naro gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt | 첹Ի岹īٳ� tato gacchet sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || Ibid.,41.28-29

[15]:

tatra snātvā naro Ჹnarmadodadhisaṃgame | trigunañcāśvamedasya 󲹱� Դdzپ Բ� || Ibid., 42.34

[16]:

ṣ� 貹ٰ ܱ Բī trailokyaviśrutā | na ś ٲ屹ٳܳ ṃk īٳṣu ṇḍ || Ibid.,42.39-41

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