4. Descriptions of Waters and rivers

The Sanskrit literature is repleted with various description of rivers right from the Ṛgvedic times to the post-Ṛgvedic period. Waters and rivers are defied and mentioned with great respect in the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā. In many hymns of the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, waters are addressed as divinities^[1] and described themselves as pure^[2] and purifying others.^[3] The Āryan believed in the potency of waters in removing sins in the Ṛgvedic age. To protect the worshippers,^[4] the divine waters which come from the heaven^[5] are invoked very frequently.

The rivers are widely described in the Vedic literature. In the hymns of the Veda, it is found that the people mostly lived near the banks of the rivers. These rivers were vital to the existence of the people. They were considered sacred during the Ṛgvedic age. The Vedic Āryans gave much respect to the rivers and called them mothers.^[6] Various names of rivers are mentioned in the famous Nadīsūkta of the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā.^[7]

Rivers are referred to in many a verse of the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā.^[8] Indra, the leader of waters,^[9] made the seven rivers flow.^[10] Besides this, he is said to have created seven rivers and secured ninety-nine flowing streams of water for gods and men.^[11] In many verses of the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, seven rivers are mentioned.^[12] In Sāyaṇācārya’s interpretation, Sarasvatī, Sarayu and Sindhu are the principal rivers among them.^[13] According to Max Müller, these are–the Indus, the five rivers of the Punjab (Vitastā, Asiknī, Paruṣṇī, Vipāśa, Śutudrī) and the Sarasvatī.^[14] According to D.C.Sircar, the seven rivers are often taken to be the five Punjab streams, viz. the Jhelam, Chenāb, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas together with the Indus and the Sarasvatī, though some scholars are inclined to substitute the Sarasvatī by the Kabul or the Oxus.^[15] Such rivers are personified and invoked as deities in the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā. The Sarasvatī^[16] and the Sindhu^[17] are the only rivers of frequent occurrences among the rivers. In several verses,^[18] the Dṛṣadvatī is referred along with the Sarasvatī. But there are only occasional references to the Gaṅgā^[19] and Yamunā.^[20]

The rivers are not considered as merely a flowing mass of waters during the Ṛgvedic period. They are regarded as life protecting divine mothers.^[21] The devotees worshipped these rivers and asked for various cherished blessings. They begged for protection.^[22] They are prayed to grant people nourishment and delight.^[23] They are addressed for pleasure,^[24] felicity,^[25] wealth^[26] and the like. Even they are addressed as a killer of enemies.^[27] However, sacrifices are said to have been performed on the bank of the Dṛṣadvatī, the Āpayā and Sarasvatī during the Ṛgvedic period.^[28]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ṛgveda Saṃhitā, 7.4.7;10.9.30

[2]:

śatapavitrāḥ svadhayā madantīrdevīrdevānāmapi yanti pāthaḥ | Ibid., 7.47.3

[3]:

punānāḥ viśvaṃ śodhayantyaḥ aniviśamānāḥ sarvadā gacchantyaḥ || Sāyaṇācārya’s com. on Ibid., 7.49 also, Ṛgveda Saṃhitā, 7.49.2, 3

[4]:

tā āpo devīrihamāmavantu | Ibid., 7.49

[5]:

āpo divyāḥ antarikṣabhavāḥ santi || Sāyaṇācārya’s com. on Ibid., 7.49.2

[6]:

divaspṛthivyorava ā varṇomahe matṛn sindhūn parvatāñccaryaṇāvataḥ | anāgāstvaṃ sūryamuṣāsamīmahe bhadraṃsomaḥ suvāno adyā karṇotu naḥ || Ṛgveda Saṃhitā, 10.35.2

[7]:

Ibid.,10.7

[8]:

Ibid., 5.53.9; 10.64.9; 7.75

[9]:

Ibid., 2.12.3

[10]:

Ibid., 2.12.7

[11]:

saptāpo devīḥ suraṇa amṛktā yābhiḥsindhumātarā indra purvit | navatiṃ srotyā nava ca sravantīrdevebhyo gātuṃ manuṣe ca vindaḥ || Ibid.,10.104.8 also vide., Ibid., 1.32.4

[12]:

Ibid., 1.32.12; 1.34.8; 1.35.8; 2.12.12; 4.28.1; 8.24.27; 10.43.3

[13]:

sarasvatī sarayuḥsindhuriti trayāṇāṃ gaṇānāṃpradhānabhūta | Sāyaṇācārya’s com. on Ibid., 10.64.8

[14]:

Vide, Griffith, R.T.H., The Hymns of The Ṛgveda, on 1.32.12, p.21

[15]:

cf., Sircar, D.C., Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India, p.14

[16]:

Ṛgveda Saṃhitā, 1.3.10, 12; 2.30.8; 5.43.11;6.61; 7.95, 96

[17]:

Ibid., 10.75.1

[18]:

Ibid., 3.23.4

[19]:

Ibid., 6.45.31; 10.75.5;10.104.8

[20]:

Ibid., 10.75.5

[21]:

Ibid., 2.41.16; 7.36.6

[22]:

avantu māmuṣaso jāyamānā avantu mā sindhavaḥ pinvamānāḥ | Ibid.,6.52.4

[23]:

āpo hi ṣṭhā mayobhuvastā na ūrje dadhātana | mahe raṇāya cakṣase || Ibid., 10.9.1

[24]:

Ibid., 1.89.3

[25]:

Ibid., 6.49.7

[26]:

Ibid., 6.61.12; 7.96.2

[27]:

Ibid., 6.61.3, 5, 7

[28]:

ni tvā dadhe vara ā pṛthivyā iḍāyāspade sudinatve ahnām | dṛṣadvatyāṃ mānuṣa āpayāyāṃ sarasvatyāṃ re vadagne didīhi || Ibid., 3.23.4