Rivers in Ancient India (study)
by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words
This page relates ‘Sarasvati as wife’ 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.
1(f). Sarasvatī as wife
[1. The river Sarasvatī in the Ṛgveda-saṃhitā, (f): Sarasvatī as wife]
Sarasvatī’s nature as a wife is clearly depicted in the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā as she is addressed as vīrapatnī.[1] It means Sarasvatī is the wife of Prajāpati or Brahmā. Sāyaṇācārya interprets the epithet as—
vīraḥ prajāpatiḥ patiryasyāstādṛsī/ yadvā vīrāṇāṃ pālayitrī.[2]
The epithet vṛṣnaḥ patnī occurs in one of the Ṛgvedic mantras[3] as in plural form (vṛṣnaḥ patnī) in the context of rivers in general. Here, Sarasvatī is regarded as one of the wives of Indra.
Sāyaṇācārya explains it as—
vṛṣṇaḥ varṣakasye'ndrasya patnīḥ patnyaḥ pālayitryaḥ nadyaḥ nadanaśīlā gaṅgādyāḥ.
It means Sarasvatī is one of the wives of Indra and collectively, it can be taken as river also. Seven rivers were released together by the stroke of the god Indra which is described in the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā.[4] So, the rivers are called Indra’s wives. In the mantra Sarasvatī is reckoned as one of the rivers and then as a goddess.
Sarasvatī is called Marutvatī in one of the Ṛgvedic mantras[5] which presents her as accompanied by the Maruts.
Sāyaṇācārya’s explanation goes as—
marutvatī marudbhiryuktā madhyamasthānā hi vāk sarasvati marutaśca madhyamasthānasthāḥ! atastadvatī satī.
It means Sarasvatī is associated with the Maruts and it refers Sarasvatī as accompanied by the Maruts. Marutvatī is the feminine form of marutvat. As the Maruts are mid-rigional, the Sarasvatī is also called mid–regional speech (Vāk).
Sarasvatī is also called marutvatī because she is the wife of Indra, Vāyu or Viṣṇu or Agni or Soma or cloud. Due to her association with the cloud she may be taken as its consort in the form of lightning or the flash of lightning stands of tejas. The cloud may be thought to have derived it from the Sun, (Āditya), with which Sarasvatī as Bhāratī is closely associated.[6] Sarasvatī as Bhāratī is considered to be the wife of the Maruts and is spoken of as marutsu bhāratī.[7]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ṛgveda Saṃhitā, 6.49.7
[2]:
Sāyaṇācārya’s com. on Ibid
[3]:
damūnaso apaso ye suhastā vṛṣṇaḥ patnīrnadyo vibhvataṣṭāḥ | Ṛgveda Saṃhitā, 5.42.12
[4]:
yo hatvāhīmariṇātsapta sindhūnyo gā udājadapadhā valsya | yo aśmanorantaragniṃ jajāna saṃvṛkṣamatsu sa janāsa indraḥ || Ibid., 2.12.3
[5]:
Ibid., 2.30.8
[6]:
cf.,Sāyaṇācārya’s com. on Ibid., 2.1.11
[7]:
Ibid., 1.142.9.