Rivers in Ancient India (study)

by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words

This page relates ‘3e. Some epithets of Sarasvati in the Brahmanas’ 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.

3e. Some epithets of Sarasvatī in the Brāhmaṇas

< Previous

Next >

There are some important epithets of Sarasvatī in the Brāhmaṇas. These are Vaiśambhalyā, Satyavāk, Sumṛdīkā etc. Among the Brāhmaṇas, only the Taittirīyabrāhmaṇa uses this epithet only once. This epithet means one who brings up the whole prajā.

Sāyaṇācārya also explains this as—

viśvāṃ prajānāṃ bharaṇaṃ posaṇaṃ viśambhalaṃ tatkartuṃ kṣamā viśambhalyā tādṛśī.^[1]

In this context, Vaiśambhalyā points to Sarasvatī as a river. The Sarasvatī is so called because it brings up through its nourishing waters the persons living upon agriculture. Sarasvatī is also called giver of food (Vājinīvatī).^[2]

In the Taittirīyabrāhmaṇa, Sarasvatī is called satyavāk, ‘possessed of true speech’^[3] This signifies that Sarasvatī is all truth in the capacity of Vāk. Sarasvatī is free from falsefood and that is why she is mentioned in the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā as illuminating holy thoughts (cetantī sumatīnām).^[4] The epithet sumṛdīkā which occurs in the Taittirīyabrāhmaṇa has the same meaning as mayobhūḥ^[5] used for Sarasvatī in the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā. Sāyaṇācārya described it as sukhotpādikā^[6] and sukhyasya bhāvayitrī.^[7].

Besides these, there are some other epithets like Subhagā^[8], Vājinīvatī,^[9] Pāvakā,^[10] etc. in the Brāhmaṇas. Vedic Sarasvatī is called the tejas of the Sun. In one of the legends of the Brāhmaṇas, there is a relation between Sarasvatī and Āditya.^[11]