Rivers in Ancient India (study)
by Archana Sarma | 2019 | 49,356 words
This page relates ‘5c. Image of Ganga’ 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.
5c. Image of Gaṅgā
According to Nāradapurāṇa, Gaṅgā has four arms. Her eyes are beautiful and she has the radiance of ten thousand moons. She is being fanned with cowries. A white umbrella above her head embellishes her. She is delighted but her innermost heart melts with pity. It is said that Gaṅgā is ready to grant boons. With nectarine juice, Gaṅgā has flooded the surface of the earth. Gaṅgā is praised by the devas and others. She is adorned with divine jewels and she has divine garlands and unguents.[1]
According to Brahmavaivartapurāṇa, in the earlier times Gaṅgā was present in Goloka in the form of water and this Gaṅgā had emerged from the bodies of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.[2] The Gaṅgā happens to be the goddess of water and she took to different forms on earth. Gaṅgā was adorned with different types of gems studded ornaments.[3] Gaṅgā was very beautiful and her face was like the lotus flower of winter season. Gaṅgā was youthful and adorned with gem-studded ornaments. Her complexion resembled the molten gold and the moon of winter season was no consequence before her lustre.[4] She had a thick glow over her body and this was her pure Sāttvika form. Both the eyes looked charming with curly eye-brows. She had the curly locks of hair and wore a garland of jasmine flowers. She had a spot of red vermilion over the forehead surrounded by spots of Sandal-paste. Her cheeks were decorated with paintings with kastūrī, the lower lip resembled the beauty of the blossomed flowers of lotus at the noon. The teeth were quite beautiful and were shinning like the seeds of pomegranate. She was clad in beautiful divine garments.[5]
According to Garuḍapurāṇa, she is as white in complexion as the rays of the moon. Her eyes resemble those of the fish.[6] Gaṅgā, white in colour rests on makaramatsya (a variety of fish), holding in her hands a pot and lotus flowers.[7]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Nāradīya Purāṇa, 43. 49-51
[2]:
purā babhūva goloka sā gaṅgā dravarūpiṇī | rādhākṛṣṇāṅgasaṃbhūtā tadaṃśā tatsvarūpiṇī || Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa, 2.11.7
[3]:
dravādhiṣṭhātṛrūpā yā rūpeṇāpratimā bhubi | navayovanasaṃpannā ratnābharaṇabhūṣita || Ibid., 2.11.8
[4]:
śaraṇmadhyāhnapadmāsyā sasmita sumanoharā | taptakāñcanavarṇābhā śaraccandrasamaprabhā || Ibid., 2.11.9
[5]:
[6]:
tadudaramativegātsampraviśyāvahaṃtīṃ jagadadhatatiṃhatu ……padakimjalkaśudhdām || nikhilamalnihaṃtrī darśnātsparśnācca sakṛdavagahanādvā vaktibāṃ viṣṇpāde || śikaravaragaurāṃ mīnanetrāṃ supūjyāṃ smarati haripdothāṃ mokṣmeti krammeṇa || || Garuḍa Purāṇa,29.7 (Brahma Khāṇḍa)
[7]:
pustākṣamālikāhastā vīnāhastā sarasvatī | kumbhābjahastā śvetābhā makaropari jāhnavī || Agni Purāṇa, 50.16