Rivers in Hinduism

RIVERS IN HINDUISM
Thesis
Indian rivers play an important role in the economic development, but the most important role played by Indian rivers lie in the mythology of Hinduism, where they are considered as being very sacred, purifier of the mortal souls, conveyor of souls, and the giver of life. This is the reason as to why the rivers are worshipped and very important during rituals (Kapoor, 2007).
Divinity of Rivers
According to Hinduism, rivers have been associated with their history as well as civilization. Rivers have been considered a twin of spirituality and philosophy. Hindus usually consider areas closer to rivers as being sacred. As a result, since time immemorial, Hindus have been worshiping rivers as personification of divinity, a process that is termed as ‘Pushkaram’. This is usually done with the aim of ensuring that people do understand the significance of water, mainly as a life sustaining force (Huston, 1991).
In Hinduism mythology, rivers are usually given divinity position. It is believed that the Indian Civilization originated from basin of river Ganga as well as Jamun, the two are considered as being the spirit of Indian history. As a result, from ancient times Hindus have been worshiping the two rivers and consider them as being very sacred. For a very long time, it has been believed that “Ganga (Gange river) has the powers to purity and divinity and the Hindus believe that a bath in her waters cleanses one of all sins” (Berwick, 1987). On the other hand, Jamuna is famous due to her devotion. Apart from the two rivers, there are others like river Saraswati which was worshiped long ago when Aryans were still the occupants of Punjab. However, as time went by, the river changed its route and ended up disappearing in the Rajasthan desert. Other sacred rivers in India include “Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, Saryu, Gomti, Gandaki, Sabarmati, Tamsa, Chandarbhaga, Shipra and Kratmala” (Berwick, 1987).
It is believed by Hindus that everywhere along Gange river is sacred and that is the reason as to why all along her, Hindus bathe in it. Due to its purity, Hindus pay homage to their ancestors as well as to their gods by taking Gange (her) water into their bare hands, lift it up, and then leave it to fall back into the river. They also offer flowers as well as rose petals and floating shallow clay dishes that are filled with oil and lit with wicks. When going back home, they usually carry little amount of Ganges waters with them that they use in rituals. When one of their loved ones passes away, Hindus go back to “Ganges to consign the ashes to her custody” (Wangu, 2003). Therefore, based on spirituality, Hinduism are among the few religions which have connected waters with death.
In the Vedic science, rivers of Hindus are personified sacred waters in the mythology of Hindus. On the other hand, apart from the main Gange River, local rivers are also called local Ganges; as a result, there are Southern Ganges and the Central Ganges. Whenever water is being used in Hindu rituals, the rivers like Gange are invoked, hence present in all water that is sacred. The religious and symbolic significance of rivers like Gange is one thing that Hindus, their sceptics and science agree upon. For instance, Jawaharlal one of the Indian individual not belonging to Hinduism requested his ashes to be thrown in the river. Moreover, in his will, Ganaga wrote “is the river of India, beloved of her people, round which are intertwined her racial memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her defeats. She has been a symbol of India's age-long culture and civilization, ever-changing, ever-flowing, and yet ever the same Ganga” (Richman 1988). This emphasizes the importance of rivers in Hindu community during rituals.
Every year, between May and early June, Hindus usually celebrate the descent of rivers to the earth from heaven. During celebration, many bathers are brought to the river banks. It is believed that, anyone who soaks the river on this particular day is forgiven ten sins, or ten lifetimes of sins. Those having no ability to walk to the river can attain similar results if they bath in any large body of water around them. This is because, true the mythology of Hinduism states that these are the attributes of rivers like Ganges (Wangu 2003). However, according to science water removes physical dirt, but according to Hinduism, Gange river waters remove sins.
Redemption of the Dead by Rivers
Due to the fact that rivers descended from heaven to earth, it is also believed that it is the same path going back to heaven from the earth. It is believed that rivers like Gange, “flow in heaven, earth, and the netherworld, and, consequently, is a ‘tirtha’ or crossing point of all beings, the living as well as the dead, it is for this reason that the story of the avatarana is told at Shraddha ceremonies for the deceased in Hinduism, and Ganges water is used in Vedic rituals after death” (Bhattacharyya 1999). There are many songs as well as hymns that are devoted to Gange rivers, however, the most popular ones expresses the wish for the worshipers to breath their last environment around Gange waters.
Along its course, many people wish that their death should find them around Varanasi, a place considered as being the ground of great cremation. Those who ends up being lucky to have their last living moments at this place ends up being cremated on the river banks, such people end up being given direct salvation no matter their previous deeds. In case one died at a different place, direct salvation can only be given if his/her ashes are immersed in Gange waters. In case their ashes have already been immersed in other water bodies, the deceased can be granted salvation if his/her relative can take the deceased ashes to Gange river. In case the relative has the ability, the relative should do such a thing during Lunar, also referred to as the ‘the fortnight of ancestors’. This is particularly between September and October, also called the month of Ashwin in the Hindus Calendar.
Moreover, Hindus carry out a ceremony called Pinda pradana, which is a rite for those who are dead. During this ceremony, rice balls along with sesame seeds are offered to the river Gange. At this time, the names of those who are related to the deceased are mentioned. It is believed that a single sesame seed in a ball offers each relative of the deceased heavenly salvation for many years. In real sense, Gange River is very significant during after death rituals to an extent that Mahabharata says, “If one bone of a dead person should touch the water of the Ganges, that person shall dwell honoured in heaven (Wangu 2003).” To emphasize this matter, Kashi Khanda said, “The soul of a profligate and unrepentant sinner, killed by a tiger in the forest arrives before the Lord of Death, to be judged for the hereafter. Having no compensating virtue, His soul is at once dispatched to hell. While this is happening, his body on earth, however, is being picked at by vultures, one of whom flies away with a foot bone. Another bird comes after the vulture, and in fighting him off, the vulture accidentally drops the bone into the Ganges below. Blessed by this happenstance, the soul on its way to hell is saved by a celestial chariot which takes him back to heaven” (Basham 1999).
The River Purity
It is believed by Hindus that water from Gange Rivers is very pure and has the ability to purify any impurity. There is nothing on earth that has the ability to reclaim order, eliminating disorder as compared to waters from Gange Rivers. According to the culture of Hindus, water that is moving or flowing like that in a river is usually seen as having the ability to purify. They usually explain this by stating that, all impurities can be picked by such waters and taken far away. The Gange rivers that flow swiftly, particularly in the upper reaches, where an anchored chain has to be grasped by the bather to ensure that he/she is not swept by the waters is considered as having the highest ability to purify. Based on this, Hindus perceive that, dirt removed from the...