Water in Hindu religion

Our whole cosmic quest of the world and beyond starts from the point of Pancha
Bhootas, the five elements which manifest in an enjoining manner to form the life force
and these five elements are earth, water, air, fire and ether or the sound. Water in Hindu
religion or Hinduism has a very special place because it is believed to have spiritually
cleansing powers.

Although Hinduism encompasses so many different beliefs, among those that most
Hindus do share is the importance of striving to attain purity and avoiding pollution. This
relates to both physical cleanliness and spiritual well being. Water is very important for
all the rituals. For example, water is essential as a cleaning agent, cleaning the vessels
used for the poojas (rituals), for Abhishekas or bathing of Deities. Several dravyas or
nutrients used for the purpose of bathing the Deities and after use of each dravya water
are used for cleansing the deity. Water offered to the Deity and the water collected after
bathing the Deities are considered very sacred and this water is offered as “Theertha” or
blessed offering to the devotees.

Poorna Kumba literally means a full pitcher, poorna is full and kumbha is pitcher. The
Poorna Kumbha is a pitcher full of water with fresh leaves preferably of mango tree and
a coconut placed on the top Poorna Kumbha is an object symbolizing God and it is
regularly used during different religious rites. The water in the jar is said to be divine
essence and water is on object of worship since a very early age among the Hindus. Many
of the poojas in Hinduism start with keeping a kalasa which is a brass, silver or gold pot
filled with water adorned with a coconut amidst mango or other sacred leaves. Kalasa
symbolizes the universe and becomes an integral part of the Mandalic-liturgy as it still
forms an indispensable element of certain poojas in Hinduism. The pot is the first
mandala into which the Deities descend and raise themselves.

Water plays an import role even today in Hindu religious rites. One of the religious rituals
is tarpana, the word tarpana to please or to gratify. Specifically, tarpana is the act of
pouring water through the hands with the use of sacred grass as a symbolic gesture of
recognition, thanking and pleasing Gods, sages, and fathers.

During all purification rites water is sprinkled on the objects to be purified. Water is used
to be sprinkled on the offerings to the deities. Before starting a meal Hindus sprinkle
water around the leaf or plate in which the meal is traditionally eaten. In olden days the
coronation of a King was sprinkled with water. Before coronation a king was sprinkled
with water so as to ensure an auspicious beginning to his reign.

There is also an important ritual called Sandhyopasana or Sandhyavandana which is a

combination of japa, upasana and swadyaya - meditation and concentration. This
ceremony features achamana or sipping of water with recitation of mantras such as
Achyuta Namaha, Ananthaya, Namaha Govindya Namaha etc. and then marjana or
sprinkling of water on the body which purifies the mind and the body. This is followed by
agamarshana or expiation of the senses for the senses of rebirth and Surya Argya or
oblations to Sun God and praanayama and upasthana. In this ceremony much of it
consists of hymns addressed to water and its benefits.

Sprinkling of water on the face and the head and touching of the different organs- mouth,
nose, eyes ears, chest, shoulders, head etc. with wet fingers are meant to purify those
parts of the body and invoke the respective presiding deities on them. They also stimulate
the nerve centers and wake up the dormant powers of the body. It is a general belief that
sins get removed by offering water to the Sun. The Vedic declaration says that water
offered to Sun in the evening converts the drops of water to stones that cause death to the
demons. For humans demons are like all sicknesses like typhoid TB, pneumonia etc.
When a devotee takes water in his hands while standing in front of or facing the sun and
drops water on the ground the rising direct Sun’s rays fall from the head to feet of the
devotee in a uniform flow. This way water heated by Sun’s rays and its colors penetrates
every part of the body. This is the reason why the Vedas direct the devotee to offer water
when the Sun is about to set. While standing and facing east to the sun in the morning and
the sun rises in the east and sets in the evening facing west.

To alleviate fevers, sprinkling holy or consecrated water on the sick person, chanting
mantras is Udakashanti. While the water being sprinkled muttering a curse can affect a
metamorphosis, the Hindu saints were able to curse or bless using this ‘subhodakam’.

The rhythm of life is dictated by water and Hindus hold the rivers in great reverence.
India is a country that not only nurtures resources nature has bestowed upon her, but also
worships them for the all-around prosperity they bring in their wake. The rivers are
generally female divinities, food and life bestowing mothers. There are seven sacred
rivers which are worships – Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu,
and Kaveri.

The Ganges River is the most important of the sacred rivers. Its water used in pooja or
worship if possible a sip is given to the dying. It is believed that those who bathed in
Ganges and those who leave some part of themselves on the bank will attain Swarga or
the paradise of Indira. The river is said to flow from the toe of Lord Vishnu to be spread
in the world through the matted hair of Lord Siva. By holding that sacred stream
touching it and bathing it in its waters one rescues one’s ancestors from seven
generations. The merit that one earns by bathing in Ganga is such that like it is incapable
of being earned to the acquisition of sons or wealth for the performance of meritorious
acts. The man of righteous conduct who thinks of Ganga at the time when his breath is
about to leave his body succeeds in attaining to the highest end. She leads creatures very
quickly to heaven.

It is not uncommon to see may Hindus who bathe or wash in the sacred river Ganges
chanting the following mantra or mentally repeating it:

Gange ca Yamune caiva

Godãvari Sarasvati
Narmade Sindhu Kaver
 Jale ‘smin sannidhim kuru
Puskarãdyãni tirthani
Gangãdyãh saritas tathã
Ãgacchantu pavitrãni
Snãnakãle sadã mama

Bless with thy presence, O holy rivers Ganges, Yamunã,

Godãvari, Sarasvati, Narmadã, Sindhu and Kãveri. May
Puskara, and all the holy waters and the rivers such as the
Ganges, always come at the time of my bath.

Pilgrimages are very important to all Hindus. Holy places are most commonly located on
the banks of the rivers, coasts, sea-shores and mountains. Sites of convergence between a
land and river or two and even better three rivers carry a special significance and are
specially sacred. Sacred rivers are thought to be great equalizers. In fact most of the
temples have ponds near them and the devotees are supposed to take bath before entering
the Temple.

Vasthu Shasthra is an ancient Indian science of architecture and buildings which helps in
making a congenial setting or a place to live and work in a most scientific way, taking
advantage of the benefits bestowed by nature, its elements and energy fields for enhanced
wealth, health, prosperity and happiness. It unifies science arts, astronomy and astrology.
Vasthu Shasthra is a science of directions that combines all the five elements of nature –
Pancha Bhoota and balances them with man and material. It creates a most congenial
setting or a place to live and work in a most scientific way. Water being one of the five
elements in Pancha Bhoota is represented by rain, river, and sea and is in the form of
liquid over solid ice or gas which is steam or cloud. It forms part of every living creature.
Our blood is nothing but water with hemoglobin and oxygen. The habitat and physical
life are where water is present. This is true for all life forms and eco-cultures. The type or
pattern of life also greatly depends on relationship between earth and water. If we go back
to our history all the cultures had developed on the banks of water bodies and this shows
the influence of water on our lives since the ages.

Pancha Bhootas also had given birth to the universe and form the organs in the body and
are seated in the chakras. The first five chakras are connected with the five elements and
the cosmic energy being connected with the chakras. These constitute the five primary
principles of consciousness.

Water is connected with Swatishtana Chakra in astral plains and is present everywhere.
Water is the most abundant element of our body. 72% of our body is made up of water. It
serves multi purposes. Apart from circulating nutrients throughout the body in the form of
blood it also distributes heat in the body. The major function of water is to remove waste
materials from the body. Waste materials include breakdown of chemicals of various
metabolic reactions of the body and also that introduce the food we eat. Taking water as
an important supplement also cures many diseases. The water therapy in Sanskrit is
called Ushaka chikisthya and is used in several of the diseases. Water therapy is like
taking an internal bath. While we give importance to the external bath we must not forget
there is a system of water therapy for internal bathing as well.

Water plays a significant role at the end of our lives as well. In the olden days many
funeral grounds are to be located near a river. After cremation, the mourners bathe in the
river and return home and on the third day after the cremation the ashes are collected and
on the tenth day these are cast into the holy river.

In Hinduism, water has been an object of worship from time immemorial. Water
represents the non-manifested substratum from which all manifestations derive.

The following are some of the Rig-Vedic hymns on waters & rivers:

O powerful water
I might have violated
The laws of Nature
Knowingly or unknowingly
Foolishly or impudently
Take away whatever is wrong
Or deficient in me.
(Rig. 1.23.22)

Some waters collect together,

Others join them.
As rivers they flow together
To a common reservoir (ocean)
The pure waters have gathered
Round the hydrodynamic power.
(Rig. 2.35.3)

Down from the lap of mountains, longing,

Lie two mares, moving gleefully apart,
Like two white mother-cows licking their calves,
The two streams rush with their waters.
(Rig. 3.33.1)

I have come to the motherliest of Rives,

I have reached the river, the board, the blessed,
Licking the banks as mother-cows the calf,
both flow together to a common home
(Rig.3.33.3)

Stop at my friendly word of request,

rest for a moment, Observers of the Law,
With a noble hymn, asking for their favor,
 The son of a sage calls to the Rivers.
(Rig 3.33.5)

O rivers, let your waves flow

That the pin of my yoke
Remains above the waters.
And may you two together
Proceed with restraint
And stay within limits
For the benefit of all.
(Rig 3.33.13)

The roar of the mighty river goes forth to

heaven above the earth.
She with shining waves animates her endless speed,
And as the rains issue thundering from the clouds, the
fast river advances, bellowing like a bull.
(Rig. 10.75.3)

Like mothers crying for their children and like milk

Cows with their milk for their calves, the other roaring
streams run towards the main river.
Irrigating the banks on both sides, you march like a
King going to battle carrying the water of your
Tributaries along with you like the troops of your army.
(Rig. 10.75.4)

The divine waters,

The purifiers of hundreds,
Rejoicing in their innate nature;
Pursue the paths of Nature’s forces;
They never violate
The sacred laws
Of the Resplendent Lord:
May you offer to rivers
Your tribute
Rich in affection and love!
(Rig 7.47.3)

In the solitary regions

Of green valleys;
And the confluence of the rivers;
The sages obtain
Divine intuition.
(Rig 8.6.28)
 It is for the Resplendent Lord,
That this blissful,
Refreshing divine elixir
Is flowing in hundreds
And thousands of rivulets,
Making everything clean,
Lovely and delightful,
And it is for Him
That fountains burst
Into sweet melodies.
(Rig 9.107.17)

By: Dr. Uma Mysorekar

The Hindu Temple Society of North America