Writings on/about rivers could be either celebration of life or about the devastation that a river brings to many homes. In creative writing across bhasas there are innumerable river poems (contrary to Ghagara, Mayadhar Mansingh, the Odia poet’s “Mahanadire Nauka Vihar”, could be an example of romantic escapism). Rivers have become living symbols for not of joy but also sorrow as in compositions that underline the devastating power of the river (an example could be Keki N Daruwalla’s “The Ghagara in Spate”). The same consciousness historically extends to the lives of widows in Kashi in 19th century bhasa literatures. Particularly in the Bhatiali songs of Bengal, the river stands witness to the unfolding drama of a women’s life. In folk literature rivers become source of many stories being the cause of both uniting and dividing people. From the religious-spiritual to cultural syncretism, rivers in India become living symbols for creative writers across centuries. (O Mother Ganga, the bestower of all worldly happiness, pleasures and Moksha as per the different levels of bhav of the worshipper, all Deities and demons worship your Holy feet, I too offer obeisance at your Holy feet).īesides the life giving force of the rivers, we often, celebrate the confluence of Ganga-Jamuna referring to India’s syncretic culture (Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb). So in worshipping the Holi river Ganga we seek her blessings: Further, the river goddess is also a source of our happiness in this world and the means of our liberation from worldly life (Moksha). The sloka from Sri Bruhannardiya Puran is not simply an utterance but a deep reflection that validates the idea of cleaning the unclean thereby cleansing all our sins or impurities. (O rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, please enrich the water I am bathing with, with your presence). The holiness and purifying power of rivers resonate in the common chant in Hindu ritual practice: Rivers in India are also pivotal to our ritual culture. The mythic and the spiritual meet in the origin of rivers and many shrines that adorn their banks.
0 Comments
|
AuthorDakota ArchivesCategories |