Picture of devotees collecting Ganga water at Haridwar.
*Learning music standing in neck deep water
*Reciting Rudram standing in waist deep water
*Water Hymns in Vedas (Atharva Veda)
*Homeopathy principle (Likeness cures likes)
*Water Fall Bath (bathing in waterfalls helps mental patients)
*Tank Bath ( Temple tanks are attributed with medicinal properties)
*Ganges water (medicinal properties of Ganges water)
*Tulsi water from copper pot (Copper kills bacteria)
*Water for cursing (water becomes magical weapons during cursing)
*Water for wedding ( a girl is donated to a boy with water=Kanya Dhanam)
*Water for donating ( Kings and Lords used water to donate countries, lands and gold with water)
*Brahmins do Sandhya Vandhanam three times day with water.
*Indra Festival was celebrated as Water Festival.
*Over 250 words for water in Sanskrit
*Ancient Engineers Bhageeratha and Agastya channelized Ganga and Kaveri through new routes.
“May the deity of water purify the earth which is its foundation and that purified earth may purify me and the preceptor who is the channel for Vedas. May that Veda sanctify me. May the deity of water purify me of sins committed by me…………” ( From daily prayer of the Brahmins)
Hydro therapy is water therapy, that is, using water as medicine. Since religion plays a major part in Hindu’s life even the medicines are attributed with divine powers. Going to different water sources such as rivers, sea shores, tanks, lakes and waterfalls is part of Hindu pilgrimage. The largest festival on earth – Kumbha Mela – is held in Prayag or Triveni Sangam (also known as Allahabad). This shows the significance of water, particularly Ganges water, in Hinduism. In Sangam three rivers Ganga, Yamiuna and legendary Sarasvati merge. Hindus believe water can wash away all their sins. Water used in different ways cures diseases. Merit of pilgrimage is in the oldest Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Vedas, particularly, Atharva Veda has Hymns on water. Vedic seers praise water sky high. Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar has a chapter on water.
Hindu ceremonies, from birth to death, use water. I have written elsewhere that this is the biggest proof for Indians migrating to different parts of the world and not vice verse. No other culture in the world use water like Hindus. That shows that they have not come from colder areas like Cenrtral Asia or Siberia. Religious Hindus cannot live without water.
Water is sued for cursing. I have written about it in my article on curses and boons. Water becomes atomic weapons with the incantation of mantras. Whether it is giving a girl to a boy in a wedding ceremony or giving land donations to Brahmins, it is done with water. Without water nothing can be consecrated. Sangam Tamil Literature praises a donor for donating a lot of things and says water ran like river from his place.
I have already explained in my article ‘copper kills bacteria’ that the reason for giving water from the copper vessel in the temples. They give water with Tulsi from copper vessels. British hospitals used copper handles in doors and proved that copper killed bacteria (Please read my earlier post).
Picture of Brahmins doing Sandhyavandhanam
I have also shown in my post ‘Why Hindus practise Homeopathy’, the significance of Achamanam and Prokshnam. Wherever Hindus go on pilgrimage they would not step in to a tank or river or a well without sipping water in small quantities three times (Achamanam). Then they will sprinkle water on their head (Prokshanam). Afterwards they will use the water for bathing, drinking and cooking. This gives them immunity from that particular water source. This is the principle behind Homeopathy. Likeness cures like (Similia similibus curentur- likes are cured by likes). If you take anything in small quantity, even the germs that normally affect oneself, won’t do any harm to one.
I have already shown the medicinal properties of Ganges water in three or four articles. Now I can add more from the Vedic practices. Rudram is part of Yajur Veda. Vedic scholars are asked to recite it standing in the water, half submerged.
Musicians are asked to learn music standing in river water. They have to stand in neck deep water and practise to get good voice.
Mentally sick patients are taken to waterfalls and asked to bathe under the falls. Water pressure from the falls increases blood circulation. Medicinal herbs in the waters also help anyone to get good health through the mineral water.
Water is given to devotees at the end of each Puja as Prasad.
Picture of Rain
Hymns in the Vedas
Picture Shankaracharyas meditation on the banks of a river.
Prayer for purging snake poison (Atharva Veda ,Kanda 6)
“ I sprinkle you with waters of rivers and mountains. I sprinkle you with waters of rivers Parushni and Shipala. May peace descend on your face. May peace descend on your heart”.
From Atharva Veda, Kanda 19
“May the water that flows down from the snow clad mountains bring you happiness. May the water that flows in the rivers bring you happiness. May the swift flowing streams bring you happiness. May the water of the monsoon bring you happiness.
“ There are those who know how to use water in the treatment of ailments. Such people are learned and to them water is a source of power.
(Those who read Hindu scriptures know the significance of these words. Millions will wait to get the sprinkled water on their heads in Temple consecration ceremonies. All the stories of curses and boons explain the usage of water from the pots of seers)
“ Water is the object that guarantees our welfare. Water banishes all our ailments. Water increases our happiness. May water cure all your diseases. Acknowledge the power of water”
There are more hymns in the Vedas glorifying the waters and rivers. We need to do more research in to these hymns.
