Article | Traditionally, Affection With Rivers | Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh | Central Chronicle

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Traditionally, Affection With Rivers

 -    Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh

Writer, Author & Social Activist

Blogger - "Climate Diary Of Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh"

 

 Both water and environment are essential elements of life. Life is not possible without water and availability of water is not possible without healthy environment. Our sages had proper knowledge of the environment. He also understood the mutual harmony between the inanimate world i.e. earth, rivers, mountains, plateau etc. and the animate world i.e. human beings, animals, plants, vegetation etc. and denoted this harmony as an essential element of the environment. He understood that The balance of nature can be disturbed due to the damage of any of the inert and animate elements. That's why he propounded respect towards every element. So that humans do not harm any element. We gradually forgot these ancient values, as a result of which today we have to face the crisis of environmental imbalance.

 

Positive consciousness towards water and environment is found in public life even today. A farmer finds out the direction of the wind by blowing dust or flour into the air. He also learns that if a bird is taking a bath in the dust, it means that it will rain soon. Folk songs, folk tales and folk rituals beautifully explain the importance of all the elements of nature. In the perception of public life, if the mountain is a friend, then the river is a friend, if it is in the earth, then food is the god. All those elements of nature, together with which this earth and all the living beings found on earth are close to man, are worshipable so that man remains identified with them and man remains alert to protect all these elements. 

Today, we are worried about the cleanliness and water level of the rivers, while how a river can be soulful in public life, this fact can be seen in the Bambulia folk song sung in Bundelkhand. Budeli people starts singing as soon as it touches the water of Narmada.

Narbda maiya aise to mili re,

Aise to to mili Ke Jaise Mile

Matai Aur Baap re ..  Narbda maiya Ho....

Means, the river Narmada has met with love in the same way as parents meet. It is natural to ask the question that what is the specialty of Narmada that makes it look like senior members of its family unlike other rivers? The answer is very simple, it is Narmada which protects farmers from adverse conditions of life through its water, it is the biggest river of this region. But the logic of the innocent villagers is even simpler than this. They say that Triveni (Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati) move in the same direction but Narmada is unique as it flows in opposite direction.

 The place of affinity towards Narmada is sure in the Bundeli Lokmanas, there is no room for confusion or confusion. He is clear about his connection with Narmada. He gives the status of his mother to Narmada, while he gives the status of sisters to Triveni. Lok gives Narmada the status of his mother, while Triveni is given the status of sisters. This sentiment is very clear that the presence of the mother and her blessings are always together, but the sisters go away after marriage, despite being intimate. Mother is always near even after being far away and sisters are residents of far away villages even though they are near.

Narbda mori mata lage re

Mata to lage re

tirveni lage mori bain re 

Narbda maiya Ho..... 

Means - Narmada is like mother while Triveni is like sisters. Where relationship is established with the rivers, how can any one harm the rivers? These folk thoughts have been protecting the rivers for centuries. Ever since this relationship of affinity with the rivers was broken, the rivers started getting neglected. In the era of consumerism, we have considered natural water sources only as a means of exploitation. That is why those who do illegal mining of sand from the rivers have no hesitation. Those who kill fish by spreading electric current in the water do not feel any pain. Those who pollute the water of the rivers do not think even for a moment. The personification of rivers is beautifully found in Bhojpuri folk songs. For example, in rituals like upanayana, marriage etc. the place of pilgrimage is Gaya and the place of pilgrimage is Prayag. Invitation is sent-

Gaya ji ke nevtile aaju ta

neviti Benimadhav ho

Nevtile tirath Prayag

Tab hi jag pooran....

- Mean, when holy places like Gaya and Tithraj Prayag are invoked, only then the Yagya will be completed. In the folk rituals, the folk rituals which are ignored in the modern society by saying that they are ancient beliefs, there are many elements of awareness towards water and environment. Some examples are presented here. Sharing Motherhood When a pregnant woman comes out of the delivery room for the first time, she first goes to the well to draw water. This work is done as a family festival. The women walking with that woman worship the well, then the pregnant woman squeezes drops of milk from her breast into the water of the well. Only after this ritual does she draw water from the well. In this way, she shares drinking water with her mother because just as mother's milk is life-giving for a newborn child, in the same way water is life-giving for all beings.

Well worship On the occasion of marriage, water is needed for various worship-services. This water is brought from river, pond or well. Interesting songs are sung on this occasion. There is one such song in which it is said that while going to fetch water for the marriage ceremony, a snake sits blocking the way. The woman requests him to leave the way but he does not move. When women invite him to come to the wedding, he immediately leaves the way. Seven earthen pots filled with water are also worshiped in Saptapadi, which is performed at the time of Saptapadi marriage. These seven Kalash are the symbol of seven seas. The union of two families is expressed by mixing the water of these urns with each other. Use of water in worship: At the time of worship, water is offered to Agni and other deities symbolically by sprinkling water from Durva so that the availability of water remains constant.

A ghat filled with water is used in the death ceremony. It is meant to say that water plays an important role in public life from the beginning of life till the end of life.

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 (27.08.2023)

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