History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c74.118

v5.c74.118

It has been already seen (p. 556) how the Ganges is the first among the many rivers invoked in the famous *Nadīstuti* hymn (Rg X. 75 5-6). In Ṛg¹³²³ VI 45 31 we have the word 'Gāṅgyaḥ' which most probably means 'growing on the Ganges'. In the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa XIII. 5 4 11 and 13 and Ait Br. 39. 9 the victories and sacrifices of Bharata Dauṣṣanti on the Gaṅgā and Yamunā are mentioned. In Śat. Br XIII. 5 4 11 and 13 an ancient *gāthā* is quoted 'At Nādapit the Apsaras Śakuntalā conceived Bharata who after conquering the whole earth brought to Indra more than 1000 horses meet for sacrifice.' The Mahābhārata (Anuśāsana 26. 26-103) and the Purāṇas (such as Nāradīya, Uttarārdha, chap 38-45 and 51. 1-48, Padma V. 60. 1-127, Agni chap 110, Matsya chap. 180-185, Padma, Ādikhaṇḍa. chap 33-37) contain hundreds of verses eulogising the greatness and the sanctifying activity of the Ganges. The Skandapurāṇa, Kāsīkhaṇḍa, chap 29 (verses 17-168) contains one thousand names of the Ganges. It is not possible to reproduce here even a small fraction of what is said in these works about the Ganges To most men in India great rivers like the Ganges, great mountains like the Himālaya present a double aspect, viz the physical aspect and the spiritual aspect A great river apart from its volume of water is deemed to have a spiritual or divine life which animates it. Tylor (in 'Primitive Culture', 2nd ed. p 477) observes 'What we call inanimate objects-rivers, stones, trees, weapons and so forth-are treated as living intelligent beings, talked to, propitiated, punished for the harm they do.' There are separate treatises devoted to the glorification of the Ganges and the pilgrimage to it such as the Gaṅgāpattalaka of Gaṇeśvara (1350 A. D.), Gaṅgāvākyāvalī of Viśvāsadevī, queen of king Padmasiṁha of Mithilā, the Gaṅgābhakti-taraṅgiṇī of Gaṇapati, the Gaṅgākṛtyaviveka of Vardhamāna. Vide H. of Dh. vol. I. p. 538 for the dates of some of these works.