To the Vedas, the Earth was an object of worship and not of exploitation. Rather, worship involved the veneration of the highest value in the hierarchy of existence, for “undoubtedly this earth is the firstborn of being.” Worship addressed to the Earth was not adoration of an idol or creature as an absolute. Indeed she occupies a special place among the Gods, having been praised as as Divine Mother. The Vedic attitude toward the Earth springs from mankind’s primordial experience of being on the one hand a guest, and on the other an offspring, of the Earth. All of this symbolizes purification through the return to the origins. This is also why many people in India are returned to the waters when they pass on. Parjanya is therefore deified in the Rig Veda.īecause water is said to be the primeval element, it is still a common practice in everyday life in India to immerse idols (murtis) and utensils in the sacred rivers, and to anoint oneself with water.
Parjanya, who’s name means “the clouds causing the downpour of rains”, represents water in the form of rain, which sustains life on earth. Indra, Varun, Parjanya are also in directly or indirectly related to water in the texts. Apas, who is addressed in four Suktas, is the God of waters. Rig Veda attributes several Gods to water. Therefore, water is considered Divine by the Vedas, and it was thought to bring peace, happiness, wealth, long-life and good health. The world is spoken of as having been “originally water without light” (Salilam apraketam Rig Veda X.29.3). Water, known as ap in Sanskrit, is said to be of the same age of the Universe itself, having been contained in an egg from which everything else emanated. The 63rd verse of Atharva Veda (12.“The Waters are the foundation of all this universe.” - SB XIV, 3, 2, 13
Wakeful through a long life, we shall become
ATHARVA VEDA HYMN TO THE EARTH FREE
Let us get into ourselves and find out whether we are true to this Earth in every action of ours.īe, for our welfare, free from sickness and waste. Let us therefore take a pledge at this hour that we don’t turn out to be those wild hogs and do our best to keep this earth going so that she places all the future generations into a pleasant abode. She keeps company with the boar, gives herself up to the wild hog. (The Copenhagen meet) in the villages and in the wilderness, in the assembly halls that are upon the Earth: in the gatherings, and in the meetings may we hold forth agreeably to thee! (The usual pledge).Īnd again how the Earth has given herself to the destroyers is beautifully stated in these lines - The earth holds the fool and holds the wise, endures that good and bad dwell upon her. What is happening to Earth at this hour is graphically brought out here and we have to answer the question posed to us by the ancients: A great gathering place thou, great (Earth) hast become: great haste, commotion, and agitation are upon thee. Thine, O Earth, are these races of men, the mortals upon whom the rising sun sheds undying light with his rays.
The Earth upon which the attendant waters flow by day and night unceasingly is requested to pour out milk for us in rich streams and besprinkle us with glory and the snowy mountain heights and the forests are requested to be kind to us.Ī request that we ever pass our lives on this Earth is beautifully stated below - “The mortals born of thee live on thee, thou supportest both bipeds and quadrupeds. She is further requested to spread out for us, and fit herself for us. The Earth, the mistress of that which was, and shall be, is earnestly requested to prepare for us a broad domain.Ī pointed reference that the entire mess comes from men only is stated here - The earth that has heights, and slopes, and Great Plains, which supports the plants of manifold virtue, free from the pressure that comes from the midst of men. Truth, greatness, universal order, strength, consecration, creative fervour, spiritual exaltation and the sacrifice are said to support the Earth.