Story #16: The missing river..

 

   Long ago, the Sages were responsible for establishing  link between heaven and earth. This link between Heaven & Earth could only be established only by brahmagnyana. The Rishis wanted to create a channel thru which they could bring the knowledge to earth, so as to make the earth and it's occupants prosperous in the field of knowledge. 

   This channel could only be fire. It has link to heavens or air, rooted in earth and keeps propagating. It can't be contaminated. It burns those that come in the way.

   The Rishis therefore took to a severe penance to request lord Brahma to send the Holy fire to earth. Brahma agreed to comply. But this Knowledge converted to a physical form created a Fire, the enormity of which would encompass all of Heaven & Earth. This Fire was called BADABHAAGNI.

    Then there was the question if how to contain it and transport.  So, Brahma summons His consort Saraswati to help Him in this task. Saraswati agrees. She needs an element that is fluid, fast & can counter the heat of Fire. She takes the form of a river that extends across Heaven & Earth in its mightiness – receives the Fire of Knowledge from Brahma & deftly falls from the Heavens above to flow onto Earth.

    Saraswati begins her descend, holding onto the Fire across from Heaven to Earth. She has to make it in time to hand over the pot-of-Fire to the waiting Rishis, else the whole river would evaporate because of the heat. Plunging into the mighty Himalayas at Brahma kapala she successfully achieves her mission.  She hands over the Fire to the waiting Rishis. To cool herself,  she rushes forth madly through the glaciers in the mountain. She continues the flow until she plunges herself into the waters of the Ocean.

   Her waters still retain the heat of the fire she has carried. In due course, spanning over thousands of years, the river evaporates from the face of the Earth, but continues its glorious flow beneath the surface. It is said to surface again at triveni Sangamam.  Note that, Geologically, Saraswati is documented as having had “warm waters”.

    Saraswathi which originated from Brahma,  Ganga that touched the matted hair is Lord Shiva and Yamuna which has numerous touch with lord Krishna (because of this it got its dark color)  flow thru the lands. 

   These three holy waters, with energies of the Trinity,  meet at Triveni Sangam in Prayag. This represents the Unification of Body (Brahma the Creator), Mind (Vishnu the Preserver), Spirit (Shiva the Destroyer).

   Taking a dip in the waters at Triveni Sangam, brings our own Body, Mind & Spirit into alignment.

   Jai ma Saraswathi !!