Editorial
The Water Perspective About 50% - 65 % of an adult human being’s body is made up of water. It is the building block of cells, tissues, and organs; it regulates body temperature, aids in digestion, eliminates waste from the body, and performs a host of other vital functions. Again, 70% of our earth is covered with water. Of this, only 3 % is fresh water and again only 0.4% of this fresh water is accessible to us because the remaining 2.6% is locked in polar ice-caps, glaciers, or deep inside the earth.
Traditional Engagement The Vedic rishis recognised the central role of water in creating and sustaining life. Water was recognised as divine, and the rivers as personified goddesses with motherly love for mankind. The Vedic literature has a number of prayers reflecting this attitude towards water. Some lines in the Apah Suktam, or the Hymn for Water sing:
Truly, water has this dual power – it nourishes and strengthens the material world outside starting from our own body, and it purifies and transforms the subtle inner dimensions of our personality. In traditional homes, even today, the seven sacred rivers are invoked into the water being used for worship, cooking, and even bathing. Sri Ramakrishna too had a deep devotion to Ganga. He called Her Brahma-vari, i.e., Brahman in the form of water. If anybody talked of worldly things for a long time or mixed with worldly people, he would ask that person to drink a little of Ganga water and purify himself. In sharp contrast to this traditional filial attitude towards water, is the modern approach which commodifies water and all the other natural resources. It is an attitude born of the understanding that the world is created for man’s enjoyment. This mercenary perspective is in a sense at the root of the imbalance in our relationship with Nature.
Mother Earth’s Response What happens when we exploit Nature? An interesting story from Srimad Bhagavata gives the answer. A number of people reduced to skeletons due to starvation approached their newly crowned king Prithu who, born in the line of O Water, this auspicious sap of yours, please share with us, Dhruva, was a part of Like a mother desiring (to share her best possession with her children). Mahavishnu. They asked O Water, may the auspicious divinity which is wished for him to alleviate their be present in you when we drink (water). sufferings and provide May the auspiciousness which supports you, flow to us. them sustenance. Prithu O Water, may the divinity in Water dwell in the farm lands, found out that by O Water, I implore you to give nutrition (to the crops). withdrawing into herself O Water, you are abundantly filled with medicinal herbs; Please protect my body, so that I can see the Sun for long (i.e., live long). all her vegetation, goddess Earth had created this O Water, please wash away whatever wicked tendencies are in me, And also wash away the treacheries burning me from within, suffering. In great anger And any falsehood present in my mind.
August 2019
PA G E S P O N S O R : C H I . M O K S H I T K O K K U, H Y D E R A B A D
ur life in this world is conditioned by several other existences—the most fundamental of which are elements of nature like water, soil, air, and sunlight. Our relationship with these natural forces is always delicately balanced. Today, this balance is being seriously impaired, especially in our relationship with water.
9 The Vedanta Kesari
O
The Water Story
