The document discusses the significance of water in Hindu religion and culture. It provides background on how water is seen as the source of life in Hindu mythology and scriptures. Many Hindu rituals and festivals centered around water are described, including rituals performed by Brahmins using water for purification, offerings to ancestors, and cleansing. Major Hindu holy rivers like the Ganges and Cauvery are also discussed in relation to their religious and cultural importance in Hinduism.

1. The Role of Water in the Hindu
Religion and Culture: An
Overview
Dr. S. Barathi
Assistant Professor
Department of English
SRC, SASTRA University
Kumbakonam.
barathi0723@gmail.com

2. Introduction
• Water is an inevitable medium which is found to be primitive and
source of life.
• It is the elixir that makes the lives to function.
• The role of water is innumerable in various fields right from the
creation to formation of a civilization, culture and medicine.
• The present paper deals with the significance of water in Hindu
religion with a special reference to Brahmans, a caste in Hindu
religion.
• The main focus is on the rituals that use water, its purpose and its
relatedness to culture.

3. Background of the Studies
• The famous Miller-Urey experiment reported in 1953, suggests that lightning
might have helped create the key building blocks of life on Earth in its early
days. (“7 Theories on the Origin of Life”).
• In Old Testament Noah’s ark was built to protect the individual species of each
category when God flooded the earth with a heavy storm as a punishment for
the wickedness of humans.
• In Persian texts there is an evidence of millennial floods. Sumerians believed
that floods were due to the war between Gods whereas Aztec and Mayans
believed that flooding separated successive eras. In Judo Christian accounts,
the deity may have divine power over water, of God parting the Red Sea
(Exodus 14:16 -22)

4. Background of the studies Contd.
• In Hindu Mythology where the first avtar of Lord Vishnu is Matsya
Avtar (fish) and the span of earth is divided into various Yugas. At the
end of each Yuga there is a great flood which destroys the lives on
earth and makes it inactive.
• In Garuda Purana, the book which contains details on the aftermath
of death, states that the dead has to cross a river named Vaibarani
filled with blood and filth to enter heaven.

5. Water in Various Religions
Christianity:
• Christians practise Baptism, which originated from the Israelites led by Moses through Red Sea, to
free them from slavery and baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in Jordan. After resurrection of
Jesus, he commanded his disciples to baptise in the name of the father, son and Holy Spirit
(Matthew 28: 19-20)
Islam:
• In Islam too, water is considered an important source for purifying and cleansing. Ghusl, is an
ablution of washing the whole body with water, In mosques,before carrying out rituals Tahara
(ritual purity) is a must for which a pool of water or running water is made for ablutions,
especially salat (worship). Gushul is also performed before Friday prayer, before touching the Holy
Quran and also before the dead were buried. Wudu, done five times a day before every prayer. It
is a ritual for muslims to cleanse with water before prayer. This is evident from the verses of
Quaran:“O you who believe, when you prepare for prayer, wash your faces and your hand to the
elbows; rub your head and your feet to the ankles”(The Quran 5: 7/8)

6. Hindu Religion and Water
• Although Hinduism encompasses so many different beliefs, most
Hindus do share the importance of striving to attain purity and
avoiding pollution. This relates to both physical cleanliness and
spiritual well being. Water cleanses, washes away impurities and
pollutants, and enables an object look fresh. The belief that water
have spiritually cleansing powers has given it a central place in the
practices and beliefs of many a religious ritual. Physically and mentally
clean person is enabled to focus on worship. -“Hinduism- A holy
Water Religion-1”.

7. Water and Hindu Festivals
There are many festivals that mainly focus on waters like the
kumbhmela of Varanasi, Makamakham at Kumbakonam, Adiperruku
festival, etc., all of which are connected with spirituality and unity of
people. As a part of Hindu culture these festivals are celebrated
irrespective of their castes and thus binds them together. People gather
in huge numbers at Kumbhmela, a spiritual pilgrimage once in twelve
years in the sacred cities Haridwar, Nasik, Allahabad and Ujjain

8. Allahabad Kumbh Mela

9. Rivers and Religion
• Aadiperukku or Padinettam perukku, is a region specific festival
observed only in the Kaveri delta. On the 18th day of the Tamil month
Aadi, the water level in the Kaveri River basin rises significantly. It is
peculiar to the Kaveri delta that the rising of the river is expected to
occur invariably on the 18th day of the solar month, Aadi (August)
every year. Padinettu means eighteen, and perukku denotes an
increase. This festival is observed as a water-ritual, celebrated as
fertility and reproduction cult predominantly by women in Tamil
Nadu, belonging to the rice cultivation tract along the Cauveri river
basin districts of Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli.

10. Water in Hindu Mythology
• Rig Veda, one of the oldest Vedas proclaims that: “in the beginning
everything was like the sea and without light. ” this is scientifically
proved by theories---. Water is said to carry the seed from which
Brahma (the creator of universe)is born. The earth is raised from the
waters and from the navel of Vishnu, there was a lotus, that carried
Brahma.
• The story of the Great Flood of Manu appears in Hindu
scriptures. This is the story of how all creation is submerged in a great
deluge but Manu alone is rescued by a giant fish he once saved. The
fish instructed him to build a large boat and to take into it seeds and
animals.

11. • In Bagavatam, there is a note on how Devas (Angels)and Asuras
(Demons) fight for Amruth (elixer), they churned the ocean with
Mandra mountain as churner and a giant snake vasuki as rope. Thus
the waters in ocean is considered to be the house of riches. It is from
ocean Goddess Laksmi, the God of wealth appeared.
• Lord Vishu’s abode is the Sea of Milk where he rests on the thousand
headed snake Adisesha. Lord Shiva carries Ganges in his head. This is
stated in many of the hymns in Thevaram and Thiruvasakam.

12. • king Bhagiratha did Tapasya (a self-discipline or austerity willingly
expended both in restraining physical urges and in actively pursuing a
higher purpose in life) for many years constantly to bring the river
Ganga, then residing in the Heavens, down on the Earth to find
salvation for his ancestors, who were cursed by a seer. Therefore,
Ganga descended to the Earth through the lock of hair (Jata) of god
Shiva to make whole earth pious, fertile and wash out the sins of
humans.

13. Holy Rivers and Hindu Culture

14. The Holy Ganges

15. River Cauvery

16. Brahmin Rituals Involving Water
• Tarpanam
• Prokshanam
• Jalanjali
• Punyavaham
• Sodhna
• Sandhyopasana and Achamana
• Arghya

17. Other Hindu Rituals
• Pooneeratu
• Paanigrahanam
• Seemandham
• Death

18. Conclusion
• Water thus in all religions is associated with cleansing and purification
of body and the soul.
• In Christianity, baptism is a symbol of grace of God. In a similar way
the sprinkle of water in Hindu temples signify the grace of God and a
spiritual rebirth. It is considered destroyer of evil forces.
• The rivers and Holy wells in temples play an integral part in Hindu
Culture. People of Hindu religion believe that spiritual transformation,
freedom from sin and purification could be brought out by these
rivers.