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== जलसंरक्षणम् ॥ Water Conservation ==

== जलसंरक्षणम् ॥ Water Conservation ==

Water is known as one of the five great elements or Panchamahabhutas and has been given great importance in the Vedic culture. Infact, water conservation has been a fundamental component of the Vedic culture. The Rigvedic Rishi says,<ref name=":0">Vijnana - Level A ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_A/Vijnana-A_Englishi_OBE/Science-A_E_Ch-5.pdf Chapter 5]), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).</ref><blockquote>आ शर्म पर्वतानामोतापां वृणीमहे ।...॥१६॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 8, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AE.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AE Sukta 18]</ref> ā śarma parvatānāmotāpāṁ vr̥ṇīmahe ।...॥16॥</blockquote>

Water is known as one of the five great elements or [[Panchamahabhutas (पञ्चमहाभूतानि)|Panchamahabhutas]] and has been given great importance in the Vedic culture. Infact, water conservation has been a fundamental component of the Vedic culture. The Rigvedic Rishi says,<ref name=":0">Vijnana - Level A ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_A/Vijnana-A_Englishi_OBE/Science-A_E_Ch-5.pdf Chapter 5]), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).</ref><blockquote>आ शर्म पर्वतानामोतापां वृणीमहे ।...॥१६॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 8, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AE.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AE Sukta 18]</ref> ā śarma parvatānāmotāpāṁ vr̥ṇīmahe ।...॥16॥</blockquote>

Meaning: There is happiness in mountains and waters. But only those who utilize them appropriately with knowledge obtain it.<ref>Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_III/#book/581 Volume 3]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref>  

Meaning: There is happiness in [[Mountains in Rigveda (ऋग्वेदे पर्वतानां विवेचनम्)|mountains]] and waters. But only those who utilize them appropriately with knowledge obtain it.<ref name=":2">Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_III/#book/581 Volume 3]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref>  

In Ancient Indian culture water is considered as life. Therefore, great emphasis is given to sources of water, importance of water for all living organisms, quality and usefulness of water and conservation of water, etc. Infact, in the Vedas, water is said to have medicinal importance. And Acharya Charaka is known to have discussed about usefulness of groundwater in his Charaka Samhita.

In [[Bharatiya Samskrtika Parampara (भारतीयसांस्कृतिकपरम्परा)|ancient Indian culture]] water is considered as life. Therefore, great emphasis is given to sources of water, importance of water for all living organisms, quality and usefulness of water and conservation of water, etc. Infact, in the [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Vedas]], water is said to have medicinal importance. The Rigvedic Rishi says,<ref name=":1">Vijnana - Level A ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_A/Vijnana-A_Englishi_OBE/Science-A_E_Ch-6.pdf Chapter 6]), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).</ref> <blockquote>अप्स्वन्तरमृतमप्सु भेषजमपामुत प्रशस्तये । देवा भवत वाजिनः ॥१९॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7.%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A9 Sukta 23]</ref> apsvantaramr̥tamapsu bheṣajamapāmuta praśastaye । devā bhavata vājinaḥ ॥19॥</blockquote>Meaning: There is nectar in water, water possesses the qualities of a medicine. And is thereby praiseworthy.<ref>Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_I/#book/53 Volume 1]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref> Infact, in the [[Rigveda (ऋग्वेदः)|Rigveda]], water is regarded as our mother and it is said that water should make us powerful and excellent as ghee does.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>आपो अस्मान्मातरः शुन्धयन्तु घृतेन नो घृतप्वः पुनन्तु ।...॥१०॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AD Sukta 17]</ref> āpo asmānmātaraḥ śundhayantu ghr̥tena no ghr̥tapvaḥ punantu ।...॥10॥</blockquote>Also, great emphasis is laid in the Rigveda on protecting such water in whatever form it is present and wherever it is present. It is said,<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>अपामह दिव्यानामपां स्रोतस्यानाम् । अपामह प्रणेजनेऽश्वा भवथ वाजिनः ॥४॥<ref>Atharvaveda, Kanda 19, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8 Sukta 2]</ref> apāmaha divyānāmapāṁ srotasyānām । apāmaha praṇejane'śvā bhavatha vājinaḥ ॥4॥</blockquote>Meaning: O human, rain water and water obtained from other sources such as wells, springs, ponds etc contains many nutrients. You should know this that you become energetic and powerful by using such nutritious water. Furthermore, speaking of the purest form of water ie. rain water, the [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] says,<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>

According to Ancient Indian Civilization, each and every type of water present in this universe should be conserved. However, highest priority is given to conservation of river water because they irrigate agricultural fields which are responsible for the survival of all living beings. Furthermore, flowing water of rivers is considered pure and hence, pollution of rivers is strictly condemned.<ref name=":1" />

शिवा नः सन्तु वार्षिकीः ॥४॥<ref>Atharvaveda, Kanda 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AC Sukta 6]</ref> śivā naḥ santu vārṣikīḥ ॥4॥</blockquote>

There is a lot of emphasis on water conservation in our Vedic culture.<ref name=":0" />

Meaning: May the rain water be very good for us.  

In Vedas, great emphasis is given on water conservation and also on importance of water in our life.  

This shows the understanding of the importance of water in the Vedas. According to the ancient Indian civilization, each and every type of water present in this universe should be conserved. However, highest priority is given to conservation of river water because they [[Irrigation (सेचनविधानानि)|irrigate]] agricultural fields which are responsible for the survival of all living beings. Moreover, flowing water of rivers is considered pure and hence, pollution of rivers is strictly condemned. Seven Sindhu [[Rivers in Rigveda (ऋग्वेदे नदीनां विवेचनम्)|rivers]] (Sapta Sindhu) are mentioned in the Vedas. They are,

6.1 WATER CONSERVATION IN ANCIENT TIMES

These rivers satisfy all living beings by providing water, food etc. They love vegetation and contribute in the happiness of others.<ref name=":1" /> Thus, the Rigveda sends a prayer that may the divine rivers flowing through high-lands, low-lands and the plains keep us, the citizens, [[Roga (रोगः)|disease]]-free.<ref name=":2" /><blockquote>ता अस्मभ्यं पयसा पिन्वमानाः शिवा देवीरशिपदा भवन्तु सर्वा नद्यो अशिमिदा भवन्तु ॥४॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 7, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AD.%E0%A5%AB%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 50]</ref> tā asmabhyaṁ payasā pinvamānāḥ śivā devīraśipadā bhavantu sarvā nadyo aśimidā bhavantu ॥4॥</blockquote>In the Vedas, 'Mitra' and '[[Varuna (वरुणः)|Varuna]]' are the deities of Rain. Water is formed when they meet. Moreover, it is said that water flows during rainfall and it flows in the form of rivers. Flowing water is considered pure in the Vedic culture and that's why rivers are considered respectable as mothers. Infact, in the [[Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)|Vedic literature]], a river which originates from mountains and flows till the [[Four Oceans in Rigveda (ऋग्वेदोक्त चतुःसमुद्राः)|ocean]] is considered pure and divine. Through these descriptions, the Vedic Rishis convey that we should conserve the flow of rivers ie. the rivers should be allowed to flow. Thus, whether rain water or flowing water, there is a lot of emphasis on water conservation in the Vedic culture.<ref name=":0" />Nine types of water are mentioned in the Vedas. They are,

Seven Sindhu rivers are mentioned in Atharva Ved. These seven rivers are:

# Water of such place where there are many marshes

# Water present in earthern pots

In this way, it is clear that water has been given prime importance in Vedas and all its types are pointed out so that water conservation can be done. It is need of the hour that the message of water conservation given in the ancient texts is grasped and an attempt is made to conserve water.<ref name=":1" />

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this way, it is clear that water had been given prime importance in Vedas and its all types are pointed out so that water conservation can be done. It is need of the hour that we must grasp the message of water conservation given in our ancient texts and try to conserve water.

 

It has been said in Vedas that water flows during rainfall and it flows in the form of rivers. Flowing water is considered pure in our culture and that's why rivers are considered respectable as mothers. It had been said in Vedic literature about holiness of rivers that such a river which originate from mountains and flows till oceans is holy. Vedic Rishis want to convey us by this message that we should conserve the flow of rivers. Rivers should be allowed to flow.

 

 

It had been said in Vedas regarding purification of impure water that both air and sun purify water. Rays of sun purify water by destroying germs present in water. Saying of Rishi of Rigveda is that 'O Humans, You should consume water which is like honeydew and which has medicinal properties like them who consume it in correct way. Always be ready to praise water -

 

 

 

 

• Water conservation in Vedas<ref name=":1">Vijnana - Level A ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_A/Vijnana-A_Englishi_OBE/Science-A_E_Ch-6.pdf Chapter 6]), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).</ref>

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Danas]]

[[Category:Danas]]

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