Purity, Love, & Wisdom

THE THREE CHANNELS OF HOLINESS.

QUESTION TO A. I.:

“What are the three rivers of ancient Indian mythology (or history) that converge? Where did they supposedly converge? What is the myth connected with them, and what did the rivers represent?”

ANSWER, GEMINI A. I.:

In ancient Indian mythology and history, the three sacred rivers that converge are the Ganges (Ganga), the Yamuna, and the mystical Saraswati.

The Point of Convergence

This sacred confluence is known as the Triveni Sangam, and it is located in Prayagraj (formerly known as Allahabad) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The Triveni Sangam is a site of immense religious significance, particularly during the Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. While the muddy waters of the Ganges and the greenish waters of the Yamuna are clearly visible merging, the Saraswati is believed to flow underground and join them at this point, making her presence metaphysical rather than physical.

The Associated Myth

The central myth associated with the Triveni Sangam revolves around the Samudra Manthan, or the churning of the cosmic ocean by the gods (Devas) and the demons (Asuras) to obtain the nectar of immortality (Amrita). As the divine physician Dhanvantari emerged with the pot (Kumbh) of nectar, a battle ensued. During this celestial struggle, drops of the precious nectar are said to have fallen on four places on Earth, one of which was Prayagraj. This event sanctified the land and the waters of the confluence, making a dip in the Triveni Sangam, especially during the auspicious times of the Kumbh Mela, a means to wash away sins and attain spiritual liberation (moksha).

The Representation of the Rivers

Each of the three rivers holds deep symbolic meaning in Hindu tradition:

• Ganges (Ganga): The most sacred river in Hinduism, the Ganga is considered a celestial river brought to Earth. She represents purity, spiritual cleansing, and divine grace. The Ganga is often personified as a mother goddess, Ganga Ma, whose waters are believed to wash away sins and grant salvation. Her descent from the heavens, tamed by Lord Shiva in his matted locks, symbolizes a divine gift for the purification of humanity.

• Yamuna: The Yamuna is deeply associated with love, devotion (bhakti), and divine play (lila), primarily through her connection to Lord Krishna, who spent his childhood and youth on her banks. She is often seen as a symbol of passionate devotion and is the daughter of the sun god, Surya, and the sister of Yama, the god of death.

• Saraswati: The Saraswati, though now physically absent for the most part, is the ancient river of the Rigveda. She is the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, music, arts, and consciousness. Her unseen presence at the Sangam represents the invisible flow of divine knowledge and enlightenment that underlies the more visible currents of purity and devotion. She is the "river of consciousness" that flows within.

The convergence of these three rivers at the Triveni Sangam, therefore, represents the union of purity, love, and wisdom—the three essential paths to spiritual liberation in Hindu thought.