The Divine Rivers of India: Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati

Divinity and mythology intertwines with almost every aspect of Indian culture. Rivers are no exception. The mighty rivers, Goddesses Ganga and Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, hold immense significance in Indian mythology and their confluence marks one of the holiest sites for Hindu believers. 

Hindus perceive each river as a manifestation of a goddess except Brahmaputra who is considered a male deity. Rivers are regarded as divine and sacred for their purifying ability. In Hinduism, Ganga is considered the purest and the mightiest river, often personified as Ganga Mata or Mother Ganges. It is believed that one sip of the river water or a ritual bath in the Ganga can wash away all sins and ill-fortunes of people. Such is the power attributed to Ganga that there are many myths surrounding her origins. 

The most popular tale among them is associated with Bhagiratha, an Iksvaku king, who prayed incessantly to bring the Goddess from heaven to earth to cleanse the souls of his ancestors and wash away their sins. His penance impressed Lord Brahma and he allowed Ganga to descend to Earth. But Ganga felt insulted and in her anger, she began to sweep away everything in her way. Once again Bhagiratha prayed for mercy and this time, Lord Shiva listened to him. He trapped Ganga in his matted locks, thus earning the name, Gangadhar. Once Ganga was humbled, Lord Shiva released her back, and this time, Ganga descended gently. Her source stream is known as Bhagirathi, because she was brought to Earth by Bhagirath. For ages, the mighty Ganga has stood as a symbol of purity and sanctity. But in terms of spirituality and religious significance, Ganga becomes strongest when she is with her companions, Yamuna and Saraswati. 

Yamuna is the largest tributary of Ganga and flows parallel to it until their point of confluence. As per Hindu mythology, Yamuna or Yami is the daughter of the sun god, Surya and Saranyu and the twin sister of Yama, the god of death. She plays a vital role in the stories and legends associated with Lord Krishna, especially the ones revolving around his youth. Yamuna is also regarded as a wife of Krishna. There is a belief that the river Yamuna began to flow when Yami cried incessantly upon her twin, Yama’s death. Like Ganga, Yamuna is known for her purity and is venerated highly by the Hindus. 

Myths and legends aside, both and Yamuna are visible, geographical entities. But the story of Saraswati is a bit different, which also makes it the most intriguing. 

Saraswati in its physical form does not exist, at least not anymore. Yet, this river is regarded as the greatest of mothers, greatest of rivers and greatest of Goddesses in the Rig Veda. More than 50 verses in the Rig Veda sing praises of the Goddess. But in the later Vedas, Saraswati found no more than just passing references. This was the time when the focus of Indian civilization had shifted to the Ganga-Yamuna Doab region, making Ganga the supreme river. 

Saraswati is known as the goddess of knowledge and skills and her origin as a river has a strong connection to that attribute. According to the Hindu myth, Saraswati was instructed by Lord Brahma to descend as a river to help him transfer knowledge to mankind. After completing her task, she supposedly evaporated while knowledge continued to flow. 

Saraswati may have ceased to exist physically, but she continues to flow in the minds of the believers. She, along with Ganga and Yamuna meet at Prayagraj, formerly Prayag and Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, making this place a very important pilgrimage center. The place is also called the Triveni Sangam i.e. the confluence of three rivers. The Triveni Sangam holds immense significance for Hindus and immersing in its waters is considered to be one of the most important rituals by the devotees. It is the point where the devotees can wash all their miseries and find comfort in the embrace of three of the mightiest Goddesses, the divine rivers of India.