Pushkarmuni Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Devendramuni, A D Batra, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Rajasthankesari Adhyatmayogi Upadhyay Shree Pushkar Muni Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 388

****Xpan: Diviñe & Patitytåg susstaate**
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The vigour-bestowing capacity of Apah is particularly noticeable in the Rajyabhişeka in which the sprinkling of waters constitutes the main rite. In the Agnihotra, the sprinkling of water on the head of the sacrificer is followed by the recitation thus : '... With which (water) the gods sprinkled Indra for kingship, with that I sprinkle myself vigour'.1 02 In the context of the Vaišvadevaparvan sacrifice, applying the water to the sacrificer's hair is said to be accompanied by : 'The divine waters may wet the body of yours for long life and vigour'. 103
For the satisfaction of the manes also the water is prescribed to be served. 104 The Apaḥ officiate as it were as the agent between the manes and the offerers. After being taken out from the pitcher, water is poured out upon each ball with 'The water-goddesses may go unto the manes carrying strength...':06 In the context of the Pitsmedha, the kinsmen are said to offer the water upon the earth with "This udaka for you, of the waters (äpah)”. 1. In the Mäsika-śråddha, one pours the vessel full of water with, "These waters full of honey, satisfy the sons and grandsons. At the same time, they--the divine waters--yield the ambrosia to the manes.' 07
In the Antyesti rite, we find that, like other divinities, an oblation is made to the watergoddesses with 'To the waters, svähä 1108 Thus we find that the various capacities such as bestowing a man with vigilance, faith, long life, vigour etc.; removal away of enemies, sins; satisfying the manes and so on are attributed to this water divinity.
It would seem that some kind of difference between Apah and Udaka was thought of by the authors of the ritual texts. In the Satras, the divine Apah are invoked to flow with unending udaka.109 So it seems that the term udaka denotes the element of water. On the other hand, in some Grhya-texts, the word udaka denotes a god. For instance, on the day before the marriage, an offering of sthälipäka is made for the bride to Udaka, 110 But it may be noted that, in this context, the Apah also occur in the form of Udakani as the female counterpart of Udaka as it were. It is enjoined that the bride, after approaching Udaka, should be bathed and an offering of sthälīpåka should be made with the mantra, 'To Udakani, svābā !"111 Here the both termsudaka (male) and Udakani (female)-denote the Water-divinity. 113
Attention may now be drawn to certain peculiar features of this divinity. In the Män. S., 113 it is suggested that the north-east direction is related to the Apaḥ in a special way. In another Sutra text,114 however, the Apah are said to be related to the east or north. Another feature is that the constellation aşadhas is specifically related to the Apah.116 Further, Apah are also believed to possess some unfavourable aspects, 116 as is indicated by the mantra occurring in the TĀ,117 namely, 'The aspect of the waters which is cruel, impure or violent, may that go away !
. It is also interesting to note the significance of the various sources of the waters. As Keith 18 has pointed out, with the growth of the ritual a distinction came to be made and developed between the various sources of waters. Firstly, a clear distinction is made between the ordinary water and the water of the ocean. It is, for instance, said in the GB 119: (Prajāpati) saw into the waters his own image. While doing so he dropped the semen into them. Then the waters divided themselves into two : the semen that was highly saltish, unfit for drinking, tasteless and violent made up the sea, and the semen that had exactly opposite qualities remained where it was. On this background it is significant that another Brāhmana passage 119 reads that the putrid body of Vpira killed by Indra extended everywhere, and the sea also is extended everywhere. In the Rajasūya sacrifice the waters of the ripples which are produced when the victim is thrown into them are offerred. These waters are said to be capable of granting kingdom to the sacrificer. 181 Apart from this broad division, there is also some further classification. In the consecrationceremony seventeen kinds of water are collected.18 They are enumerated thus : water from the river Sarasvati ; from the two waves which flow away in the different directions after an animal or a man has stept or plunged into it; from the wave which rises in front of the man ; from the wave wbich rises up behind him; the flowing water ; the water that flows off the main current ; the sea-water; water from a whirlpool ; what standing pool of flowing water there is in a sunny