CHAP. XIII - THE WORSHIP OF RIVERS

Summary

Rivers are to be placed among the objects of Hindoo worship: they are of both genders, Nŭdŭ and Nŭdēē. The worship of these rivers is performed at auspicious seasons, as laid down in the shastrŭ, and at some of the great festivals. Certain places also of these rivers are peculiarly sacred, and draw to them great numbers of devotees; as, the source of the Ganges; the union of the Ganges, the Yŭmoona, and the Sŭrŭswŭtēē at Prŭyagŭ the branching of this united river into three streams at Trivénēē; the place where the Ganges disembogues itself into the sea, &c. Their waters are used for food, bathing, medicine, religious ceremonies, &c. and formerly when a Hindoo king was crowned, they were poured upon his head as a part of his consecration.

SECT. I.—Gŭnga

This goddess is represented as a white woman, wearing a crown, sitting on the sea animal Mŭkŭrŭ, and having in her right hand a water-lily, and in her left the lute. She is called the daughter of mount Himavŭt, though some of the pooranŭs declare that she was produced from the sweat of Vishnoo's foot, which Brŭmha caught and preserved in his alms' dish.

The grandfather of Bēēshmŭ was one day performing religious austerities near the Ganges, when the goddess fell in love with him, and, in order to persuade him to a union, went and sat upon his right knee.