An important
note from Bhawani Sahasranaam
- Vijaya Bhan
There are some popular names
of Indian rivers, which are revelatory of different aspects of Mother's power.
It may be mentioned in this context that river symbolises motion as also the
sound.
The meaning of nadi (river)
is 'to make the sound' as the word comes from its Sanskrit root 'nad', musical
sound gushing out from mountain and oozing from springs, streams flow into
rivers which ultimately get absorbed in the ocean.
This connotes the course of
Atmen with its sound Soham (I and He) ever moving to its Absolute, Ultimate
Goal, the Supreme Self. In Sakta Darsma, it connotes Nada movement and Sound
called Sabdabrahma. Nada is the union of Siva and Sakti. Nada is the Will
aspect of Divine Mother, the seed of all manifestation. It is the vibration of
OM. When mind is fixed on Nada, a nahate sound is heard. Nad stage is the third
in the eight distinctions of Bindu. In this context, the names of the rivers
assume meaning:
Sindhu:
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The river of heaven leading
to peace.
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Mandakini:
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The river of heaven, lreading
to peace.
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Ganga:
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The flow of Divinity.
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Yamuna:
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Goddess who subdues pain.
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Saraswati:
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Unrevealed primordial speech.
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Godavari:
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Dispeller of ignorance
through knowledge.
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Vipasa:
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The Goddess who cuts the
knots of worldliness.
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Kaveri:
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The exerciser of
self-effacing charm.
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