Importance of Sacred Waters / Udaka / Apah - Its essence

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Dear members,

 

Since, there was a topic on *Mantra Pushpam*, i thought of sharing this

information on the concept of *sacred waters* that are

invoked. The *sacred waters* are also called *udaka* or *apah*.

 

When there is Creation of Universe, the Parama Pususha rupa Agni enters into the

Apah (the Sacred Waters) and creates the Cosmos.

The Paramatma when thus ready for Creation is called " APAH " . Since, the Parama

Purusha rupa Agni bears this APAH, he is called " APSUMAAN. It is this " APAH "

that bears the entire seed of creation. It is this Parama Purusha in the form

of Udaka Devata that is invoked in our Nitya Karmanushtana. Apo vai Narayanah..

says the Sruthi. Lord Narayana takes the form of Waters (Udaka) and creates the

entire Cosmos. Making the ` Nara ' / `Udaka' as the medium, creates the

Universe and hence, he is called " NARAYANA " .

 

It is this APAH, the Sacred Waters that bears the seed of Creation, invoked

during the Kalasa Sthapana (Please refer the mantra

" Apo Va Idam Sarvam, Vishwa Bhutaan Apah………… " ). This mantra says that this

entire universe is of the form of APAH.

 

 

Literally, the word " apah " means that which permeates and pervades. So, after

cosmic dissolution, when the supreme being thinks of

creation, he enters into the " Eternal Waters " (refer *apraketam salilam* of

Nasadiya Sukta of Rg Veda) and creates the universe by pervading himself in all

directions. The " waters " or " apah " prior to creation of universe has the " seed

of creation " in itself and hence sruti says " apo vai narayanah " . The " sacred

waters " are the form of " nArAyaNa " .

 

And hence during the Kalasa Sthapana, the sacred waters are invoked with the

mantra " apo va idam sarvam viswa bhutaan apah...... " . This entire universe is

*apah* including virat, hiranyagarbha, iswara, 7 meters of veda, vital energy in

the form of life force, all the vedas, all the three worlds bhu, bhuvah and

suvah are the forms of Sacred Waters / Apah.

 

The physical waters is just the symbolic representation of this principle of

Apah because like narayana it is also of the tattva of

permeation and all-pervasiveness.

 

Please refer the Yajurveda Mantra " Apo histha mayobhuvah taa na urje

dadhatana……….Apo Jana Yatha Chanah " . This is also used in Sandhya Anushtana.

 

Since, this Narayana rupa Paramapurusha in the form of APAH, is of the form of

Supreme Bliss, he is called as " Mayobhuvah " .

Since, this Paramapurusha has supreme energies, this energy is invoked in us as

" Taa Na Urje Dadhatana " . (Please refer Yajur Veda Rik " Apo Hista

Mayobhuvah………..Apo Jana Yatha Chanah " ). It is this Udaka rupa Paramapurusha

that is invoked to bless and nourish us with His Rasa (Divine Energy) as Mother

nourishes her children with Milk. The last mantra of " Apo Histha.. " denotes

the Progeny (Apo Jana Yatha Chanah). This Progeny is not to be misunderstood

with Procreation of Children.

 

This implies " May we become Multitude and Transmit the Knowledge and Bliss in

All Directions " .

 

Please refer the Mantra " Hiranyavarnaah Shuchayah Pavakaah…… …Balam Ojo

Niddhatta " of Yajur Veda which is also used in Sandhya Anushtana.

 

Since, this Narayana rupa Udaka is also of the form of Agni, he is termed as the

" Resplendent / Effulgent / Luminent One " . And hence, " Hiranyavaraah " . Since,

he cleanses our entire sins, he is " Suchayah " . Since, he is of the form of

Bliss Divine,

he is termed as " Madhuschyutah " . It is this Agni rupa Paramatma that is invoked

for Brahma Varchas or Brahma Tejas in the mantra " Huve vo mayee varcho balam ojo

Nidhatta " .

 

Please refer the Mantra " Dadhikravano Akarisham Jishno Ashvasya

Vaajinah………Tarishat " of Sandhya Mantra.

 

Dadhikraav is the Agni devata that presides over the Curd / Dadhi. During the

Ashwamedha Yajana, the Srauta Sutras ordain the Yajamana to purify their mouth

and teeth with Dadhi or Curd. It is this Agni rupa Paramapurusha again that is

invoked for Purity of Speech. Because, without Vaak Shuddhi or the Purity of

Speech, one is not entitled for Mantra Anushtana whether it is Gayatri mantra or

other mantras. And hence, this Dadhikraav is invoked for Vaak Shuddhi in the

Mantra " Surabhino Mukhakarat " .

 

" Ashwasya " denotes the Divine Strength. Some Vaishnava Scholars interpret this

Mantra in terms of " Hayagriva " .

 

When we sprinkle the Udaka on us saying that " Apavitah Pavitro Vaa…… " , it is

this Pundarikaasha rupa Paramapurusha in the Udaka / The Sacred Waters that is

invoked for external and internal purity.

 

Hence, to conclude that " APAH " is not mere Waters but the Sacred " NARAYANA " or

" PARAMAPURUSHA " that bears the SEED OF ENTIRE CREATION. He is " APSUMAAN " . This

NARAYANA is the UDAKA DEVATA.

 

During the Kalasa Sthapana, Sandhya Anushtana, Punya Havachana, Vaidika

Karmanushtana, it is this AGNI / NARAYANA / PARAMA PURUSHA

that is invoked as Udaka Devata in APAH / The Sacred Waters.

 

With Regards,

Sriram