Rivers Were Holy for Us. We Never Used to Pollute Them
Nature lovers will be surprised to hear this — what all rules our ancestors had, our predecessors had while dealing with rivers.
You know, those days when the population was much, much less. People were healthy, their habits were healthy. There were not so many contagious diseases.
But, after relieving yourself, you can't get into the river to clean yourself. You have to take water from the river and do it outside.
उद्धृतेन जलेनैव शौचं कुर्यात् जलात् बहिः
So that the river is not polluted.
Even brushing of teeth — you have to do it outside the river. You can't spit in the river.
येन केन च पत्रेण काष्ठेन च जलाद् बहिः
कार्यं सन्तर्जनीं त्यज्य दन्तधावनमीरितिम्
They used to brush with medicinal sticks such as neem or mango leaves. But then, you can't spit into the river. You have to take water from the river and do it outside.
जलाद् बहिः — because for us, Nadi is Goddess. We can't pollute her.
You need to take permission from Bhairava before taking bath in the river.
भैरवाय नमस्तुभ्यं अनुज्ञां दातुमर्हसि — you have to say this.
What is this bath — just taking dip with your clothes on.
Then, you can't even wash your clothes in the river. You have to take the clothes to a well or another small water body or your own home, and then, with water, with the help of a stone or log of wood, wash them away from the river. You can take water from the river, take it home in pots, and wash clothes there — not in the river.
नद्यादितीर्थस्नाने तु स्नानवस्त्रं न शोधयेत्
वापीकूपगृहादौ तु स्नानादूर्ध्वं नयेत् बुधः
शिलादार्वादिके वापि जले वापि स्थलेऽपि वा
संशोध्य पीडयद्वस्त्रं पितॄणां तृप्तये दिवजः
This is our samskriti — culture.
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