Rivers

The flowing water on the land, the so called river are given a divine status in Indian culture. All the Indian civilizations was began and nurtured either at the river banks, river basins or river mouth. The rivers are worshiped as for its divinity and purity. It is believed that a bath taken in a flowing water removes all our sins. Water is considered as a powerful media of purification and also as a source of energy. It is considered sacred and respectable. For Hindus to pollute rivers meaning to go against their religion and certainly goes to hell. 

There are seven rivers which are named, particularly, as most sacred for Hindus. They are river Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu (Indus) and Kaveri. Thus, everytime we cleanse our body before prayers or even for a normal bath, it is better for us to recite the sloka below. 

" Ganga Cha Yamuna Chaiva Godavari Saraswati,

Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru" 

(In this water, I invoke the presence of divine waters from rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. They are the river goddesses, and I pray to them for their blessings")

Though we never get the chance to bath in these rivers always, by reciting this sloka it is considered that our bath is auspicious as a holy bath.  

There are some other rivers, beside the above seven, that also given a sacred status. They are Saryu, Gandaki, Gomathi, Sabarmati, Tamsa, Chandarbhaga, Shirpa and Kratmala. 

But, recent studies shows that many or  almost all the rivers are in a poor condition. Uncontrolled urbanisation, industrialisation, illegal mining, pollution due to discharge of untreated industrial effluents, changing agricultural practices, shift to water intensive crops, over exploitation of groundwater and agriculture have contributed to the death of rivers. 

To make sure the ecological flow of the rivers, we need to educate the locals to plants more trees, remove the silt from the river's catchment area and curb solid and hazardous waste from dumped in the waters.