Water In Religion: Source Of Spiritual Rebirth

Faith Mysticism

oi-Anwesha Barari

By Anwesha Barari

Wednesday, August 3, 2011, 9:55

Water in religion is not only a holy symbol but is also seen as a medium of spiritual rebirth. The Hindus use water as a source of regeneration. The concept of rebirth in Hinduism is a much talked about subject of spiritual metaphysics. The spiritual waters of India are believed to be capable of bringing about spiritual regeneration which in a way is also a kind of rebirth in Hinduism.

Water in religion is considered the 'eternal life giver' as it is water, that brings about regeneration in all living beings. Without water the dried out plants of autumn would not spring to life again. Even human beings need to bathe everyday in water to rejuvenate themselves!

Let us look at a few important rituals of spiritual rebirth that involve the use of water by Hindus.

1. The Abhishek: Every child born to Hindu parents is given a 'abhishek', bathed in milk and the holy waters of the Ganges. The child is 'purified' per se from the sins of its last life for a fresh beginning in this life. Not only humans but also the gods have this purification bath. In any ceremony, the idols of the gods involved are washed with water by Hindus before offering prayers.

2. The Holy Bath Before Marriage: Marriage in Hindu philosophy is like being born again as a as a soul that has two bodies. Thus it becomes vital that any individual about to enter holy matrimony must be purged of all impurities of the soul. The ritual of ceremonial bathing before marriage is another example of how water in religion is a source of spiritual regeneration.

3. The Asthi Visarjan: This is a ritual deeply associated with the concept of rebirth in Hinduism. Asthi Visarjan is a part of the last rites of a human being. After the cremation of the dead body, the left over ashes are supposed to be disposed off into any of the holy river waters by the Hindus. This sort of death in the spiritual water will ensure that soul of the dead a favourable rebirth. The epic poem 'The Wasteland' by T.S. Eliot makes a reference to this ritual of rebirth in Hinduism. A section of the poem is named 'Death By Water'.

4. The Visarjan: This is an universal custom in Hinduism that the idols of deities made for special festive occasions like Ganesh Chaturthi , Durga Puja etc have to be immersed in a water body. So the use of water in religion is not just limited to living beings but also extends to the gods themselves. The gods are supposed to be visiting the mortals during these festivals are put forth for the journey to their heavenly abode by drowning them in water by Hindus. This is so that they can come back the next year.

Water in the religion of Hinduism has mostly symbolic properties as a purifier but its inner meaning is based in scientific truth. Water indeed is the source of life on our planet so it is the harbinger of regeneration.