| 词条 | Vaitarna River (mythological) |
| 释义 |
Vaitarna or Vaitarani (Vaitaraṇî) river, as mentioned in the Garuda Purana and various other Hindu religious texts, lies between the earth and the infernal Naraka, the realm of Yama, Hindu god of death and is believed to purify one's sins. Furthermore, while the righteous see it filled with nectar-like water, the sinful see it filled with blood.[1][2] Sinful souls are supposed to cross this river after death. According to the Garuda Purana, this river falls on the path leading to the Southern Gate of the city of Yama. It is also mentioned that only the sinful souls come via the southern gate. However, other texts like the Harihareshwara Mahatmya in the Skanda Purana mention a physical river as well, that joins in the eastern ocean; he who bathes in it is supposed to forever be free from the torment of Yama. It first appears in the TirthaYatra Parva (Pilgrimage Episode) of the Mahabharat, where it is mentioned to be rising from the Vindhyas and falling into the Bay of Bengal after passing through Orissa as present Baitarani River. Apart from that it appears in Matsya Purana, and Vamana Purana, lastly it is the Padma Purana which reveals the etymology of Vaitarani in Vaitarani Mahatmya, where it is defined as Vai (truly) tarini (saving) and that related the legend wherein it was brought on to the earth from Patala, due to the penance of Parashurama resulting in a boon from Shiva.[3][4] It is equivalent to the Styx river in Greek mythology and is associated with the Vaitarani Vrata, observed on the eleventh day of the dark phase of the moon i.e., Krishna Paksha of Margashirsha in the Hindu calendar, wherein a cow is worshiped and donated, which is believed to take one across the dreaded river as mentioned in the Garuda Purana, verses 77-82.[5][6] Description of the riverThe river is very frightening. When seen, it inspires misery. It is a hundred yojanas in width and does not contain water. Instead, it is a river full of blood and pus, with a bank made of bone. For the sinful, it is impossible to cross the river. They are obstructed by hairy moss, crocodiles, flesh-eating birds, and a great many insects. When a sinner comes near the river, in an attempt to cross, it seethes and becomes overspread with smoke and flame. It is said that the sinful are hungry and thirsty, and so they drink, to fill their emptiness. For those that fall into Vaitarna, there is no rescue. The whirlpools take the fallen into a lower region. For a moment the sinner stays, until they rise to be washed again. The river was created for the sinful. It is nigh-impossible to cross, and the far bank cannot be seen. Ways to cross the riverThere are a few ways to cross this river. It is important to note that as mentioned in the description of the river, only those souls who have sinned have to cross this river. The souls with good deeds or good karma do not travel on the path through which the Vaitarna River flows.
Consequences of successfully crossing the riverAfter successfully crossing this river, the sinners reach the terrifying Southern Gate of the City of Yama. In this City the sinners along with the souls with good deeds are judged by the Lord of Justice (Yama or Yamaraja). The sinners are taken to hell and the better souls are taken to heaven. If a soul cannot cross the Vaitarna River then he cannot be taken to hell. He is stuck at its shore. Thus this prevents him from getting reborn on earth as human or animal. These souls are considered as the ghosts who have not passed on and are stuck. Mentions in scriptures
See also
Footnotes1. ^{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia of Puranic Beliefs and Practices (Volume 4)|last=Dange |first=Sadashiv Ambadas|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1989|publisher=Navrang|isbn=81-7013-056-5 |page=1210 |url= |ref= }} 2. ^{{cite book |title=Epic Mythology|last=Hopkins |first=E Washburn|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2008|publisher=READ BOOKS|isbn=1-4437-7716-1|page=110 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6betcw_DgAC&pg=PA110&dq=Vaitarani&cd=8#v=onepage&q=Vaitarani&f=false |ref= }} 3. ^{{cite book |title=Notes on the history and antiquities of Chaul and Bassein|last=Cunha |first=Joseph Gerson|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1993|publisher=Asian Educational Services|isbn=81-206-0845-3|page=123|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xOPlusO8qcAC&pg=PA123&dq=Vaitarani&cd=4#v=onepage&q=Vaitarani&f=false |ref= }} 4. ^{{cite book |title=Encyclopaedia of Hinduism, Volume 22|last=Singh|first=N.K.|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1997|publisher=Anmol Publications|isbn=81-7488-168-9|page=2651 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w3poxCaQhfkC&pg=PA2651&dq=Vaitarani&lr=&cd=20#v=onepage&q=Vaitarani&f=false |ref= }} 5. ^{{cite book |title=Fasts and festivals of India|last= Verma |first=Manish |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2000 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books |isbn=81-7182-076-X |page=68 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4gzFFLdBoYC&pg=PA68&dq=Vaitarani&cd=1#v=onepage&q=Vaitarani&f=false |ref= }} 6. ^Wood, p. 64 7. ^"Siddhabodh" by Gagangiri Maharaj. Published on 13 December 1998 by Gagangad publications 8. ^Mahabharat, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirta Yatra Parva: Section LXXXV p. 191. 9. ^Mahabharat, Shanti Parva: Part III. Section CCCII p. 2. 10. ^The Third Book, Chapter XV, On the battle between Yudhâjit and Vîrasena p. 178. References
3 : Locations in Hindu mythology|Mythological rivers|Death and Hinduism |
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