When and why did River/Devi Saraswati disappear from the world?

Like the rivers Ganga and Yamuna, the ancient scriptures of India clearly mention of existence of another sacred River Saraswati in India. However, unlike Ganga and Yamuna, river Saraswati and even its remains are untraceable in contemporary times.

This blog will explain the deep seated meaning of this disappearance through the medium of a Puranic story when Lord Brahma assertively asked Devi Saraswati to keep her opinions to herself when a friendly match of might was going on between an Asura and Indra and Devi Saraswati stated the truth that the Asura was stronger than Indra and will defeat the latter. This pushed Devi Saraswati to go into her cocoon as she was snubbed for speaking the truth which resulted in loss of real knowledge (Saraswati from the world) and rise of ignorance (wrong knowledge) and sins in the world. The story talks of a kingdom where a knowledgeable Brahmin who was a priest of the king of that kingdom was dethroned by another Brahmin called Gyanmurti whose aim was to avenge the death of his daughter because of the king. Here Gyanmurti, who earlier used to be a highly knowledgeable person subsequently disillusioned by mis-knowledge due to loss of Saraswati, himself became the priest of the king by defeating the earlier priest in a battle of knowledge (called Shastrarth in Sanskrit/Hindi). The king being indulged in alcohol and women due to loss of Saraswati, was pleased by sycophancy of Gyanmurti who misguides the king by putting revenue on educating the children of that kingdom.

To undo this, Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati appear in the kingdom disguised as a Brahmin couple and start teaching the public free of cost. They also provide strength and understanding to the public to stand against the wrongs of the king and his army. In the end Lord Shiva (disguised as Brahmin) defeats Gyanmurti in a Shastrarth as a result of which Gyanmurti is told by the king to take Jalsamadhi (sitting in a meditative pose in water body which ultimately means death of the physical body). However, Shiva prevents Gyanmurti to do so and makes him realize his deeds and reminds him of his past when he was a good and knowledgeable man. When Gyanmurti decides to renunciate the world after realizing his mistakes then Lord Shiva tells Gyanmurti to spread knowledge and righteousness. Thus, the story ends with the reinstatement of Devi Saraswati in the world with the king too repenting on his deeds and handing over the reins to a deserving person.

At world’s level, this story represents circumstances when people high on ego snub/ridicule/suppress those who wish to express their views/opinions/inventions/discoveries thereby retarding the evolution of this world pushing it back towards Kalyuga. This is because such acts suppress the progression of ideas/knowledge i.e. Saraswati. Interestingly, Veena- the guitar type instrument of Devi Sarasvati represents the progression and relay of knowledge as knowledge is melodious for the body and mind just like the music coming from Veena. At individual level, this represents when our own inflated ego fueled by material desires, suppresses our own knowledge/creativity/inventive mind thereby taking us towards Kalyuga when Saraswati goes missing for the individual conscience bringing in diseases, chaos, sufferings and so on. Ultimately these sufferings slow us down (at individual as well as collective level) thereby invoking Saturn and thus Shiva inside us to help us realize what went wrong with us to finally resurge Saraswati and move back to Satyuga. It goes without saying that Sattvic food and lifestyle plays a huge role in this resurgence while Rajasic food creates ego and suppresses our inherent knowledge (Saraswati).

Finally, those who understand the depth of the Vedic statement “Yat Pinde Tat Brahmande”- (As is microcosm so is macrocosm and vice versa) will understand that disappearance of Saraswati from the map of the world was because of disappearance of real knowledge from the world as a result of people with misinformation/incomplete information snubbing/ridiculing/dominating those who wanted to spread real knowledge.

*** Brahmvakya (Vakya means sentence)- Above story also emphasizes on the fact that a word spoken even without wrong intentions can have serous ramifications as done by lord Brahma to Devi Saraswati. This is why we all must be very careful with what we speak. This is especially true when we speak loudly/with assertiveness.

Dear Reader, This blog is an excerpt from the Volume ONE and TWO of the book, THE ROOT CAUSE- Ayurveda, Astrology and Beyond for a blissful life”. For detailed understanding of Ayurveda and other Vedic sciences like Yogasana, Pranayama, Astrology, Ashtang Yoga and the deep seated meanings of Puranas including the spiritual world, you may please use the under-mentioned links to pick your copy. I would also request the readers that reading Volume one is essential to understand the higher concepts of Volume two. So those who have very old version of first book should ideally pick up the latest version i.e. Volume one before proceeding for volume two.

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