India is a diverse country, same like its geography is incomplete without the Saptanadi or the seven main rivers that are not just water bodies but living deities, worshipped for their power to purify and liberate.
Ganga, Yamuna, Sindhu (Indus), Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri/Cauvery are the seven most sacred rivers in Hinduism. Let’s understand their importance in Hinduism in detail.
Worshipped as Goddess Ganga, the river flows from the Himalayas into the Bay of Bengal. As per beliefs, it was brought to Earth by King Bhagiratha. Bathing in its water is believed to cleanse all sins and grant Moksha (liberation).
It is the second largest river of India, known as a sister to the river Ganga. Yamuna has ties with Lord Krishna’s early life in Vrindavan, where he defeated the Kaaliya Naag. It is said that a dip in Yamuna’s waters can wash away negativity.
This river is shaped by one of the world’s oldest civilizations. The Indus River is mentioned as Sindhu in the Rig Veda, and it has been central in the Hindu scriptures. Its spiritual and historical value is deeply etched in the Hindu heritage, but its huge part lies in Pakistan nowadays.
Originating from Amarkantak, the Narmada River is believed to be holier than the Ganga River. Pilgrims perform Parikrama of Narmada, with a 2,600 km spiritual journey walking along its banks, and the holy dip in it yields the same bliss as it does in the Ganges.
The second-longest river of India, the Godavari, is also known as the Ganga of the South and is associated with sage Gautama. The Godavari Pushkaram is a festival celebrated every 12 years, attracting millions of devotees to take a holy dip in its waters.
Due to its historical connections with Lord Krishna, the Krishna River is revered in Hinduism. And people also link its spiritual connection with Krishna because of its dark soil. Its confluences and temples like Kanakadurgamma Temple, Sri Kanakadurgamma, Dattatreya Temple, Beechupally, etc, along the banks are centers of intense devotion and pilgrimage.
Worshipped as a goddess, Cauvery in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for its life-sustaining properties; the river sustains life and culture. The Kaveri Pushkaram is similar to the Ganges and Godavari, where devotees gather to celebrate its vibrational religious significance.