Why Only These Two Rivers in India are Considered 'Male'
Why Only These Two Rivers in india are Considered 'Male'
In india, rivers are predominantly viewed as feminine, revered as nurturing mothers—like the ganga, Yamuna, and Narmada. However, two rivers stand out as masculine: the Brahmaputra and the Son, both mentioned in the Vedas.
The Son River, also known as Sonbhadra Shila, is the largest southern tributary of the ganga after the Yamuna. Originating near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, it flows east of the Narmada's source in the Vindhya hills and traverses Uttar Pradesh and jharkhand before merging with the ganga in patna, Bihar. While it typically has low water levels, it becomes quite fierce during the monsoon.
Ravi Prakash Chaubey, founder of the Gupta Kashi Seva Trust, notes that the Son originates from the Vindhya mountains and is mentioned in texts like the Agneya Purana and the works of Goswami Tulsidas in the ram Charit Manas. It is regarded as the son of Lord Brahma and is said to be destined to marry the Narmada. The river's name is derived from the yellow sand that resembles gold, which is valuable for construction and widely used in regions like bihar and Shahdol. Some believe its original name was "Sohan," which evolved into "Son."
The Son River is celebrated in various puranas and the Ramayana, flowing for approximately 350 miles before joining the Ganga. Its water is known for being sweet and pure.
Moreover, the river has inspired many poets across Persian, Urdu, and hindi literature. A canal, stretching 296 miles, has been created by damming at Dihri-on-Sone, irrigating around seven lakh acres in the Shahabad, Gaya, and patna districts.
In india, rivers are predominantly viewed as feminine, revered as nurturing mothers—like the ganga, Yamuna, and Narmada. However, two rivers stand out as masculine: the Brahmaputra and the Son, both mentioned in the Vedas.
The Son River, also known as Sonbhadra Shila, is the largest southern tributary of the ganga after the Yamuna. Originating near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, it flows east of the Narmada's source in the Vindhya hills and traverses Uttar Pradesh and jharkhand before merging with the ganga in patna, Bihar. While it typically has low water levels, it becomes quite fierce during the monsoon.
Ravi Prakash Chaubey, founder of the Gupta Kashi Seva Trust, notes that the Son originates from the Vindhya mountains and is mentioned in texts like the Agneya Purana and the works of Goswami Tulsidas in the ram Charit Manas. It is regarded as the son of Lord Brahma and is said to be destined to marry the Narmada. The river's name is derived from the yellow sand that resembles gold, which is valuable for construction and widely used in regions like bihar and Shahdol. Some believe its original name was "Sohan," which evolved into "Son."
The Son River is celebrated in various puranas and the Ramayana, flowing for approximately 350 miles before joining the Ganga. Its water is known for being sweet and pure.
Moreover, the river has inspired many poets across Persian, Urdu, and hindi literature. A canal, stretching 296 miles, has been created by damming at Dihri-on-Sone, irrigating around seven lakh acres in the Shahabad, Gaya, and patna districts.