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Being a masculine river (Nada), the Brahmaputra literally means ‘Son of Brahma’, one of the Hindu Holy Trinity. Even though the river was first called Lauhitya; the name, as we know it, finds first mention around the 10th century in the Kalika Purana. But, the very first narration was in the Srishti Khanda of the fifth book of the Padma Purana.
Kalika Purana narrates how Lord Bramha was impressed by the piety of a couple, Shantanu and Amogha. He deemed that Amogha had all the requisites to bring forth His own son, whom He wanted humanity to benefit from. Shantanu placed Lord Brahma’s son in the midst of four mountains, from where the boy assumed the form of the river Brahmaputra.
We could read in the Padma Purana that Lake Brahmakunda was the original source of the Brahmaputra. Lord Parasurama had axed His own mother to death, upon orders from His father. The axe got stuck to His hand and He set forth on a pilgrimage, ultimately reaching the lake, where He cut a channel for the rising waters to flow down. From the Brahmakunda, waters entered Lake Lohita in the Kailash valley. The river, thus, got the ancient name Lauhitya.
The powerful Brahmaputra is considered the backbone of Assam and has been at the core of Assamese folklore. Perhaps, the most abiding symbols of Hindu-Muslim synthesis are the zikirs composed by Sufi Saint, Azan Fakir in the 17th century. Many of his compositions use Hindu imagery when they refer to the harp of Kailasa or to Sankar Deva and Madhava Deva.
When it comes to Assamese literature, we can’t ignore the inspired works of Bhupen Hazarika. A line from his song Mahabahu Brahmaputra is a fitting tribute to the great river.
O great Brahmaputra!
You are the pilgrimage of the great harmony,
For ages you have been expressing
The meaning of harmony.
Contribution - Suresh yesuthasen
(Team - The Indian Me)
Being a masculine river (Nada), the Brahmaputra literally means ‘Son of Brahma’, one of the Hindu Holy Trinity. Even though the river was first called Lauhitya; the name, as we know it, finds first mention around the 10th century in the Kalika Purana. But, the very first narration was in the Srishti Khanda of the fifth book of the Padma Purana.
Kalika Purana narrates how Lord Bramha was impressed by the piety of a couple, Shantanu and Amogha. He deemed that Amogha had all the requisites to bring forth His own son, whom He wanted humanity to benefit from. Shantanu placed Lord Brahma’s son in the midst of four mountains, from where the boy assumed the form of the river Brahmaputra.
We could read in the Padma Purana that Lake Brahmakunda was the original source of the Brahmaputra. Lord Parasurama had axed His own mother to death, upon orders from His father. The axe got stuck to His hand and He set forth on a pilgrimage, ultimately reaching the lake, where He cut a channel for the rising waters to flow down. From the Brahmakunda, waters entered Lake Lohita in the Kailash valley. The river, thus, got the ancient name Lauhitya.
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| Photographed by Vikramjit Kakati. Source: Wikimedia Commons. |
When it comes to Assamese literature, we can’t ignore the inspired works of Bhupen Hazarika. A line from his song Mahabahu Brahmaputra is a fitting tribute to the great river.
O great Brahmaputra!
You are the pilgrimage of the great harmony,
For ages you have been expressing
The meaning of harmony.
Contribution - Suresh yesuthasen
(Team - The Indian Me)
