Water: The Second of 8 Vasus

Water: The Second of 8 Vasus

, 10 मिनट पढ़ने का समय

Water: The Second of 8 Vasus

Varun Dev, the God of Water and rains is the part of 8 Vasus and is the God who brings hydration on Earth so that the flors and fauna are living here with peace and ease.

Water: The Second of 8 Vasus

Water, the very essence of life has always been more than just a physical element. It breathes, moves and nurtures everything it touches. In ancient Indian thought, water is not simply seen as a natural resource but as a living, divine presence that connects the physical and spiritual worlds. Among the Ashta Vasus, the eight elemental deities said to uphold the universe, water holds the place of the second Vasu, representing purity, adaptability and renewal. 

The ancients understood something we often forget today that water is both gentle and powerful, capable of giving life and taking it away. It mirrors our own human nature as calm one moment, stormy the next, yet always essential. To call water a Vasu is to recognize it as sacred energy not just a substance we consume but a living force that sustains, heals and reminds us of our shared existence with every drop that flows.


Why is water revered as the second Vasu?

Water is revered as the second Vasu because it represents the very foundation of life and continuity in both the physical and spiritual realms. In ancient Indian philosophy, every Vasu symbolizes a vital element that sustains creation, and water, known as Apah, stands for nourishment, purity and renewal. It is believed to hold the power to cleanse not only the body but also the soul such as washing away negativity, ego and sin. The Vedas describe water as a divine mother, the nurturer of all beings, without whom no life can flourish. 

Just as fire represents energy and transformation, water represents calmness and sustenance. It flows freely yet with purpose, teaching humankind the value of adaptability and patience. In this sense, water as the second Vasu holds a sacred balance as it gives life selflessly and maintains harmony within creation, embodying both strength and serenity.

Moreover, water’s reverence as a Vasu lies in its spiritual symbolism as a connector between the human and the divine. In mythology, deities like Varuna, the god of the cosmic waters and Ganga, the river goddess, personify the sanctity and grace of this element. Water is not static as it moves, transforms and purifies, much like the spiritual journey of a soul seeking liberation. 

From the ritual sprinkling of holy water to the immersion of idols in rivers, every act of devotion in Indian tradition acknowledges water’s divine role. It serves as a constant reminder that purity and humility lead to inner strength. The ancients saw water not just as a resource but as a living presence that mirrors the divine rhythm of the universe as gentle, powerful and eternal.

 

Why are Vasus considered as the Earth’s divine support system?

The Vasus are often described in ancient Hindu philosophy as the Earth’s divine support system because they embody the fundamental forces that make life possible and sustain the natural balance of the universe. Each of the eight Vasus such as  Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Sky, Sun, Moon and Stars represents a vital element or cosmic energy without which existence would crumble. Just as the organs of a human body work together to keep it alive, the Vasus operate in harmony to maintain the rhythm of creation. 

Fire gives warmth and energy, water nourishes life, air breathes vitality into all beings, and the earth provides a stable foundation. These aren’t just physical elements but divine principles as reminders that nature is not separate from the divine but a living expression of it. The ancients viewed the Vasus as guardians of nature’s law, ensuring that the cycle of birth, growth, decay and renewal continues smoothly across all realms of existence.

In a deeper sense, the Vasus symbolizes the interconnectedness between human life and the environment. Their presence teaches that everything on Earth is bound by an invisible thread of balance as if one force is disturbed, the entire system suffers. This belief encouraged respect for natural elements, inspiring people to treat rivers, forests and mountains as sacred beings rather than mere resources. 

The Vasus were thus seen not as distant deities but as living energies dwelling in every drop of rain, every gust of wind and every ray of sunlight. They remind humanity that survival depends on harmony with nature, not dominance over it. In this way, calling the Vasus the Earth’s divine support system isn’t poetic exaggeration as it’s a timeless truth about the spiritual and ecological order that sustains all life on this planet.

 

Why is the “Apah”?

The word “Apah” comes from ancient Sanskrit and literally means water, not just the physical liquid we drink but the essence of all flowing, life-giving energy in the universe. In the Vedic tradition, Apah is revered as one of the Ashta Vasus, the eight divine forces that form the building blocks of creation. But to truly understand why it is called Apah, we must look beyond its physical form. Water is the first element that responds to energy as it moves, nourishes and sustains life wherever it flows. 

It connects the heavens to the earth through rain, fills the rivers that feed our lands and nourishes the very roots of our existence. The ancients saw in it not just a natural element but a living, breathing deity that symbolizes purity, adaptability and renewal. Calling it Apah was a way of recognizing its sacred, boundless nature as a force that cannot be owned but only respected and preserved.

At a deeper level, Apah represents the emotional and spiritual current that runs through all living beings. Just as water takes the shape of the vessel it is poured into, our minds and hearts are shaped by the experiences and emotions that flow through them. The sages believed that when our inner Apah, our emotional energy is pure and calm, our thoughts become clear and harmonious. This is why water is used in almost every sacred ritual in India as it stands for cleansing the inner self, not just the outer body. The idea of Apah teaches us to remain flexible, to flow around obstacles instead of fighting them and to stay grounded in humility no matter how far we travel. 

 

What are the many roles of the divine water?

Water, in its divine form, plays countless roles that go far beyond its physical presence. In ancient Indian philosophy, water is not just a resource but a living, breathing force of creation as the essence that sustains every form of life. It is seen as both nurturer and purifier. As the nurturer, it nourishes the earth, quenches thirst and allows seeds to grow into crops that feed entire civilizations. As the purifier, it washes away impurities, both visible and invisible, symbolizing renewal and rebirth. 

Every drop of water carries the memory of balance and compassion as it flows freely, adapts to every vessel it enters and yet holds the power to carve mountains and shape landscapes. This dual nature as gentle yet powerful makes water a perfect mirror of the divine balance that governs the universe.

Spiritually, the roles of divine water extend deep into the realm of human consciousness. It is considered sacred in almost every culture because it connects the physical world with the spiritual one. In Hindu traditions, holy rivers like the Ganga are believed to carry divine energy that can cleanse the soul and wash away sins, guiding one closer to spiritual liberation. 

Rituals involving water from the simple act of sprinkling it before prayers to immersing idols during festivals represent the constant cycle of life, death and renewal. Even in daily life, when we drink water, bathe or stand in the rain, we unknowingly engage with this divine element, absorbing its lessons of humility, adaptability and flow. Thus, the many roles of water remind humanity that divinity is not distant as it flows quietly around and within us, sustaining both the body and the spirit.

 

What are the divine learnings of Apah?

The divine essence of Apah or water, teaches humanity lessons that go far beyond its physical presence. At its core, Apah embodies purity, adaptability and balance as qualities that are as essential in human life as they are in nature. Just as water purifies everything it touches, it reminds us of the importance of cleansing our thoughts and emotions, freeing ourselves from negativity and pride. 

Water does not resist as it flows around obstacles, finding new paths with patience and calm. This gentle strength of Apah teaches us to be flexible in life to adapt to change instead of fighting against it. In every drop of water lies a message of humility, showing us that greatness does not come from dominance but from the quiet power to nurture and sustain others selflessly.

Another profound learning from Apah is its representation of unity and compassion. All rivers, though separate in their origins, ultimately merge into the ocean symbolizing how all beings, despite their differences, are bound to the same universal source. This teaches us empathy and interconnectedness, reminding us that harmony in society comes from embracing diversity with understanding. 

Moreover, water gives without expectation as it nourishes plants, quenches thirst and cools the earth, expecting nothing in return. In this silent generosity lies a divine call to serve others with kindness and sincerity. The spiritual wisdom of Apah is, therefore, a reflection of how life should be lived as pure in intent, fluid in action and compassionate in heart.

The ancient seers did not worship water as a distant god in a far-off heaven; they recognized the divine as the very essence of what sustains us here and now. In naming Apah the Second Vasu, they placed a sacred responsibility upon us to see the cosmos in a dewdrop, to hear the echo of creation in a flowing stream and to treat every sip not as a mere act of consumption but as a communion with the liquid soul of the universe. The true wisdom lies not in merely knowing this, but in living it by letting reverence for this sacred, flowing life force guide our hands, our policies and our hearts, ensuring its purity and abundance for all generations to come.

 

Written by: Nikita, Article and Content Writer, Editor, Strategist at Rudraksha Hub

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