DRAVADRAVRA
VIJNAJVITA
(Knowledge
of liquid
materials)
We shall now
expound the
chapter,
Dravadravya
vijnaniya—knowledge
of liquid
materials;
thus said
Atreya and
other
great sages.
Toya
varga—(group
of waters)
Gañgãmbu—(
rain water)
:—
Enlivening,
satiating,
comforting
(healthy) to
the heart
(mind),
refreshing,
stimulating
the
intellect,
thin, of
imperceptible
tastes,
slightly
sweet, cold
(coolant),
easily
1igestable
nectorike in
property/effect,
are the
properties
of gangambu
(rain water)
which has
fallen from
the sky,
coming in
contact with
sunlight,
moonlight
and wind,
Its good or
bad, depends
chiefly on
the region
and season.
The
properties
described
above are
those of
rain water
collected in
a clean
vessel
directly, a
little while
after the
commencement
of rain,
especially
so when
there is
bright
sunlight. It
should be
consumed
within a few
hours as it
loses its
properties
by storing.
It is not
good in all
seasons. In
olden days
rain water
used to be
pure and so
good for
health, but
not so
now-a-days.
With the
increasing
industrialisation,
the
atmosphere
has become
contaminated
with
poisonous
gases, fumes
and dust, so
the rain
Water coming
down form
the clouds
gets
polluted to
a great
extent,
because of
this only we
hear of sour
rain, salty
rain,
crimson rain
etc.
frequently.
Use of such
polluted
rain water
for drinking
is not good
for health.
Rain water which makes the boiled
rice kept in
a clean
silver plate
neither too
moist nor
change its
colour is to
to cousiderd
as good fir
drinking,
Sãmurathbu—(seawater)
: 31T II ‘4
ii
water are
called
saiudra (a
water), they
should not
be used for
drinking
except
(during
(Septerxiber’October/autum
season).
The terms
gangambu
(also called
saindrämbu)
and
sãmudrãmbu
also denote
potable
water and
unpotable
(contaminated,
unsuited or
drinking)
respectively.
During
ãsvayuja
month there
will be the
appearance
of Agastya
naksatra
(the star
canopus)
which is
said to
remove the
poisonous
properties
of water and
other things
of the
earth, hence
permission
to use other
kinds of
water also
for drinking
during this
season.
Rain water,
collected in
a good
vessel and
which has
not become
changed (in
colour
taste, touch
etc.),
should be
used for
drinking
always. In
its absence,
the water of
the earth,
which
resembles
rainwater
(in all its
qualities)
collected
from places
which are
clean, and
vast, having
black or
white soil,
and exposed
to sunlight
and breeze.
contaminated
water :—
The water which is dirty, being mixed with slush, algae,
weeds and
leaves,
which is not
exposed to
sunlight and
wind, which
is a mixture
of old and
fresh, which
is thick,
heavy (not
easily
digestible),
frothy,
containing
worms, hot
(by nature),
causes
tingling of
teeth by
being very
cold, that
rain.
water which
is unseafowl
or though
seasonal
that of the
first rain,
(before the
appetence of
Agstya
nakastra),
that
contaminated
with the
webs,
saliva,
urine,
faeces of
spider etc.,
and such
other
poisonous
materials,
should not
be used for
drinking.
