# Samudra > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Samudra > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Samudra.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samudra > Source revision: 1343103455 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Sankrit word meaning "ocean"}} {{For|the kingdom|Pasai}} {{redirect|Samudram|the films|Samudram (1977 film)|and|Samudram (1999 film)}} '''Samudra''' ([Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit): समुद्र; {{IAST3|samudrá}}) is a Sanskrit term literally meaning the "gathering together of waters" (''{{IAST|[saṃ](/source/sa%E1%B9%83)}}-'' "together" and ''-udra'' "water"). It refers to an [ocean](/source/ocean), [sea](/source/sea) or confluence.M.Mayrhofer EWA (1996) It also forms the name of '''Samudradeva''' ([Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit): समुद्रदेव; {{IAST3|samudrá-deva}}), the Hindu god of the ocean. The word is also present on other languages influenced by Sanskrit. == In the Rigveda == The term occurs 133 times in the [Rigveda](/source/Rigveda), referring to oceans (real, mythical or figurative) or large bodies of water as well as to large [Soma](/source/Soma_(drink)) vessels, e.g. RV 6.69.6 (trans. [Griffith](/source/Ralph_T._H._Griffith)): :''Strengthened with sacred offerings, Indra-Vishnu, first eaters, served with worship and oblation,'' :''Fed with the holy oil, vouchsafe us riches; ye are the lake ''samudra'', the vat that holds the Soma.'' The precise [semantic field](/source/semantic_field) of the Vedic word is difficult to establish, and has been much debated, in particular in relation to the question of whether the bearers of the Rigvedic culture had direct knowledge of the ocean. Apart from the question of direct acquaintance of the bearers of Vedic culture with the ocean in the modern sense of the word, it is generally accepted that their worldview had the world encircled by oceans, a feature likely inherited from [Proto-Indo-European mythology](/source/Proto-Indo-European_mythology), with a "heavenly ocean" above the world, and a subterranean ocean of the underworld. [Varuna](/source/Varuna) was the deity presiding over both these oceans, and over water in general. From the literal meaning of the term, "Any mass of water more than one drop could be ''sam-udra'': water in a jar, a small pool, a large lake, or the sea".*{{cite web | author=Kazanas, Nicholas | title=Rigvedic town and ocean: Witzel vs Frawley | year=2002 | url=http://www.omilosmeleton.gr/english/documents/RigVedicTownandOcean.pdf | access-date=2006-04-02 | archive-date=2007-04-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070413090356/http://www.omilosmeleton.gr/english/documents/RigVedicTownandOcean.pdf | url-status=dead }} And indeed there are symbolic identifications of small quantities of water with mythical oceans, for example in the famous hymn to [Varuna](/source/Varuna), emphasizing Varuna's omnipresence in every drop of water ([AVS](/source/Atharvaveda) 4.16.3 cd) :''{{IAST|utó samudrá váruṇasya kukṣī́ utā́smínn álpa udaké nílīnaḥ}}'' :"even the two oceans (''samudra'') are the thighs of Varuna; even in this minute drop of water (''udake'') he is hidden". The oldest Vedic commentators like the [Brihaddevata](/source/Brihaddevata) of [Shaunaka](/source/Shaunaka), Nighantu and the Nirukta of [Yaska](/source/Yaska) interpret the term Samudra as "ocean". The scholar G.V. Davane studied the occurrences of the term samudra in the ''Rigveda'' and concluded that the term means "terrestrial ocean".(Davane, G. V. 1982. ''An Analytical Study of ‘Samudra’ in the'' Rigveda.) The ''Rigveda'' also speaks of a western and eastern Samudra (10.136.5-6). And in RV 7.6.7 there is an upper and a lower Samudra, where the upper Samudra seems to be a heavenly ocean. The [Maruta](/source/Maruts)s "uplift from the ocean the [rain](/source/rain), and fraught with vaporous moisture pour the torrents down" in RV 5.55.5. In RV 9.84.4 the moon (Soma) and the winds stir the Samudra. Additionally, RV 1.48.3 may indicate knowledge of the high tide.[R. C. Majumdar](/source/R._C._Majumdar) and A. D. Pusalker (editors): [The History and Culture of the Indian People](/source/The_History_and_Culture_of_the_Indian_People). Volume I, The Vedic age. Bombay : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan 1951, p.248 In RV 1.116.4 the [Asvins](/source/Asvins) rescued Bhujyu by carrying him for three days and three nights to the sea's farther shore. Thus Samudra seems to refer to the ocean in this verse. There are many other verses in the Rig Veda which refer to this tale (e.g. RV 1.118.6; VI 62, 6; VII 69, 7; VIII 5, 22), and where consequently Samudra could be identified with the ocean as well.(Kazanas 2002) === Samudra and rivers === Samudra is usually translated as "ocean, sea" e.g. Griffith, MacDonnel, and Keith and the word itself means "gathering of waters". A minority of scholarse.g. Madhav Deshpande translate the term as "river". However, the Samudra is never said to flow in the ''[Rigveda](/source/Rig_Veda)'', but to receive all rivers.e.g. RV 6.36.3, 8.44.25 The ''Rigveda'' also describes the [Vedic Sarasvati River](/source/Vedic_Sarasvati_River) as a river that flows to the ''samudra''ne.g. [RV](/source/Rig_Veda) 2.41.16-18 and "is pure in her course from the mountains to the sea".[RV](/source/Rig_Veda) 7.95.2 ''Rigveda'' 1.71.7 describes the seven great rivers seeking the Samudra and in RV 7.33.8 it is written that all the rivers flow to the Samudra, but are unable to fill it. [RV](/source/Rig_Veda) 7.49 says that the Samudra is the eldest of the waters (''samudra jyestha''), and that the goal of the rivers is the Samudra. According to Bhargava (1964){{cite book |first=M.L. |last=Bhargava |year=1964 |title=The Geography of Rigvedic India |publisher=Lucknow |page=5}} "samudra" stands for a huge inland lake, of which there were four or seven in Rigvedic sources. He translates ''sagara'' as "ocean". In this view the "lowlands" of Kashmir and Kuruksetra were ''samudra'', but the sea in which the Ganga fell is a ''sagara''. Goddess Tirangini was Samudra's wife. Goddess Tirangini was goddess of Rivers. Goddess [Lakshmi](/source/Lakshmi) was Samudra's daughter. === Samudra and Vedic deities === The Vedic deity [Varuna](/source/Varuna) is the deity of the ocean (Samudra). The Vedic deity [Indra](/source/Indra) also occurs frequently in connection with the Samudra. The ''Rigveda'' narrates that Indra slew the [dragon](/source/dragon) which released the seven rivers and caused them to enter the ocean.(see Frawley 1991, 2001 for references to Rigvedic verses) Other gods that often tend to occur together with the Samudra are [Agni](/source/Agni) and [Soma](/source/Soma_(deity)). === Samudra and ships === Some scholars like B.R. Sharma hold that the Rigvedic people may have been shipbuilders engaging in maritime trade.B.R. Sharma. 1967. Vedic Aryans and Sea-voyage In ''Rigveda'' 1.25.7; 7.88.3 and other instances, Samudra is mentioned together with ships. In RV 7.89.4 the rishi Vasishta is thirsting in the midst of water. Other verses mention oceanic waves (RV 4.58.1,11; 7.88.3). Some words that are used for ships are Nau, Peru, Dhi and Druma. A ship with a hundred oars is mentioned in RV 1.116. There were also ships with three masts or with ten oars.B.B. Lal in Trautmann, T. The Aryan debate in India, 2005:151 RV 9.33.6 says: 'From every side, O Soma, for our profit, pour thou forth four seas filled with a thousand-fold riches." === Related terms === There are other Sanskrit terms in the ''Rigveda'' that appear to mean "Ocean" or have similar meanings. Among them are the terms Salila, Arnas, [Apas](/source/Ap_(water)), Purisha. The waves are called Urmi in the ''Rigveda'', and the lakes are called Saras, Kula, Hrada or Hlada. Another term, as mentioned above, is "Sagara" (सअगर), which likewise is also found in modern Indo-Aryan languages and languages influenced by Sanskrit as an alternative for "Samudra", some even having it more common to use than the latter term, including [Balinese](/source/Balinese_language), [Sundanese](/source/Sundanese_language), and [Javanese](/source/Javanese_language). == In the Yajurveda == === Samudra number === The term is mentioned in the mantra at the end of the ''annahoma'' ("food-oblation rite") performed during the [''aśvamedha''](/source/Ashvamedha), the grandest of the Vedic ritual rites of ancient India.{{Cite book |title=The Blackwell companion to Hinduism |date=2003 |publisher=Blackwell Pub |others=Gavin D. Flood |isbn=0-631-21535-2 |location=Malden, MA |oclc=49875064}} == Satapatha Brahmana == In SB 1.6.3.11 there is (as also in the Rigveda) a reference to an eastern and western Samudra. == See also == * [Brahmasamudram](/source/Brahmasamudram) * [Indian maritime history](/source/Indian_maritime_history) * [Meluhha](/source/Meluhha) * [Samudra Pasai](/source/Samudra_Pasai) * [Sapta Sindhu](/source/Sapta_Sindhu) * [Sarasvati River](/source/Sarasvati_River) *[Samut Prakan province](/source/Samut_Prakan_province), Thai province == Notes == {{reflist}} == Literature == * [Frawley, David](/source/David_Frawley). 1991. ''Gods, Sages, and Kings'', Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin {{ISBN|0-910261-37-7}} * Frawley, David: The Rig Veda and the History of India, 2001.(Aditya Prakashan), {{ISBN|81-7742-039-9}} * {{cite web | author=Frawley, David | title=Witzel's vanishing ocean - How to read Vedic texts any way you like | year=2002 | url=http://www.voi.org/indology/ReplytoWitzel.html | access-date=2005-09-23 | archive-date=2006-05-23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523210943/http://www.voi.org/indology/ReplytoWitzel.html | url-status=dead }} * Lal, B.B., 1997 The Earliest Civilization of South Asia Delhi, Aryan Books Intern. * {{cite web | author=Kazanas, Nicholas | title=Rigvedic town and ocean: Witzel vs Frawley | year=2002 | url=http://www.omilosmeleton.gr/english/documents/RigVedicTownandOcean.pdf | access-date=2006-04-02 | archive-date=2007-04-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070413090356/http://www.omilosmeleton.gr/english/documents/RigVedicTownandOcean.pdf | url-status=dead }} == External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060217035240/http://hindunet.org/saraswati/vedictrade.htm Saraswati] at hindunet.org {{Waters of South Asia}} Category:Places in Hindu mythology Category:Sanskrit words and phrases --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Samudra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samudra) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samudra?action=history)). 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