Waitarani

In Hindu mythology, the sacred Vaitarani River occupies a special sacred place, and is mentioned in many ancient Vedic traditions - the Mahabharata , Ramayana , Garuda Purana and others. So in the ancient myth of "The invasion of the Rakshasas into the kingdom of Pit, " which describes the invasion of the king of the demons-Rakshasas Ravana into the kingdom of the death god Yama, it is said:

There he saw the bloody Vaitarani river, in which, emitting mournful cries, the sinners swam, paying with flour for the evil deeds committed during their lifetime. On the banks of that river, other sinners immersed in the hot sand suffered terrible suffering. There grew trees with thorns and swords instead of leaves, and those thorns and swords pricked and slaughtered the bodies of sinners. The cruel servants of Yama tortured the unfortunate with fire and sharp spears, they were bitten by dogs and worms ate, and Ravana saw hundreds and thousands of doomed to suffer there, tormented by hunger and thirst, pale, emaciated, covered in mud and blood and screaming loudly from pain. But there, in the abode of the Pit, Ravana saw virtuous souls enjoying sweet music and singing in beautiful halls, the caresses of beautiful maidens and an abundance of rice, milk and all kinds of dishes ^[2] .

In the ancient tradition of Garuda Purana, the instructions of the god Vishnu to his Wahana Garuda are set forth. The chapter “Description of the Path of the Pit” (the path of the sinner to the kingdom of the death god Yama) describes the sacred river Vaitarani:

15-17. In the middle of the path, the terrifying Vaitarani River flows to the extreme, the sight of which causes a feeling of suffering, at the mere mention of it fear enters. It flows over a hundred yojanas - an impenetrable stream of pus and blood, with piles of bones on the banks, with dirt from flesh and blood. There is no ford through it, the banks are swampy, it is impassable for the sinner, as it is full of crocodiles and overflowing with hundreds of terrifying birds.

18-20. When the river sees that a sinner is approaching, it spews out flame and smoke, boils like oil in a pan, O Tarksya! It is covered over the entire surface with myriads of stinging insects, teeming with huge vultures and ravens with iron beaks, filled with porpoises, crocodiles, leeches, fish, turtles and other carnivorous marine animals.

24-26. Its entire surface is covered with scorpions and black snakes; for those who fall into it, there is no salvation. Hundreds of thousands of whirlpools carry the sinner to the bottom, where he remains for some time and then again floats up. O Bird, this river was created so that the sinner would fall into it. It is difficult to cross, it is the source of tremendous misfortunes that cannot be imagined.

- Garuda Purana

In brahmanism , and some other dharmic religions, there is a special rite performed by the brahman, after which the sinner finds salvation from the passage of the terrible Vaitarani River on the way to the kingdom of the death god Yama. The chapter “Description of the Gifts for the Dead” says:

85-86. Regardless of whether the body is healthy or sick, it is necessary to observe the Vaitarani rite. A wise person who wants to cross the river must donate a cow. This river, oh Bird, does not appear on the Great Way after giving a cow. Therefore, it is necessary to give the cow at all holy times.

- Garuda Purana

The Waitarani River is identified with the Styx River by the ancient Greeks, flowing into the abode of the death god Hades .

• Waitarani / S. D. Silver // Mythological Dictionary / Ch. ed. E. M. Meletinsky . - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1990. - P. 112. - ISBN 5-85270-032-0 .
• Temkin, E .; Ehrman, V. Myths of Ancient India. - M .: Science. The main edition of oriental literature, 1982. - 270 p.

• Mahabharata (The Great Legend of the Descendants of Bharata)
• Ramayana (Travel of Rama)
• “Garuda-Purana-Sarodhara” - Selected Etudes of Garuda-Purana (inaccessible link)