How Water Flows Through Indian Music

Water is a precious element in our lives, seen in rivers, rain, rituals, and stories. It’s no surprise then that water has a special place in Indian music. Just like in life, water in music plays multiple roles – it nurtures, saves, destroys, and brings people together. Across various Indian musical traditions, water has influenced our emotions, memories, and imaginations. Interestingly, this connection to water goes back to poetry as well.

The Poetic Touch of Water

Around 2,000 years ago, a Sangam poet crafted a beautiful Tamil love poem that captured the essence of love through the metaphor of water. The poem, “Yayum Gnayum Yaaragiyaro,” concludes with the line “sembulap peyal neer pola anbudai nenjam thaam kalandhanave.” This means that in love, our hearts unite like the red earth mingling with the pouring rain. Such poetic imagery shows how water is not just a resource but also a sacred and elemental part of life.

In daily rituals, water serves an important purpose for purification, blessings, and renewal. Therefore, it’s quite natural to find many Indian songs treating rivers as sacred and pivotal to life. The water becomes more than just a metaphor in the Bhakti tradition. Renowned Bhakti poets didn’t just celebrate water but also used it to reflect on deeper issues like ethics, humility, and spiritual longing.

Wise Words of Kabir and Basavanna

The mystic Kabir expressed profound philosophical lessons through water. In one of his famous dohas, “Unche Paani na Tike, Neeche hi Thaharay,” he illustrates a valuable lesson about humility. Just like water settles at low ground, wisdom and grace dwell in those who remain humble. For Kabir, water symbolizes the importance of humility over arrogance – a reminder that true wisdom comes from understanding, not pride.

Similarly, Basavanna, a philosopher-poet and social reformer, also used water to challenge shallow rituals. In his vachana “Neer Kandalli,” he questions the blind veneration of objects. He reminds us that even trees and water can dry up, using water as a metaphor to push us toward inner awareness rather than outward practices.

Water in Everyday Life

In folk traditions, water reflects the daily rhythm of life. Each region has its own unique water songs. For instance, in Bengal and Assam, one finds river songs, while Rajasthan boasts monsoon songs. In Maharashtra, boat and fishing songs capture community life. One well-known Marathi Koli song, “Mi Dolkar,” includes the lively chorus, “Valhav re nakhava ho valhav re rama.” This chant sounds just like the rhythm used for rowing, reflecting the community’s pride.

Yet, in some places, water serves as a stark reminder of scarcity. The Rajasthani panihari songs express the struggles and hopes associated with finding water in desert areas, often weaving in tales of love and longing amidst hardship.

From folk songs addressing scarcity, water takes on a different role in classical music, symbolizing melody and renewal. The renowned Carnatic composer Muthuswamy Dikshithar visited a drought-hit village called Ettayapuram and prayed to the local goddess. He sang “Varshaya Varshaya Varshaya” from his composition Anandamritavarshini, and legend has it that rain followed. Though this may seem like folklore, the raga Amritavarshini has since been associated with rain, with musicians often performing it during dry spells. Similarly, Hindustani music features the Malhar family of ragas, which evoke the beauty of rain.

Just a couple of centuries ago, the famous Carnatic composer Tyagaraja celebrated the Kaveri river in his song “Sari Vedalina,” emphasizing how it shared its waters and enriched everyone on its path. Such compositions showcase a longstanding tradition of honoring water’s generosity.

A Changing Perspective on Water

As our world evolves, the relationship we share with water has grown more fragile. Changes in the environment have shifted the meanings we attach to water. The abundance once celebrated in many songs can no longer be taken for granted.

Artists like Bhupen Hazarika have responded to these changes dramatically. In his poignant song “O Ganga Behti Kyun Hai?”, he inquiries why the river Ganga remains silent amid the moral decay of society, making the river both a witness and a judge.

Water’s emotional depth extends far beyond classical and spiritual contexts. It often plays a key role in film songs, setting the tone and mood in many memorable scenes. Monsoon rains, for example, have become a favorite backdrop in Bollywood. Classic songs like “Rim Jhim Gire Saawan” or “Tip Tip Barsa Pani” evoke nostalgia and romance, showcasing the beautiful bond between water and human emotion.

Across classical, folk, devotional, and cinematic music, water is much more than just an image. It shapes how various communities understand their world. In this time of ecological challenges, revisiting these songs offers more than nostalgia; they remind us of the deep connection we have with water and each other.

As we move forward, let’s remember the teachings of past generations about valuing and respecting this precious resource. Water is not just a song; it is life.

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