In India rivers are venerated as mothers. And are given the status of ‘Jagat Mata’ or world mother, the same status given to cows. The tale of river Payoshani explains how the symbolism of the river gets equated to that of the cow.

King Gaya was known for his generosity and hospitality towards all, and especially towards ascetic Brahmanas. But Gaya’s charity and larger than life presence considerably diminished the power of the Brahmana’s asceticism.The Brahmanas became very unhappy, but they could neither curse Gaya nor bring down the power and influence he had acquired through charity. So the Brahmanas decided to force Gaya to commit a breach of hospitality in order to reduce his influence.

One day during the very hot days of summer, when the land is parched, and grass is dry, and cows yield less milk, the Brahmanas began arriving in large numbers at Gaya’s palace. Soon the numbers amounted to seventy million. They gathered around Gaya’s palace, demanding cow’s milk to be served as lunch.

Worried Gaya began searching for milk all across the universe. But even Indra’s Kamadhenu ( Wish-fulfilling cow) could not meet the demand of providing milk to so many ascetics, nor could Vishnu’s milky ocean hold that much milk. Finally Gaya approached Shiva who offered him the moon’s daughter, the crescent of the moon that rests on Shiva’s head. She assumed the form of a beautiful maiden and followed Gaya to his palace. She then served each and every one of the seventy million ascetics cupfuls of warm milk, refilling every now and then whenever the ascetics would demand for more.

Ascetics did not want to give up so easily. So they kept on drinking milk till their mouths could not swallow and their stomachs were bloated. Out of desperation they poked holes in the bottom of the leaf cup that was used to serve milk to them. But the cups kept on refilling with milk and started overflowing and began flooding the earth. Unable to hold the milk in their stomach, ascetics started vomiting milk through their nose and mouth.They became intrigued by the beautiful maiden who had the magical ability of producing milk in abundance, and began pursuing her. Soon the moon’s daughter reached the earth and immediately began flowing across the land as river Payoshani ( ushna paya= warm milk)

Story collected by : Vidya Kamat
Source: Payoshani Mahatmya ; Water and womanhood by Anne Feldhause
Location: Maharashtra
Image copyright: Vidya Kamat.