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Apas

Also called: Apah, The Waters

The Waters of the Rigveda, a company of goddesses always addressed in the plural, as mothers and young women. Four hymns are theirs (RV 7.47, 7.49, 10.9, 10.30). They come from heaven, are dug from the earth or flow free, and run to the sea; Indra dug their channels, Varuna walks among them watching men's truth and falsehood, Agni entered them and the Child of the Waters shines in them. They heal, give long life and carry away lies and wrongdoing. The Brahmanas say the Waters are the sacrifice. Later worship turns to named rivers, above all Ganga, while verses of RV 10.9 are still recited when water is sprinkled in daily prayer.

water healing purification motherhood

Sources: Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer; Vedic Mythology, A. A. Macdonell (1897); Rigveda Brahmanas: the Aitareya and Kausitaki Brahmanas, tr. A. B. Keith (1920) · see Apas's web

Relations 6

Apas parent of

Agni (God)
The Waters as mothers bring forth Agni (RV 10.91.6; Atharvaveda 1.33.1).
Apam Napat (God)
The Child of the Waters is their offspring, grown strong within them (RV 2.35).
Soma (God)
The Waters are called the mothers of Soma (RV 9.61.4) and also his sisters (RV 9.82.3).

Apas celebrated at

Pushkaram (Festival) · The hymns to the Waters
River worship at twelve rivers in a twelve-year cycle.

Apas consort of

Varuna (God)
The Waters are the wives of Varuna (Taittiriya Samhita 5.5.4.1).

Apas worshipped by

Vishvamitra (Sage) · Vishvamitra and the rivers Vipash and Shutudri
Praises the rivers and wins their favour.

Stories 5

Vac leaves the gods: the waters, the trees, the lioness
Legend · as the Waters, who bargain for purity · 3 tellings
The hymns to the Waters
Legend · as the Waters, goddesses and mothers · 5 tellings
Vishvamitra and the rivers Vipash and Shutudri
Legend · as the rivers as goddesses · 3 tellings
The Child of the Waters
Legend · as the young Waters who nurse him · 2 tellings
Kavasha Ailusha and the Sarasvati
Legend · as the Waters who well up after him · 2 tellings

Cited

Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 7.47 Primary text (translation)
Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 7.49 Primary text (translation)
Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 10.9 Primary text (translation)
Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 10.30 Primary text (translation)
Vedic Mythology, A. A. Macdonell (1897) § s32 Scholarly
Rigveda Brahmanas: the Aitareya and Kausitaki Brahmanas, tr. A. B. Keith (1920) § kb.12.1 Primary text (translation)