One of the five elements of nature, water, is fascinating in all its forms. Its flow, its texture, its constituents, its colourlessness, its worth, – all draw human attention. They are truly spellbinding. A running stream, with water gracefully touching the edges and retreating, is surely going to bring inner calmness. Water, a Symbol of Protection & Purification In various cultures people use water is considered sacred. It has been at the centre of spiritual symbolism and offering water has been an important ritual for thousands of years. It symbolizes the mystical dimension of protection, purification, healing, and redemption in life. In India, The River Ganges are an embodiment of Power or Shakti that bestows Pranic energy upon living beings. She is a symbol of life and also a revered place where people can wash away their spiritual impurities. In a parallel way, ancient Jewish tradition summons people on some occasions to cleanse their bodies by immersing in a ‘mikveh’ or ‘mikvah’ bath. And for Muslims, ablution with water is a mandatory preparation for daily prayer. Needless to say, Water means spiritual protection and purification. But what about its own purity & protection? The Invisibility of Clean Water While almost 70% of the Earth is made up of water, many parts of the globe suffer from an acute shortage of clean drinking water; they are invisible. In India, unfortunately, a majority of rivers are dirty and are sometimes covered with toxic foam leading to more water pollution. The invisibility of clean water affects hundreds of millions of people across our country. And, unfortunately, the worst sufferers of water crisis are mostly women. Is there any solution to such problems? How to make the invisible visible? Let’s Make ‘Water Preservation’ an Ethical & Spiritual Act Science helps people understand the function and properties of water in the natural surroundings. But ‘ethics’ can help people understand how to protect, preserve, and dispense water resources wisely. Let spirituality help everyone identify their core convictions about the value of water. The conviction has to be demonstrated in how they act for respecting and preserving the water resources. Dr Archika Didi
