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==परिचयः ॥ Introduction==

==परिचयः ॥ Introduction==

[[File:Yamuna River Network.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Graphi - Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Delhiities towards the River Yamuna, Delhi: CMS Research House.|thumb|Yamuna River Network]]The word Yamuna means ‘that which rests (in the Ganga river after merging)’.<ref name=":5" /> Yamuna is the fifth-longest river of Bharat and the longest tributary of the River Ganga. It originates from Champasar (Yamunotri) Glacier at an elevation of 10,849 feet in the Kalinda mountain (hence the name Kalindi) near Banderpoonch peaks in the Har-Ki-Dun mountain range of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand.

[[File:Yamuna River Network.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Graphi - Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Delhiities towards the River Yamuna, Delhi: CMS Research House.|thumb|Yamuna River Network (Photo Courtesy: Graphi - Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Delhiities towards the River Yamuna, Delhi: CMS Research House)]]The word Yamuna means ‘that which rests (in the Ganga river after merging)’.<ref name=":5" /> Yamuna is the fifth-longest river of Bharat and the longest tributary of the River Ganga. It originates from Champasar (Yamunotri) Glacier at an elevation of 10,849 feet in the Kalinda mountain (hence the name Kalindi) near Banderpoonch peaks in the Har-Ki-Dun mountain range of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand.

The Yamuna rises from several hot-springs, and the spot for bathing is at the point where the cold and warm waters mingle and form a pool. The water of the springs is so hot that rice may be boiled in it. The quantity of water and the flow of the river are more or less constant throughout the year. Since the river often breaks into smaller streams which join it later, several small islands are formed in it.[[File:Journey of Yamuna.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Vinod Tare, Abhishek Gaur (2021), Yamuna River Basin Atlas, National Mission for Clean Ganga.|thumb|The Journey of River Yamuna]]After coursing through 1376 kilometres (854 miles) through upper hilly terrain, Yamuna enters into the plains from Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh and flows down up to Prayagaraj (the modern Allahabad) where her crystal clear waters join the yellowish Ganga and the invisible Sarasvati at the Triveni-sangam.

The Yamuna rises from several hot-springs, and the spot for bathing is at the point where the cold and warm waters mingle and form a pool. The water of the springs is so hot that rice may be boiled in it. The quantity of water and the flow of the river are more or less constant throughout the year. Since the river often breaks into smaller streams which join it later, several small islands are formed in it.[[File:Journey of Yamuna.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Vinod Tare, Abhishek Gaur (2021), Yamuna River Basin Atlas, National Mission for Clean Ganga.|thumb|The Journey of River Yamuna (Photo Courtesy: Vinod Tare, Abhishek Gaur (2021), Yamuna River Basin Atlas, National Mission for Clean Ganga)]]After coursing through 1376 kilometres (854 miles) through upper hilly terrain, Yamuna enters into the plains from Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh and flows down up to Prayagaraj (the modern Allahabad) where her crystal clear waters join the yellowish Ganga and the invisible Sarasvati at the Triveni-sangam.

It is a large basin that covers parts of the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and the entire NCT Delhi. The catchment area of Yamuna contributes 40% to the Ganga basin area and supports 15.27% of the population of Ganga basin<ref name=":5">Vinod Tare, Abhishek Gaur (2021), Yamuna River Basin Atlas, National Mission for Clean Ganga.</ref>.

It is a large basin that covers parts of the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and the entire NCT Delhi. The catchment area of Yamuna contributes 40% to the Ganga basin area and supports 15.27% of the population of Ganga basin<ref name=":5">Vinod Tare, Abhishek Gaur (2021), Yamuna River Basin Atlas, National Mission for Clean Ganga.</ref>.

==मूर्तिविवरणम् ॥ Iconography==

==मूर्तिविवरणम् ॥ Iconography==

[[File:Udayagiri.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Mousumi Deka (January 2024), Representations of River Goddesses in Indian Art with special reference to the Temple Art of Assam, ShodhKosh.|thumb|River Goddesses Ganga-Yamuna at Udayagiri Cave]]

[[File:Udayagiri.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Mousumi Deka (January 2024), Representations of River Goddesses in Indian Art with special reference to the Temple Art of Assam, ShodhKosh.|thumb|River Goddesses Ganga-Yamuna at Udayagiri Cave (Photo Courtesy: Mousumi Deka (January 2024), Representations of River Goddesses in Indian Art with special reference to the Temple Art of Assam, ShodhKosh)]]

Iconographic works describe Yamuna as black in colour, standing upon a black tortoise (Krishna kacchapa) and wearing a garland of blue lotuses. She has two arms, the hands showing the Varada and the Abhaya mudras (gestures of boon-giving and protection). She also carries a water pot in her hand, according to the Agni Purana:<blockquote>कूर्म्मगा यमुना कुम्भकरा श्यामा च पूज्यते ।

Iconographic works describe Yamuna as black in colour, standing upon a black tortoise (Krishna kacchapa) and wearing a garland of blue lotuses. She has two arms, the hands showing the Varada and the Abhaya mudras (gestures of boon-giving and protection). She also carries a water pot in her hand, according to the Agni Purana:<blockquote>कूर्म्मगा यमुना कुम्भकरा श्यामा च पूज्यते ।

सवीणस्तुम्बुरुः शुक्लः शूली मात्रग्रतो वृषे ॥ (Agni Purana 50.17)<ref>Nag Sharan Singh (2019), The Agni Mahapuranam, Delhi: Nag Publishers.</ref>

सवीणस्तुम्बुरुः शुक्लः शूली मात्रग्रतो वृषे ॥ (Agni Purana 50.17)<ref>Nag Sharan Singh (2019), The Agni Mahapuranam, Delhi: Nag Publishers.</ref>

kūrmmagā yamunā kumbhakarā śyāmā ca pūjyate । savīṇastumburuḥ śuklaḥ śūlī mātragrato vr̥ṣe ॥</blockquote>The images of Yamuna are associated with Varuna (the Lord of water), whose iconography is described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana. The images of Ganga and Yamuna are placed in the right and left side of the image of Varuna respectively. The image of Ganga should be placed on a crocodile and should hold chaamara i.e., bushy tail of yak. The image of Yamuna should be placed on a tortoise and also have chaamara in her hand.[[File:Ladkhan.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Myneni Krishna Kumari (2018), Iconography of Ganga and Yamuna, India: B R Publishing Corporation.|thumb|Yamuna with female attendants and Vidyadharas, Lad Khan temple]][[File:National Museum.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Myneni Krishna Kumari (2018), Iconography of Ganga and Yamuna, India: B R Publishing Corporation.|thumb|Yamuna from Ahichchatra, National Museum (Terracotta)|left|571x571px]]In Hinduism, the river Ganga and Yamuna are personified as female deities and the rivers as well as their icons are worshipped as one with the belief that they will purify the devotees by their mystic powers while one enters into the temples in this earthly world or the soul after death in the other world. The rich artistic tradition of positioning the figures of the river Goddesses at the entrance of the temples followed from the Gupta period onwards and this is fully explored through the sculptures found intact with the temples (like Udayagiri caves near Bhuvaneshwar in Orissa etc) and those preserved in the museum (like Patna Museum, Bihar etc). The changing roles of the river Goddesses, their association with the dvarapalas (door guardians) and the historical and regional influences in the development of their iconography is the narrative content of the relief sculptures.<ref>Myneni Krishna Kumari (2018), Iconography of Ganga and Yamuna, India: B R Publishing Corporation.</ref> According to the Archaeological Survey of India [https://asi.nic.in/pages/WorldHeritageElloraCaves], Ellora caves, locally known as ‘Verul Leni’ is located on the Aurangabad-Chalisgaon road at a distance of 30 km north-northwest of Aurangabad, the district headquarters. Ellora represents one of the largest rock-hewn monastic-temple complexes in the entire world. It is also world famous for the largest single monolithic excavation in the world, the great Kailasa (Cave 16).

kūrmmagā yamunā kumbhakarā śyāmā ca pūjyate । savīṇastumburuḥ śuklaḥ śūlī mātragrato vr̥ṣe ॥</blockquote>The images of Yamuna are associated with Varuna (the Lord of water), whose iconography is described in the Vishnudharmottara Purana. The images of Ganga and Yamuna are placed in the right and left side of the image of Varuna respectively. The image of Ganga should be placed on a crocodile and should hold chaamara i.e., bushy tail of yak. The image of Yamuna should be placed on a tortoise and also have chaamara in her hand.[[File:Ladkhan.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Myneni Krishna Kumari (2018), Iconography of Ganga and Yamuna, India: B R Publishing Corporation.|thumb|Yamuna with female attendants and Vidyadharas, Lad Khan temple (Photo Courtesy: Myneni Krishna Kumari (2018), Iconography of Ganga and Yamuna, India: B R Publishing Corporation)]][[File:National Museum.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Myneni Krishna Kumari (2018), Iconography of Ganga and Yamuna, India: B R Publishing Corporation.|thumb|Yamuna from Ahichchatra, National Museum (Terracotta) - (Photo Courtesy: Myneni Krishna Kumari (2018), Iconography of Ganga and Yamuna, India: B R Publishing Corporation)|left|571x571px]]In Hinduism, the river Ganga and Yamuna are personified as female deities and the rivers as well as their icons are worshipped as one with the belief that they will purify the devotees by their mystic powers while one enters into the temples in this earthly world or the soul after death in the other world. The rich artistic tradition of positioning the figures of the river Goddesses at the entrance of the temples followed from the Gupta period onwards and this is fully explored through the sculptures found intact with the temples (like Udayagiri caves near Bhuvaneshwar in Orissa etc) and those preserved in the museum (like Patna Museum, Bihar etc). The changing roles of the river Goddesses, their association with the dvarapalas (door guardians) and the historical and regional influences in the development of their iconography is the narrative content of the relief sculptures.<ref>Myneni Krishna Kumari (2018), Iconography of Ganga and Yamuna, India: B R Publishing Corporation.</ref> According to the Archaeological Survey of India [https://asi.nic.in/pages/WorldHeritageElloraCaves], Ellora caves, locally known as ‘Verul Leni’ is located on the Aurangabad-Chalisgaon road at a distance of 30 km north-northwest of Aurangabad, the district headquarters. Ellora represents one of the largest rock-hewn monastic-temple complexes in the entire world. It is also world famous for the largest single monolithic excavation in the world, the great Kailasa (Cave 16).

The basaltic formation of the Deccan is ideal for rock hewing, the technique widely understood during ancient times. This induced the religious followers of various creeds to establish their settlements in them. The caves are datable from circa 6th – 7th century A.D. to 11th – 12th century A.D. In total, there are nearly 100 caves in the hill range out of which 34 caves are famous and visited by many tourists, out of which Caves 1 to 12 are Buddhist; Caves 13 to 29 are Brahmanical and Caves 30 to 34 are Jaina caves.[[File:Yamunaji.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Prakriti Anand (August 2024), Yamuna: The Second Divine River, An Unparalleled Goddess, Delhi: Exotic India.|thumb|Shri Yamunaji|381x381px]]At Ellora cave no. 16 which is known as Kailasa cave, one shrine is dedicated to the river Goddesses Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati who stand on makara, tortoise and lotus respectively. Ganga stands for Purity, Yamuna for Devotion and Sarasvati for Knowledge. The Ellora cave no. 21 known as Ramesvara depicts beautiful sculptures of Ganga and Yamuna on their respective vehicles. Cave no 33 at Ellora is dedicated to Jainism, also displays the sculptural figures of Ganga and Yamuna.<ref>Mousumi Deka (January 2024), Representations of River Goddesses in Indian Art with special reference to the Temple Art of Assam, ShodhKosh.</ref>

The basaltic formation of the Deccan is ideal for rock hewing, the technique widely understood during ancient times. This induced the religious followers of various creeds to establish their settlements in them. The caves are datable from circa 6th – 7th century A.D. to 11th – 12th century A.D. In total, there are nearly 100 caves in the hill range out of which 34 caves are famous and visited by many tourists, out of which Caves 1 to 12 are Buddhist; Caves 13 to 29 are Brahmanical and Caves 30 to 34 are Jaina caves.[[File:Yamunaji.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Prakriti Anand (August 2024), Yamuna: The Second Divine River, An Unparalleled Goddess, Delhi: Exotic India.|thumb|Shri Yamunaji (Photo Courtesy: Prakriti Anand (August 2024), Yamuna: The Second Divine River, An Unparalleled Goddess, Delhi: Exotic India)|381x381px]]At Ellora cave no. 16 which is known as Kailasa cave, one shrine is dedicated to the river Goddesses Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati who stand on makara, tortoise and lotus respectively. Ganga stands for Purity, Yamuna for Devotion and Sarasvati for Knowledge. The Ellora cave no. 21 known as Ramesvara depicts beautiful sculptures of Ganga and Yamuna on their respective vehicles. Cave no 33 at Ellora is dedicated to Jainism, also displays the sculptural figures of Ganga and Yamuna.<ref>Mousumi Deka (January 2024), Representations of River Goddesses in Indian Art with special reference to the Temple Art of Assam, ShodhKosh.</ref>

In later depictions, especially in Rajput paintings that were inspired by devotional poetry and Puranas, Yamuna is shown as a mirror of Krishna’s beauty, blue-skinned and wearing ornaments and garments similar to Sri Hari, who is the river Goddess’ beloved Lord.<ref name=":3" />

In later depictions, especially in Rajput paintings that were inspired by devotional poetry and Puranas, Yamuna is shown as a mirror of Krishna’s beauty, blue-skinned and wearing ornaments and garments similar to Sri Hari, who is the river Goddess’ beloved Lord.<ref name=":3" />

[[File:Yamunotri.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Pravrajika Asaktaprana|thumb|Sri Yamuna ji at Sri Yamunotri|251x251px]]

[[File:Yamunotri.jpg|alt=Photo Courtesy: Pravrajika Asaktaprana|thumb|Sri Yamuna ji at Sri Yamunotri (Photo Courtesy: Pravrajika Asaktaprana)|251x251px]]

==भारतस्य ऐतिहासिक-भूगोलवर्णना ॥ Historical Geography of Ancient India==

==भारतस्य ऐतिहासिक-भूगोलवर्णना ॥ Historical Geography of Ancient India==

The ''Historical Geography of Ancient India'' by Bimala Churn Law<ref>Bimala Churn Law (1967), Historical Geography of Ancient India, France: Societe Asiatique De Paris.</ref> beautifully summarizes River Yamuna as: This river is mentioned in the Rigveda (X.75; V.52.17; VII.18.19; X.75.5), Atharvaveda (IV.9.10) and the Aitareya Brahmana (VIII.14.4). It is known as Kalinda-kanya because it rises from the Kalinda-giri (Raghuvamsha VI.48). According to the Rigveda (VII.18.19), the Tritsus and Sudas defeated their enemies on this river. The territory of the Tritsus lay between the Yamuna and the Sarasvati on the east and the west respectively.  

The ''Historical Geography of Ancient India'' by Bimala Churn Law<ref>Bimala Churn Law (1967), Historical Geography of Ancient India, France: Societe Asiatique De Paris.</ref> beautifully summarizes River Yamuna as: This river is mentioned in the Rigveda (X.75; V.52.17; VII.18.19; X.75.5), Atharvaveda (IV.9.10) and the Aitareya Brahmana (VIII.14.4). It is known as Kalinda-kanya because it rises from the Kalinda-giri (Raghuvamsha VI.48). According to the Rigveda (VII.18.19), the Tritsus and Sudas defeated their enemies on this river. The territory of the Tritsus lay between the Yamuna and the Sarasvati on the east and the west respectively.