Yamuna (यमुना)

The Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times over a course of twelve years. The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 was held at Prayagaraj in Uttar Pradesh at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati from 13 January 2025 to 26 February 2025. The article below is a wholesome attempt to trace the track of the holy River Yamuna from the pristine Vedas to the contemporary times.

परिचयः ॥ Introduction

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)’. 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.

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.

Delhi, the old part of the capital city, is situated on its banks. Vrindavan and Mathura, the famous places of pilgrimage because of their association with Krishna are also on its banks. There are three primary centers of Yamuna worship in Braj, namely, Vishram Ghat in Mathura, Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan and Thakurani Ghat in Gokul. Rajapur, the birthplace of Tulasidas (A. D. 1532- 1623) is also situated on its bank.

वेदेषु यमुना ॥ Yamuna in Vedas

Yamuna is one of the most sacred rivers of Bharat, next only to Ganga. Yamuna is mentioned in the Rigveda (10.75.5) along with nine other rivers.

इ॒मं मे॑ गंगे यमुने सरस्वति॒ शुतु॑द्रि॒ स्तोमं सचता॒ परु॒ष्ण्या । अ॒सि॒क्निया म॑रुद्वृधे वि॒तस्त॒यार्जी॑कीये शृणु॒ह्या सु॒षोम॑या ॥ (10.75.5) i̱maṁ me̍ gaṁge yamune sarasvati̱ śutudri̱ stomaṁ sacatā̱ paru̱ṣṇyā । a̱si̱kniyā marudvr̥dhe vi̱tastayārjī̍kīye śr̥ṇu̱hyā su̱ṣomayā ॥

Meaning: O Ganga, O Yamuna, O Sarasvati, O Sutudri, O Marudvrdha, O Arjikiya, come together and listen to this hymn of mine along with Parusni, Asikni, Vitasta and Susoma.

The Rishi (Seer) of this Rigvedic Sukta 10.75 is Sindhukshit Praiyamedha, Devata (Subject-matter) is Nadyah i.e. Rivers and Metre is Jagati. This mantra is an invocation of the Regents of various holy rivers in connection with purificatory rights. The Rishi entreats them to purify his body and mind and to vouchsafe him safety and welfare. We can identify Susoma with Sohan, Vitasta with Jhelum, Asikni with Chinab, Marudvrdha with Maruwardwan, Parusni with Rabi and Sutudri with Sutlej rivers.

King Sudasa, with the help of Tritsus, conquered the ten kings on the bank of the river Yamuna (Rgveda 7.18.19). The Rishi of this Sukta 7.18 is Maitravaruni Vasishtha, Devata is Indra and Metre is Trishtup. The mantra is –

आवदिन्द्रं यमुना तृत्सवश्च प्रात्र भेदं सर्वताता मुषायत् । अजासश्च शिग्रवो यक्षवश्च बलिं शीर्षाणि जभ्रुरश्व्यानि ॥ (7.18.19) āvadindraṁ yamunā tr̥tsavaśca prātra bhedaṁ sarvatātā muṣāyat । ajāsaśca śigravo yakṣavaśca baliṁ śīrṣāṇi jabhruraśvyāni ॥

Meaning: The dwellers on the Yamuna and the Tritsus glorified Indra when he killed Bheda in battle; the Ajas, the Shigrus, the Yakshas, offered him the heads of the horses (killed in the combat).

भारतीय-संस्कृत्यां यमुना ॥ Cultural Importance

मेला ॥ Mela

The annual Maghamela (bathing festival) and the Kumbhamela held once in twelve years during January-February on the banks of Yamuna, attract millions of devotees.

यमद्वितीया ॥ Yama-Dvitiya

Yamuna is called as Surya-tanaya because she was born from the chest of Surya (the Sun-god) in the womb of Sanjna Devi. Yama, the deity of death was her twin-brother, thus, they both are siblings and so, she is also called as Shamana-svasa. She is said to have invited her brother Yama to her house on the Kartika-shukla-dvitiya day (during the Dipavali festival, usually in November) and honoured him with dinner and presents. This day is known as Yama-dvitiya or Bhratri-dvitiya. On this day, sisters invite their brothers for sumptuous meals and exchange presents. Hence, a bath in Yamuna river on this day is considered extremely auspicious.

यमुनाजयन्ती ॥ Yamuna Chath / Jayanti

Yamuna Chath is celebrated on the sixth day of the bright half of the lunar month chaitra, which usually falls on April in solar calendar. This festival known as Yamuna Jayanti, is considered to be the celebration of Yamuna’s birthday. On this day, women step forward to the river to offer sweets, red sindur powder and uncooked rice. Finally they offer a red sari along with necklaces, bangles, a comb, bindis, and a mirror to the Goddess Yamuna, laying them on the sand at the edge of the water. Later, the priests bring those items back to those women with the singing of the ‘Yamuna-ashtakam,’ written by Vallabhacharya in the sixteenth century. After completing the hymn, they dress the river Goddess with the sari that stretches from shore to shore, with the aid of eight wooden boats.

कालिन्दी यमुना ॥ Yamuna as Kalindi

Yamuna has her source in the Kalinda mountain, and hence is also known by the name Kalindi whose presiding deity is Kalindi Devi.

Kulinda desha is Garhwal including the district of Saharanpur, north of Delhi. The entire tract of land lying between the upper portion of the Ganges and the Sutlej was called Kulinda, the Kulindrini of Ptolemy. Cunningham places Kulinda desha between the Bias and the Tons, including Kulu, the Kuninda of the coins same as Kalinda desha. According to McCrindle, the region of lofty mountains, wherein the Vipasa, the Satadru, the Yamuna, and the Ganges have their sources, was the Kylindrine of Ptolemy. The Kulindas lived on the southern slope of the Himalaya from Kulu eastward to Nepal.

The water of the river Kalindi was originally clear but it turned into black and there is a story behind it. After the death of Sati, Daksha’s daughter, Shiva broke up the Daksha yajna and went about rambling round the world. Kamadeva saw Shiva who had lost his wife Sati and shot him with the Unmada-astra (i.e. an arrow causing madness and excitement). Shiva, in his excitement, always thinking about Sati, wandered about, finding peace and rest nowhere. One day, he plunged himself into the Kalindi river in his excited and restless state. Just then, the clear water of the river turned black.

तत: पपात देवेश: कालिंदीसरितं मुने । निमग्ने शंकरे चापो दग्धा: कृष्णत्वमागता: ॥ (Vamana Purana, 6.30)

tatah papāta deveśah kāliṁdīsaritaṁ mune । nimagne śaṁkare cāpo dagdhāh kr̥ṣṇatvamāgatāh ॥

Meaning: O Hermit! In the status of sheer anxiety, Shankara fell down into Kalindi. The temperature in his body was so high that with his immersion, the water of that river boiled and turned into dark colour.

The Puranas declare that one attains heaven by bathing in the holy river Kalindi. There is a story illustrating this in the Puranic Encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani which is as follows:—

Long ago, in the Krtayuga, there lived in the country of Nishada, a very wealthy Vaishya, by name Hemakundala. By doing various kinds of business, he had earned eight crores of golden coins. As he was growing old, he began to think about the transitoriness of worldly pleasures and set apart one-sixth of his entire wealth for charitable purposes. He built two temples—one for Vishnu and the other for Shiva. He offered daily worship to the deities and spent money in generous hospitality. His two sons, Srikundala and Vikundala were growing up. He entrusted the burden of domestic affairs to them and went to the forest to perform austere penance, after which he attained the Vishnuloka.

His sons, who were intoxicated with their affluent and luxurious life, deviated from the path of virtue and began to indulge in all kinds of sensual pleasures. It did not take long for them to be reduced to utter poverty. Their relatives and dependants left them to their fate and at last, they began to resort to stealing. For fear of the King, the public and the law, they changed their residence to the woods. One of them went to a mountain and the other to a forest. One day, the elder brother was caught by a tiger and the younger was bit by a snake. Both of them died on the same day. Yama’s agents took both to the Yamaloka.  Yama ordered the elder brother to be sent to hell and the younger one, Vikundala, to be sent to Heaven.

Vikundala who knew that he did not deserve Heaven by any standards, asked Yama’s agent how this had happened. The agent replied that—"There was a Brahmin well-versed in the Vedic lore, who was the son of Harimitra. His Ashrama was on the southern bank of the Yamuna. While you were living in the forest, you were associated with him. As a result of that contact, it so happened that you bathed for two months in the holy river Kalindi, the waters of which have the power of absolving sinners. By your bath in the first month you were liberated from all sins. By the second you have become eligible for Heaven. You have qualified yourself for the eternal bliss of Heaven, by that holy act."

इतिहासे यमुना ॥ Yamuna in Itihasa

According to the Adikavya Ramayana, Yamunotri is a spot in the Bandara-puccha (monkey’s tail) mountain in the Himalaya where the river Yamuna has its source:

नदीं भागीरथीं रम्याम्, सरयूं कौशिकीं तथा । कालिन्दीं यमुनां रम्याम्, यामुनं च महागिरिम् ॥

सरस्वतीं च सिन्धुं च, शोणं मणिनिभोदकम् । महीं कालमहीं चैव, शैलकाननशोभिताम् ॥ (Kishkindha kanda, chapter 40, 21-22)

nadīṁ bhāgīrathīṁ ramyām, sarayūṁ kauśikīṁ tathā । kālindīṁ yamunāṁ ramyām, yāmunaṁ ca mahāgirim ॥

sarasvatīṁ ca sindhuṁ ca, śoṇaṁ maṇinibhodakam । mahīṁ kālamahīṁ caiva, śailakānanaśobhitām ॥

Meaning: (Search by) the river Ganga, and the enchanting Sarayu and Kousiki, and the beautiful Yamuna that originates from Kalinda, and the Saraswati and Sindhu and the Sona whose waters are as clear as gems, and the Mahee, and the Kalamahee that is splendid with its fine hills and forests.

Hanuman, after setting fire to Lanka, is said to have extinguished the fire of his tail by plunging it into a lake enclosed by the four highest peaks of this range, which has since been called Bandara-puccha mountain.

In the Bhagavata Mahapurana, we find that as soon as Krishna was born, Vasudeva stealthily removed the child to Ambadi. Kalindi was then overflowing due to heavy rains, and Vasudeva begged Kalindi for a passage. The river gave way for Vasudeva to take Krishna to Ambadi.

मघोनि वर्षत्यसकृद्यमानुजा, गम्भीरतोयौघजवोर्मिफेनिला ।

भयानकावर्तशताकुला नदी, मार्गं ददौ सिन्धुरिव श्रियः पतेः ॥ (Bhagavata Purana, 10.3.50)

maghoni varṣatyasakr̥dyamānujā, gambhīratoyaughajavormiphenilā ।

bhayānakāvartaśatākulā nadī, mārgaṁ dadau sindhuriva śriyaḥ pateḥ ॥

Meaning: Because of constant rain sent by the demigod Indra, the river Yamuna was filled with deep water, foaming about with fiercely whirling waves. But as the great Indian Ocean had formerly given way to Lord Ramachandra by allowing Him to construct a bridge, the river Yamuna gave way to Vasudeva and allowed him to cross.

In the epics and the Puranas, Yamuna has been described as closely connected with the boyhood days of Lord Krishna, like the Rasalila.

We also find that Balarama had once stayed in Ambadi for two months. One day, he was picnicking on the banks of Kalindi with the Gopis. He desired to play with his companions in the waters of Kalindi, so, he called Kalindi to his side, but the chaste Kalindi refused to oblige him. So he dragged her by his plough hooking her to it. In great fear, Kalindi saluted him, and he enjoyed with the gopis for some time on its waters.

एवं निर्भर्त्सिता भीता यमुना यदुनन्दनम् । उवाच चकिता वाचं पतिता पादयोर्नृप ॥ (Bhagavata Purana, 10.65.27)

ततो व्यमुञ्चद्यमुनां याचितो भगवान् बलः । विजगाह जलं स्त्रीभिः करेणुभिरिवेभराट् ॥ (Bhagavata Purana, 10.65.30)

evaṁ nirbhartsitā bhītā yamunā yadunandanam । uvāca cakitā vācaṁ patitā pādayornr̥pa ॥

tato vyamuñcadyamunāṁ yācito bhagavān balaḥ । vijagāha jalaṁ strībhiḥ kareṇubhirivebharāṭ ॥

Later on, after Maya had built Indraprastha for the Pandavas, Sri Krishna had spent a few days there with them. And, one day while Krishna and Arjuna were strolling on the banks of Kalindi, the latter saw there a beautiful woman performing penance and he approached her. She told Arjuna that the object of her penance was to get Krishna as husband,

कालिन्दीति समाख्याता वसामि यमुनाजले । निर्मिते भवने पित्रा यावदच्युतदर्शनम् ॥ (Bhagavata Purana, 10.58.22) kālindīti samākhyātā vasāmi yamunājale । nirmite bhavane pitrā yāvadacyutadarśanam ॥

When Arjuna passed on the information to Krishna, he took her in his chariot to Dwaraka and duly married her. Ten sons were born to Kalindi by Krishna.

A Vaishnava tradition of Bhakti, formed by Sri Vallabhacharya, Pushti Marga worships Yamuna as one of the Ashta-bharya (eight wives) of Sri Krishna. In this tradition, Yamuna is a prominent deity, who is always worshiped next to Srinathji, the Lord of Nathdwara, who is the center of Pushti Marga. According to the Puranic Encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani:

• Kalindi is one of the seven tributaries of the Ganga. One who drinks its water will be released from all sins.
• The Pandavas, during their life in exile in the forest drank Yamuna water, got over their weariness and continued their sojourn.
• Sahadeva, son of Srinjaya, gave Agni Deva 1000 golden emblems on the banks of the Yamuna.
• Bharata performed thirty-three Ashvamedha sacrifices on the banks of the Yamuna. On another occasion, he conducted six Ashvamedhas at the same spot. On yet another occasion, he conducted three hundred Ashvamedhas.

यो बद्ध्वा त्रिंशतो ह्यश्वान्देवेभ्यो यमुनामनु । सरस्वतीं विंशतिं च गङ्गामनु चतुर्दश ॥ (Shanti Parva, Chapter 29.41)

अश्वमेधसहस्रेण राजसूयशतेन च । इष्टवान्स महातेजा दौःषन्तिर्भरतः पुरा ॥ (Shanti Parva, Chapter 29.42)

yo baddhvā triṁśato hyaśvāndevebhyo yamunāmanu । sarasvatīṁ viṁśatiṁ ca gaṅgāmanu caturdaśa ॥

aśvamedhasahasreṇa rājasūyaśatena ca । iṣṭavānsa mahātejā dauḥṣantirbharataḥ purā ॥

• Ambarisha, the son of Nabhaga conducted a yajna on the planes of Kalindi.

अम्बरीषश्च नाभाग इष्टवान्यमुनामनु । यज्ञैश्च तपसा चैव परां सिद्धिमवाप सः ॥ (Vana Parva, Chapter 129.2) ambarīṣaśca nābhāga iṣṭavānyamunāmanu । yajñaiśca tapasā caiva parāṁ siddhimavāpa saḥ ॥

• The great sage Agastya performed penance on the planes of Kalindi.
• King Shantanu conducted seven yajñas on the banks of the Kalindi.

साहित्ये यमुना ॥ Yamuna in Literature

Yamuna also has been praised profusely as Mother in the devotional songs composed by spiritual sadhakas. Below are some verses in her praise from the Garga Samhita and Adi Shankaracharya who wrote two hymns in the praise of River Goddess Yamuna.

Garga Samhita is an ancient Vaishnava scripture narrating the life of Krishna in seventeen cantos. Inspired by Narada to compose this scripture, Garga Muni was a sage and priest of the Yadu dynasty having undergone several austerities and penances.

श्रीयमुनाकवचम् (गर्गसंहितान्तर्गतं) ॥ Sri Yamuna Kavacam

मान्धातोवाच	māndhātovāca
यमुनायाः कृष्णराज्ञ्याः कवचं सर्वतोऽमलम् । देहि मह्यं महाभाग धारयिष्याम्यहं सदा ॥ १॥	yamunāyāḥ kr̥ṣṇarājñyāḥ kavacaṁ sarvato'malam । dehi mahyaṁ mahābhāga dhārayiṣyāmyahaṁ sadā ॥1॥
सौभरिरुवाच	saubhariruvāca
यमुनायाश्च कवचं सर्वरक्षाकरं नृणाम् । चतुष्पदार्थदं साक्षाच्छृणु राजन्महामते ॥ २॥	yamunāyāśca kavacaṁ sarvarakṣākaraṁ nr̥ṇām । catuṣpadārthadaṁ sākṣācchr̥ṇu rājanmahāmate ॥2॥
कृष्णां चतुर्भुजां श्यामां पुण्डरीकदलेक्षणाम् । रथस्थां सुन्दरीं ध्यात्वा धारयेत्कवचं ततः ॥ ३॥	kr̥ṣṇāṁ caturbhujāṁ śyāmāṁ puṇḍarīkadalekṣaṇām । rathasthāṁ sundarīṁ dhyātvā dhārayetkavacaṁ tataḥ ॥3॥
स्नातः पूर्वमुखो मौनी कृतसन्ध्यः कुशासने । कुशैर्बद्धशिखो विप्रः पठेद्वै स्वस्तिकासनः ॥ ४॥	snātaḥ pūrvamukho maunī kr̥tasandhyaḥ kuśāsane । kuśairbaddhaśikho vipraḥ paṭhedvai svastikāsanaḥ ॥4॥
यमुना मे शिरः पातु कृष्णा नेत्रद्वयं सदा । श्यामा भ्रूभङ्गदेशं च नासिकां नाकवासिनी ॥ ५॥	yamunā me śiraḥ pātu kr̥ṣṇā netradvayaṁ sadā । śyāmā bhrūbhaṅgadeśaṁ ca nāsikāṁ nākavāsinī ॥5॥
कपोलौ पातु मे साक्षात्परमानन्दरूपिणी । कृष्णवामांससम्भूता पातु कर्णद्वयं मम ॥ ६॥	kapolau pātu me sākṣātparamānandarūpiṇī । kr̥ṣṇavāmāṁsasambhūtā pātu karṇadvayaṁ mama ॥6॥
अधरौ पातु कालिन्दी चिबुकं सूर्यकन्यका । यमस्वसा कन्धरां च हृदयं मे महानदी ॥ ७॥	adharau pātu kālindī cibukaṁ sūryakanyakā । yamasvasā kandharāṁ ca hr̥dayaṁ me mahānadī ॥7॥
कृष्णप्रिया पातु पृष्ठं तटिनि मे भुजद्वयम् । श्रोणीतटं च सुश्रोणी कटिं मे चारुदर्शना ॥ ८॥	kr̥ṣṇapriyā pātu pr̥ṣṭhaṁ taṭini me bhujadvayam । śroṇītaṭaṁ ca suśroṇī kaṭiṁ me cārudarśanā ॥8॥
ऊरुद्वयं तु रम्भोरुर्जानुनी त्वङ्घ्रिभेदिनी । गुल्फौ रासेश्वरी पातु पादौ पापप्रहारिणी ॥ ९॥	ūrudvayaṁ tu rambhorurjānunī tvaṅghribhedinī । gulphau rāseśvarī pātu pādau pāpaprahāriṇī ॥9॥
अन्तर्बहिरधश्चोर्ध्वं दिशासु विदिशासु च । समन्तात्पातु जगतः परिपूर्णतमप्रिया ॥ १०॥	antarbahiradhaścordhvaṁ diśāsu vidiśāsu ca । samantātpātu jagataḥ paripūrṇatamapriyā ॥10॥
इदं श्रीयमुनायाश्च कवचं परमाद्भुतम् । दशवारं पठेद्भक्त्या निर्धनो धनवान्भवेत् ॥ ११॥	idaṁ śrīyamunāyāśca kavacaṁ paramādbhutam । daśavāraṁ paṭhedbhaktyā nirdhano dhanavānbhavet ॥11॥
त्रिभिर्मासैः पठेद्धीमान् ब्रह्मचारी मिताशनः । सर्वराज्याधिपत्यञ्च प्राप्यते नात्र संशयः ॥ १२॥	tribhirmāsaiḥ paṭheddhīmān brahmacārī mitāśanaḥ । sarvarājyādhipatyañca prāpyate nātra saṁśayaḥ ॥12॥
दशोत्तरशतं नित्यं त्रिमासावधि भक्तितः । यः पठेत्प्रयतो भूत्वा तस्य किं किं न जायते ॥ १३॥	daśottaraśataṁ nityaṁ trimāsāvadhi bhaktitaḥ । yaḥ paṭhetprayato bhūtvā tasya kiṁ kiṁ na jāyate ॥13॥
यः पठेत्प्रातरुत्थाय सर्वतीर्थफलं लभेत् । अन्ते व्रजेत्परं धाम गोलोकं योगिदुर्लभम् ॥ १४॥	yaḥ paṭhetprātarutthāya sarvatīrthaphalaṁ labhet । ante vrajetparaṁ dhāma golokaṁ yogidurlabham ॥14॥
इति गर्गसंहितायां माधुर्यखण्डे षोडशाध्यायान्तर्गतं यमुनाकवचं सम्पूर्णम् ।	iti gargasaṁhitāyāṁ mādhuryakhaṇḍe ṣoḍaśādhyāyāntargataṁ yamunākavacaṁ sampūrṇam ।

यमुनाष्टकम् ॥ Yamunashtakam

मुरारिकायकालिमाललामवारिधारिणी, तृणीकृतत्रिविष्टपा त्रिलोकशोकहारिणी ।

मनोऽनुकूलकूलकुञ्जपुञ्जधूतदुर्मदा, धुनोतु नो मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥ १॥

murārikāyakālimālalāmavāridhāriṇī, tr̥ṇīkr̥tatriviṣṭapā trilokaśokahāriṇī ।

mano'nukūlakūlakuñjapuñjadhūtadurmadā, dhunotu no manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā ॥1॥

Meaning: (Salutations to Devi Yamuna) Your water holds the (touch of the) beautiful (bluish) darkness of the body of Murari (Sri Krishna), (and hence) making the Heaven insignificant like a blade of Grass (due to the touch of Sri Krishna), proceeds to remove the sorrows of the three worlds. Your banks hold charming groves (the breeze of which is touched by Krishna) which shake and remove our arrogance (and make us devotionally inclined). O Kalinda Nandini (daughter of the Kalinda Mountain), please wash away the impurities from my mind, always.

मलापहारिवारिपूरिभूरिमण्डितामृता, भृशं प्रवातकप्रपञ्चनातिपण्डितानिशा ।

सुनन्दनन्दिनाङ्गसङ्गरागरञ्जिता हिता, धुनोतु नो मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥ २॥

malāpahārivāripūribhūrimaṇḍitāmr̥tā, bhr̥śaṁ pravātakaprapañcanātipaṇḍitāniśā ।

sunandanandināṅgasaṅgarāgarañjitā hitā, dhunotu no manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā ॥2॥

Meaning: Your water, which takes away the impurities, is filled with abundant Nectar-like qualities, which (i.e. your water) is expert in washing away deep-seated sins of sinners, continually; which (i.e. your water) is extremely beneficial, being coloured by the touch of the body of the son of virtuous Nanda Gopa. O Kalinda Nandini (daughter of the Kalinda mountain), please wash away the impurities from my mind, always.

लसत्तरङ्गसङ्गधूतभूतजातपातका, नवीनमाधुरीधुरीणभक्तिजातचातका ।

तटान्तवासदासहंससंसृताह्निकामदा, धुनोतु नो मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥ ३॥

lasattaraṅgasaṅgadhūtabhūtajātapātakā, navīnamādhurīdhurīṇabhaktijātacātakā ।

taṭāntavāsadāsahaṁsasaṁsr̥tāhnikāmadā, dhunotu no manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā ॥3॥

Meaning: The touch of your shining and playful waves wash away the sins rising in the living beings. On your bank, reside many Chataka birds who carry the fresh sweetness born of Bhakti (Devotion) (and who always look towards Bhakti like Chataka birds look towards water). You grant the wishes of many swans who converge and dwell on the boundary of your river banks. O Kalinda Nandini (daughter of the Kalinda Mountain), please wash away the impurities from my mind, always.

विहाररासस्वेदभेदधीरतीरमारुता, गता गिरामगोचरे यदीयनीरचारुता ।

प्रवाहसाहचर्यपूतमेदिनीनदीनदा, धुनोतु नो मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥ ४॥

vihārarāsasvedabhedadhīratīramārutā, gatā girāmagocare yadīyanīracārutā ।

pravāhasāhacaryapūtamedinīnadīnadā, dhunotu no manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā ॥4॥

Meaning: The breeze on your calm river bank carries the memories of the pastimes and Rasa leela (of Sri Krishna and the Gopis), and the associated distress of separation (of the Gopis from Sri Krishna). The beauty of your water has gone beyond what the speech can express. Due to the association with your flow of water, the Earth and other rivers have also become purified. O Kalinda Nandini (daughter of the Kalinda Mountain), please wash away the impurities from my mind, always.

तरङ्गसङ्गसैकतान्तरातितं सदासिता, शरन्निशाकरांशुमञ्जुमञ्जरी सभाजिता ।

भवार्चनाप्रचारुणाम्बुनाधुना विशारदा, धुनोतु नो मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥ ५॥

taraṅgasaṅgasaikatāntarātitaṁ sadāsitā, śaranniśākarāṁśumañjumañjarī sabhājitā ।

bhavārcanāpracāruṇāmbunādhunā viśāradā, dhunotu no manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā ॥5॥

Meaning: Your curved interior sand-banks always shine by being in contact with your flowing waves. Your river-body and river-banks are adorned by the blossom of beautiful moonbeams of the autumn night. You are expert in adorning the world by washing with your beautiful water. O Kalinda Nandini (daughter of the Kalinda Mountain), please wash away the impurities from my mind, always.

जलान्तकेलिकारिचारुराधिकाङ्गरागिणी, स्वभर्तुरन्यदुर्लभाङ्गताङ्गतांशभागिनी ।

स्वदत्तसुप्तसप्तसिन्धुभेदिनातिकोविदा, धुनोतु नो मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥ ६॥

jalāntakelikāricārurādhikāṅgarāgiṇī, svabharturanyadurlabhāṅgatāṅgatāṁśabhāginī ।

svadattasuptasaptasindhubhedinātikovidā, dhunotu no manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā ॥6॥

Meaning: Your river-body is coloured by the touch of the beautiful Radharani who used to play in your waters. You nourish others with that sacred touch (of Radha-Krishna), which is so difficult to obtain. You also share that sacred touch with the Sapta Sindhu (Seven Rivers) silently, you being an expert in penetrating (the realms of others). O Kalinda Nandini (daughter of the Kalinda Mountain), please wash away the impurities from my mind, always.

जलच्युताच्युताङ्गरागलम्पटालिशालिनी, विलोलराधिकाकचान्तचम्पकालिमालिनी ।

सदावगाहनावतीर्णभर्तृभृत्यनारदा, धुनोतु नो मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥ ७॥

jalacyutācyutāṅgarāgalampaṭāliśālinī, vilolarādhikākacāntacampakālimālinī ।

sadāvagāhanāvatīrṇabhartr̥bhr̥tyanāradā, dhunotu no manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā ॥7॥

Meaning: On your river-body has fallen the colour from the body of Achyuta (Sri Krishna) when He played with the Gopis who flocked like bees and also (on your river-body have fallen) the bee-like Champaka flowers which garlanded the dangling hair of Radharani. And again on your river-body, Sage Narada, the servant of the Lord, always descends to take bath. O Kalinda Nandini (daughter of the Kalinda Mountain), please wash away the impurities from my mind, always.

सदैव नन्दिनन्दकेलिशालिकुञ्जमञ्जुला, तटोत्थफुल्लमल्लिकाकदम्बरेणुसूज्ज्वला ।

जलावगाहिनां नृणां भवाब्धिसिन्धुपारदा, धुनोतु नो मनोमलं कलिन्दनन्दिनी सदा ॥ ८॥

sadaiva nandinandakeliśālikuñjamañjulā, taṭotthaphullamallikākadambareṇusūjjvalā ।

jalāvagāhināṁ nr̥ṇāṁ bhavābdhisindhupāradā, dhunotu no manomalaṁ kalindanandinī sadā ॥8॥

Meaning: Your bank abounds in beautiful groves in which the son of Nanda (i.e. Sri Krishna) always plays. Your bank shines brightly with the pollens (i.e. blossoms) of Mallika and Kadamba flowers. You take them across the ocean of the worldly existence who take bath in your water. O Kalinda Nandini (daughter of the Kalinda Mountain), please wash away the impurities from my mind, always.

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छंकरभगवतः कृतौ यमुनाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम्  ॥ iti śrīmatparamahaṁsaparivrājakācāryasya śrīgovindabhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṁkarabhagavataḥ kr̥tau yamunāṣṭakaṁ sampūrṇam  ॥

यमुनाष्टकम् ॥ Yamunashtakam

कृपापारावारां तपनतनयां तापशमनीं, मुरारिप्रेयस्यां भवभयदवां भक्तिवरदाम् । वियज्ज्वालोन्मुक्तां श्रियमपि सुखाप्तेः परिदिनं, सदा धीरो नूनं भजति यमुनां नित्यफलदाम् ॥ १॥	kr̥pāpārāvārāṁ tapanatanayāṁ tāpaśamanīṁ, murāripreyasyāṁ bhavabhayadavāṁ bhaktivaradām । viyajjvālonmuktāṁ śriyamapi sukhāpteḥ paridinaṁ, sadā dhīro nūnaṁ bhajati yamunāṁ nityaphaladām ॥1॥
मधुवनचारिणि भास्करवाहिनि जाह्नविसङ्गिनि सिन्धुसुते मधुरिपुभूषणि माधवतोषिणि गोकुलभीतिविनाशकृते । जगदघमोचिनि मानसदायिनि केशवकेलिनिदानगते जय यमुने जय भीतिनिवारिणि संकटनाशिनि पावय माम् ॥ २॥	madhuvanacāriṇi bhāskaravāhini jāhnavisaṅgini sindhusute madhuripubhūṣaṇi mādhavatoṣiṇi gokulabhītivināśakr̥te । jagadaghamocini mānasadāyini keśavakelinidānagate jaya yamune jaya bhītinivāriṇi saṁkaṭanāśini pāvaya mām ॥2॥
अयि मधुरे मधुमोदविलासिनि शैलविदारिणि वेगपरे परिजनपालिनि दुष्टनिषूदिनि वाञ्छितकामविलासधरे । व्रजपुरवासिजनार्जितपातकहारिणि विश्वजनोद्धरिके जय यमुने जय भीतिनिवारिणि संकटनाशिनि पावय माम् ॥ ३॥	ayi madhure madhumodavilāsini śailavidāriṇi vegapare parijanapālini duṣṭaniṣūdini vāñchitakāmavilāsadhare । vrajapuravāsijanārjitapātakahāriṇi viśvajanoddharike jaya yamune jaya bhītinivāriṇi saṁkaṭanāśini pāvaya mām ॥3॥
अतिविपदम्बुधिमग्नजनं भवतापशताकुलमानसकं गतिमतिहीनमशेषभयाकुलमागतपादसरोजयुगम् । ऋणभयभीतिमनिष्कृतिपातककोटिशतायुतपुञ्जतरं जय यमुने जय भीतिनिवारिणि संकटनाशिनि पावय माम् ॥ ४॥	ativipadambudhimagnajanaṁ bhavatāpaśatākulamānasakaṁ gatimatihīnamaśeṣabhayākulamāgatapādasarojayugam । r̥ṇabhayabhītimaniṣkr̥tipātakakoṭiśatāyutapuñjataraṁ jaya yamune jaya bhītinivāriṇi saṁkaṭanāśini pāvaya mām ॥4॥
नवजलदद्युतिकोटिलसत्तनुहेमभयाभररञ्जितके तडिदवहेलिपदाञ्चलचञ्चलशोभितपीतसुचेलधरे । मणिमयभूषणचित्रपटासनरञ्जितगञ्जितभानुकरे जय यमुने जय भीतिनिवारिणि संकटनाशिनि पावय माम् ॥ ५॥	navajaladadyutikoṭilasattanuhemabhayābhararañjitake taḍidavahelipadāñcalacañcalaśobhitapītasuceladhare । maṇimayabhūṣaṇacitrapaṭāsanarañjitagañjitabhānukare jaya yamune jaya bhītinivāriṇi saṁkaṭanāśini pāvaya mām ॥5॥
शुभपुलिने मधुमत्तयदूद्भवरासमहोत्सवकेलिभरे उच्चकुलाचलराजितमौक्तिकहारमयाभररोदसिके । नवमणिकोटिकभास्करकञ्चुकिशोभिततारकहारयुते जय यमुने जय भीतिनिवारिणि संकटनाशिनि पावय माम् ॥ ६॥	śubhapuline madhumattayadūdbhavarāsamahotsavakelibhare uccakulācalarājitamauktikahāramayābhararodasike । navamaṇikoṭikabhāskarakañcukiśobhitatārakahārayute jaya yamune jaya bhītinivāriṇi saṁkaṭanāśini pāvaya mām ॥6॥
करिवरमौक्तिकनासिकभूषणवातचमत्कृतचञ्चलके मुखकमलामलसौरभचञ्चलमत्तमधुव्रतलोचनिके । मणिगणकुण्डललोलपरिस्फुरदाकुलगण्डयुगामलके जय यमुने जय भीतिनिवारिणि संकटनाशिनि पावय माम् ॥ ७॥	karivaramauktikanāsikabhūṣaṇavātacamatkr̥tacañcalake mukhakamalāmalasaurabhacañcalamattamadhuvratalocanike । maṇigaṇakuṇḍalalolaparisphuradākulagaṇḍayugāmalake jaya yamune jaya bhītinivāriṇi saṁkaṭanāśini pāvaya mām ॥7॥
कलरवनूपुरहेममयाचितपादसरोरुहसारुणिके धिमिधिमिधिमिधिमितालविनोदितमानसमञ्जुलपादगते । तव पदपङ्कजमाश्रितमानवचित्तसदाखिलतापहरे जय यमुने जय भीतिनिवारिणि संकटनाशिनि पावय माम् ॥ ८॥	kalaravanūpurahemamayācitapādasaroruhasāruṇike dhimidhimidhimidhimitālavinoditamānasamañjulapādagate । tava padapaṅkajamāśritamānavacittasadākhilatāpahare jaya yamune jaya bhītinivāriṇi saṁkaṭanāśini pāvaya mām ॥8॥
भवोत्तापाम्भोधौ निपतितजनो दुर्गतियुतो, यदि स्तौति प्रातः प्रतिदिनमन्याश्रयतया । हयाह्रेषैः कामं करकुसुमपुञ्जै रविसुतां, सदा भोक्ता भोगान्मरणसमये याति हरिताम् ॥ ९॥	bhavottāpāmbhodhau nipatitajano durgatiyuto, yadi stauti prātaḥ pratidinamanyāśrayatayā । hayāhreṣaiḥ kāmaṁ karakusumapuñjai ravisutāṁ, sadā bhoktā bhogānmaraṇasamaye yāti haritām ॥9॥
इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छंकरभगवतः कृतौ यमुनाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥	iti śrīmatparamahaṁsaparivrājakācāryasya śrīgovindabhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṁkarabhagavataḥ kr̥tau yamunāṣṭakaṁ sampūrṇam ॥

मूर्तिविवरणम् ॥ Iconography

River Goddesses Ganga-Yamuna at Udayagiri Cave.

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:

कूर्म्मगा यमुना कुम्भकरा श्यामा च पूज्यते ।

सवीणस्तुम्बुरुः शुक्लः शूली मात्रग्रतो वृषे ॥ (Agni Purana 50.17)

kūrmmagā yamunā kumbhakarā śyāmā ca pūjyate ।

savīṇastumburuḥ śuklaḥ śūlī mātragrato vr̥ṣe ॥

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.

Yamuna with female attendants and Vidyadharas, Lad Khan temple.

Yamuna from Ahichchatra, National Museum (Terracotta).

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. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, 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.

Shri Yamunaji.

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.

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.

Sri Yamuna ji at Sri Yamunotri (Photo Courtesy: Pravrajika Asaktaprana)

ऐतिहासिक-भूगोलवर्णनस्य उद्धरणम् ॥ Excerpts of Historical Geography

The Historical Geography of Ancient India by Bimala Churn Law 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.

According to the Aitareya Brahmana (VIII.23) and Satapatha Brahmana (XIII.5.4.11), the Bharatas are famed as victorious on the Yamuna. The Panchavimsha Brahmana (X.4.11; XXV.10.24; 13.4), Shankhyayana Shrautasutra (XIII.29.25.33), Katyayana Shrautasutra (XXIV.6.10.39), Latyayana Shrautasutra (X.19.9.10) and Ashvalayana Shrautasutra (XII.6.28) mention this river.

Patanjali also mentions it in his Mahabhashya (1.1.9, 1.4.2). The Yogini-tantra (2-5, 139-140) and the Kalikapurana (Ch. 15.8) refer to it. This river also known as the Kalindi occurs in the Bhagavata-purana (III.4.36, IV.8.43, VI.16.16, VIII.4.23, IX.4.30, IX.4.37, X.58.22) as well as in the Mahavastu (III.201). Bana in his Kadambari also calls it the Kalindi because its water appears to be dark.

It rises on the slopes of Bandarpunch, a peak situated on the watershed between the Yamuna and the Ganges. The shrine of Yamunotri stands at the base of the Bandarpunch. The first and great western tributary of the Ganges is the Yamuna proper, which takes its rise in the Himalayan range below Mount Kamet. It cuts a valley through the Siwalik range and Garhwal before it enters the plains of Northern Bharat to flow south parallel to the Ganges, from Mathura downwards it follows a south-eastern course till it meets the Ganges forming the famous confluence (sangama) at Prayaga or Allahabad. In the district of Dehra Dun it receives two tributaries on the west side, the upper one of which is known as northern Tons. Between Agra and Allahabad it is joined on the left side by four tributaries, called Carmanvati (modern Chambal), Kalisindh, Vetravati (modern Betwa), Ken and Payasni (modern Paisuni). Many holy places are situated on this river. Sharabhanga, a disciple of Kashyapa, was present at a great sacrifice held at a place between the Ganges and the Yamuna.

The Yamuna is known to the Chinese as Yan-mok-na. It served as the boundary between Shurasena and Kosala, and further down between Kosala and Vamsha; Madura, the capital of Shurasena, and Kosambi, the capital of Vamsha, standing on its right bank. The Yamunotri which is eight miles from Kursoli is considered to be the source of the river Yamuna. It is identical with the Greek Erannaboas (Hiranyavaha or Hiranyabahu). Yamuna is one of the five great rivers mentioned in early Buddhist texts. It is modern Jumna. The Skanda Purana mentions the Valuvahini as a tributary of this river.

A cultural carrier of this pristine grandeur deserves to be conserved and maintained by the natives so that we are able to pass on our preserved unique heritage to the future generations.