Due to the organization of Mahakumbh, a wonderful atmosphere of devotion and faith has spread in Prayagraj. This Maha Mela, which is held at the confluence of Ganga-Yamuna and Saraswati, becomes more culturally-mythologically important because of its three rivers. All these three rivers have been described as very important in the Vedas and Puranas and along with creating vast fertile plains, they have been the mother of cultures, civilizations and urban development.
Where Saraswati is a pure Vedic river on the banks of which the Vedas were written. Ganga, which emerged from Brahma’s Kamandal, is the river that finds place in the Charanamrit of Lord Vishnu and in the hair of Shiva Mahadev, on whose banks many mythological stories have taken place. Now after this comes Yamuna river. It is said that it is a river of greater mythological importance than the Ganga and in many details it is considered to be older than the Ganga. However, the sanctity of Yamuna river and its clear water was recognized more in the Dwapar era, when Shri Krishna made this river a witness to his pastimes.
Yamuna has been a witness to Krishna’s pastimes
He was born in the city situated on its banks, grew up in the forests situated on its banks, Krishna was present in all the villages through which the river Yamuna passed. There are many such places like Gokul, Vrindavan, Barsana, Govardhan which are of mythological importance today and are witness to the life-philosophy of Shri Krishna. Yamuna river is one of the eight queens of Lord Krishna by the name of Kalindi. This Yamuna meets Gangaji in Prayagraj and this place is known as Tirtharaj.
Yamuna originates from Kalind mountain of Himalayas
Kalindi is also a name for the Yamuna river originating from the Kalind mountain range of the Himalayas. In the Puranas, she has been called the daughter of Sun God and sister of Yama. It is said that earlier she was born in human form, but due to later circumstances she was transformed into a river. In the Samvad Sukta of Rigveda, Yamuna has been mentioned along with Yama, where her real name is mentioned as Yami.
The conversation between Yama and his sister Yamuna (Yami) is also recorded in the Samvad Sukta of the Rigveda. This Samvad Sukta explains the values of family in the Indian system and also underlines the sanctity of the relationship between brother and sister.
Yamuna is described in Rigveda
There are many contradictions among the Veda pundits regarding this story of Yama-Yami in Rigveda. Actually once Yamraj goes to Yami’s house. Yami and Yama’s father is Vivasvan i.e. Sun God, but Yami, who has always been separated from her brother, considers him as her lover. When Yama reaches Yami’s house, she proposes his love to her. Then Yama tells him that we are children of the same father and the same mother. Your mother Sandhya is my mother too. So don’t propose love to me. Yami gets very disappointed after listening to Yama and starts repenting. This decision of Yama has been seen with great greatness in the Rigveda and this story also becomes an example of the dignity of relations between brother and sister.
O chitsakhayam sakhya vavrityaam tirah puru chidarnavam jaganvan
Piturnapatma dadhit vedha adhi kshmi prataram didhyaanh. 1..
Na Te Sakha Sakhyam Vashtyetatsalakshma Yadvishurupa Bhavati
Mahasputraso Asurasya Veera Divo Dhartar Urviya Pari Khyan. 2..
Ushanti gha te amritaas etdekasya chittijasam martyasya
Ni te mano manasi dhayyasme janyuh patistanv1ma vivishyah. 3..
Na Yatpura Chakrima Kadha Nunamrita Vadanto Anritam Rapem
Gandharvo Apsvapya Cha Yosha Sa No Nabhi: Param Jami Tannau. 4..
This story of Yama and Yami has been told in different contexts in the Puranas also. According to Vishnupuran, one day Yama reached the house of his sister Yami. According to Bhagwat Katha, no one is happy when Yama (i.e. death) himself reaches his doorstep, but on the contrary, Yami was very happy to see her brother. Yami gave seat to Yama with great respect. Prepared dishes for him and fed him and made him very satisfied with the food etc.
Seeing such hospitality for the first time, Yama was very happy and asked Yami to ask for a boon. Yami did not ask for anything for herself but said that any sister who serves food to her brother on this day and welcomes him into her home should never fear death. Yama also said that any brother who visits his sister’s house on this day and honors her and takes care of her will not fear untimely death.
Yamuna turned into a river like this
In the Puranas, the story of the formation of Yamuna river also seems to originate from this union of Yama and Yami. When Yama tells Yami that he is her brother and hence he cannot accept Yami’s love, Yami feels very sad. She starts regretting. Gradually his body melts and turns into water and from this stream of water emerges the Yamuna River. The antiquity of Yamuna river is much older than that of Ganga. After this story of Yama-Yami, the day of Yama Dwitiya, which falls after Diwali, has great significance. On this day, it is important for brothers and sisters to take bath in Yamuna together and it is believed that some food should be prepared and fed on the banks of the river. This tradition is going on in many areas of North India.
Yamuna river is the mother of Braj culture
Bhuvanbhaskar Surya is her father, Yama, the god of death, is her brother and Lord Shri Krishna is her husband. While Lord Shri Krishna is said to be the father of Braj culture, Yamuna is considered its mother. Thus, she is the mother of the people of Braj in the true sense. Hence in Braj it is called Yamuna Maiya. In the Brahma Purana, while explaining the spiritual form of Yamuna, a description has been presented – “The one who is the basis of the universe and which is called Sachchidanand Swaroop by its characteristics, which has been sung by the Upanishads in the form of Brahma, is the Supreme Being itself Yamuna. Gaudiya scholars Shrirup Goswami has described Yamuna as Chidanandamayi, the meaning of which is that the soul gets true happiness by seeing it. Yamuna river has got the status of mother like Ganga.
Just as Ganga water is important for bathing, praise and worship, similarly Yamuna river also has its own special importance. Like Ganga, it has also been the center of a city of pilgrimage. Apart from this, due to being an assistant-witness in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu, its water is also considered equal to Hari Charanamrit. It has been called venerable at many places in the Puranas.
“Namami Yamunam Devi Surasuranamaskritam.
Papaharinim punyaam lokanam traankarinim.”
While worshiping Yamuna in Skandapuran, it is said that a person who takes bath in Yamuna gets the blessings of Lord Vishnu and all his sins are eradicated.
“Kalindya Varada Ganga Tripathaga Vishnupadavi.
Snatam yatra harih swayam dharmam tatra karoti sah.”
In Padmapuran also, this river has been called destroyer of sins, destroyer of sorrows and Kalyani. Contact with Yamuna water eliminates all the sorrows of a person. Even just remembering this destroys sins.
“Yamuna Jagat Traan Karanam Kalimalapaham.
Snanamatren Papaghni Namami Harinim Shubham.”
“Yamuna water contact yo bhavedduahkhamokshanam.
Smranti yamunam bhaktya papanamashu nashanam.”
At one place in Skandpuran itself, Yamuna has been considered more sacred than Ganga. It is said that sins are destroyed by seeing Ganga, sins are eliminated by touching it, but bathing in Yamuna directly leads to salvation.
“Gangayan darshanat papam sparshanaat patakam bhavet.
Yamunayan tu yatsnanam mukti: sakshat bhaved dhruvam.”
Mentioned in Mahabharata also
In the Vanparva of Mahabharata, Yamuna has been called the goddess of purity and the source of salvation for all living beings. It is also mentioned that the sages who performed penance on the banks of Yamuna attained great virtue. Yamuna River not only holds religious importance, but it is also an important part of Indian culture and history. Its importance can be understood in such a way that among the four Dhams situated in the mountains, one of the major Dhams is the origin place of Yamuna river. Which is called Yamunotri Dham.
This is also because, like Ganga, Yamuna is also the lifeline of the Indian way of life. There are major cities of Haryana on its banks. The country’s capital Delhi is irrigated by its waters. Agra Fort and Taj Mahal, the main city of the history of Uttar Pradesh, are situated on its banks.
This is the reason that when Yamuna meets Ganga in Prayagraj, it increases the importance of this place i.e. Sangam area manifold. Then this one place becomes a vessel of blessings of those two rivers, which have their own importance, but get the benefit of the importance of both together. In Mahakumbh, when one takes a dip in the waters of Sangam, faith says that this mixed water of Ganga and Yamuna will take one closer to the same divine essence. It will purify their body and liberate them from the cycle of birth and death. Along with this, the voice of Har Har Gange, Jai Yamuna Maiya keeps resonating on the ghats.
