Long long ago before the earth had any people, Yamuna took birth in the Yamnotri Glacier 10 K.M. west of the lofty Himalayan peak of the Bunderpoonch. According to the legend Hanuman the Monkey God, setting the city of Lanka on fire with his burning tail, extinguished the flame on his tail here. Hence the name Bunderpunch. Yamuna is said to be the daughter of the sun and sister of Yama, the lord of death. Yamuna is also to be the dear queen of Lord Krishna. So the Indian people worship her as a Goddess.

After its origination from Yamunotri glacier in the Mussoorie range of the lower Himalayas in the District Utter Kashi, Yamuna continues her journey. In the first 170 K.M. stretch the tributaries Rishi Ganga Kunta, Hanuman Ganga, Tons and Giri join the main river and the combined stream then forces its way through the Shivalik range of Hills and emerges in the plains at Tajewala in Hariyana. From Tajewala Yamuna sluggishly meanders to its confluence with the Ganga at Allahabad. After covering a distance of about 1376 km. from its origin to the confluence point at Allahabad. The main tributaries joining the segment between Tajewala and Allahabad include the Hindon, the Chambal , the Sid, the Betwa and the Ken. Yamuna flows through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Hariyana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. After Delhi Yamuna runs through Vrindaban and Mathura, which are the sacred places of Hindus. Millions of people come and take a dip in the holy river. It is said the Lord Krishna played on its bank. He danced with milk maids (Gopies) at Vrindaban on the bank of Yamuna. So they are considered the holiest places of India.

At Mathura, Vishramghat attracts millions of people throughout the year. People come here and take dip and take holy water with them. At Vishramghat Lord Krishna took rest (vishram) after killing cruel Kansa, the King of Mathura. So the name of this ghat is Vishramghat. According to another story it is said that the Yama, the Lord over death, granted a boon to his sister Yamuna that “if a man would take bath at Vishramghat on the auspicious day of Bhaiya Doj ( the second day after Dipawali), he will not go to my land.” So millions of people all over the world come and bath in the sacred river at Vishramghat on that day.

The twin holy towns of Mathura and Vrindaban are visited by millions of pilgrims, as these places are closely associated with the religious sentiments of the people. Both Mathura and Vrindaban are the ancient birth place and playground of Lord Krishna. They are the foremost pilgrimage centers of the country. Holy Yamuna water is transported daily by a special van to Nathdwara temple in Rajasthan from the famous Vishramghat of Mathura. The holy water from this ghat is used in the temples for worshipping and preparing "prasad”. Yamuna water is filled in copper pots from here and taken by million to pilgrims all over the world for religious ceremonies.

Gopeshwar Nath Chaturvedi