In India, rivers are not just water bodies; they are the cradles of civilizations, nurturers of cultures, and centres of religious faith. Ancient India flourished along rivers and earned the ‘Golden Bird’ title. Among these rivers is the Yamuna, which is not only a source of water but also an integral part of Indian religion, culture, and history.

The Yamuna River is worshipped as a divine mother goddess. It is the only river in Hinduism to be accorded the status of a ‘queen’. According to the Puranas, Yamuna is the daughter of the Sun God and the sister of Yama, the God of Death. Hence, worshipping Yamuna on Bhai Dooj is believed to eliminate the fear of death and grant salvation.

Read in Hindi: जीवन, धर्म और संस्कृति की संवाहिका है यमुना

The Yamuna is not merely a geographical river but a stream of Krishna devotion. When Lord Krishna was born, Vasudeva crossed the Yamuna to take him to Gokul, away from Kansa’s tyranny. It is said that on that night, the Yamuna raised her waters to touch Krishna’s feet. For Vaishnav devotees, the Yamuna is not just a river but a witness to Krishna’s divine pastimes. Major pilgrimage sites like Vrindavan, Mathura, Govardhan, and Bateshwar are located along its banks, where Krishna’s childhood exploits, Raas Leela, and devotional traditions flourished.

The Yamuna’s waters sustain life and enrich India’s culture, art, and commerce. The Vaishnav Bhakti movement thrived in Mathura and Vrindavan, where saints like Vallabhacharya and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave Krishna devotion a new direction. Surdas composed his immortal works on the banks of the Yamuna, and Meera Bai’s devotional fervour also blossomed here.

Historically, the Yamuna has been central to many significant events. The Mahabharata was composed along its banks. Historical sites like Kurukshetra, Karnal, and Panipat, where many battles were fought, are situated near the Yamuna. The Mughal rulers, too, recognized the river’s importance and built grand monuments along its banks in Agra and Delhi, including the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, and Humayun’s Tomb. Emperor Babur described the Yamuna’s waters as nectar and built the Aram Bagh on its banks in Agra.

If the Ganga is considered the giver of salvation, the Yamuna is called the giver of life. While the Ganga’s banks are known for cremations and ash immersions, the Yamuna’s banks are more associated with worship, meditation, and devotional practices. Pilgrimage sites like Gokul, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Bateshwar highlight the Yamuna’s glory.

The Yamuna is incomplete without Krishna, just as Krishna’s tales are incomplete without the Yamuna. This is why devotees take a holy dip in the Yamuna on Kartik Purnima every year, believing it to bring them spiritual merit.

The Yamuna’s journey begins at the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand, where a temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna is located. This site is a significant part of the Char Dham pilgrimage. From here, the river flows through Dehradun, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

As it flows through Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the Yamuna touches many historical and religious sites. Stories from the Mahabharata era, such as those of Sage Parashar and Satyavati, King Bharat, and Bhishma Pitamah, are linked to its banks.

Upon entering Agra, the Yamuna becomes even more majestic. It flows near the Taj Mahal, enhancing its beauty. Beyond Agra, the Yamuna merges with rivers like Chambal and Betwa before finally meeting the Ganga and Saraswati at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, a confluence considered supremely sacred.

The Yamuna is mentioned in the Rigveda, and Mughal Emperor Babur praised its water quality extensively. Medieval historians and foreign travellers also documented Yamuna’s pristine waters. Both Abul Fazl and Lahori wrote in detail about the river’s significance.

It was the Yamuna’s water that inspired Shah Jahan to build his dream monument, the Taj Mahal, on its banks. Poet Pandit Jagannath wrote the famous ‘Ganga Lahari’, but he also composed ‘Amrit Lahari’ in praise of the Yamuna’s water quality.

The historical and religious significance of the Yamuna is now under threat due to pollution and mismanagement. Industrial waste, sewage, and illegal sand mining have severely impacted the river. In cities like Delhi and Agra, the Yamuna’s condition has become critical. This beloved river of Krishna now waits for help.

The Yamuna is not just a water body but the foundation of Indian religion, culture, and history. It has witnessed Krishna’s pastimes, inspired saints and devotees, and nurtured Indian civilization for thousands of years. Today, it needs to be saved so that future generations can understand its importance and benefit from its glory.