Inseparable from her twin sister Ganga in ancient art, goddess Yamuna is often found standing beside or rather behind the divine “Ganga Maa” when it comes to popular depictions and worship. In the culture of India, however, she has an equally significant space, since the Vedic period.
Worshiped as a sacred, purifying mother-goddess, Yamuna has an interesting presence in history, one that needs to be explored in order to understand the sanctity of this stream, materializing as daughter, sister, beloved, and mother in Hindu culture.
The Vedic texts mention Yamuna along with Ganga and other rivers as sacred geographical features. In the Rig Veda, the historic battle of Ten Kings was fought on the banks of the Yamuna River. Various Vedic rituals and sacrifices were conducted on the side of Yamuna, by kings like Ambarisha and Shantanu and sages like Agastya.
In the Puranas, especially the Bhagavata Purana, several stories of the river goddess are narrated. The Puranas elaborate upon the story of Yamuna, giving her an illustrious family tree.
🔆Daughter of the Surya (Sun God) and his wife Sanjana and
🔆Twin sister of Yama, the god of death.
One of these legends tells us that the divine Saptarishi or seven sages performed various rituals and Tapasya, in order to bring the heavenly Yamuna to the earth in the form of a sanctifying river. As a result of their devotion, the goddess came into the human realm and went on to become a benevolent mother goddess.
Goddess Yamuna’s iconography is as sacred as her riverbanks—rich with symbolism, beauty, and deep spiritual meaning. Two images of Ganga and Yamuna have been found from the gateways and temple doorways since the ancient period. Towering divine goddesses, each stood in a graceful pose on their mounts, carrying a spot of their water.
🔆Yamuna is traditionally shown as a dark-complexioned goddess, symbolizing her spiritual bond with Krishna, whose skin shares the same Shyam (dusky) hue.
🔆She is adorned in exquisite ornaments, flowing garments, and a serene smile—carrying a pot of her sacred water.
🔆Her divine vahana (vehicle) is the black turtle, known in Sanskrit as Krishnakacchapa. It symbolizes stability, the depths of consciousness, and the mystery of divine waters.
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’s beloved and Lord. These artworks reflect Bhakti poetry that sees Yamuna not only as a river, but as Krishna’s beloved, flowing with divine longing and love.
Kalindi River Yamuna on her Vehicle Turtle | Anuj Shastrakar
Goddess Yamuna is not only a revered river but a guardian of sacred spaces. Her presence in temples and on pilgrimages reflects both spiritual purity and ritual protection.
Ancient Hindu sanctums, following the Vaastu and architectural traditions, had the river-goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, flanking the doorway that led to the sanctum sanctorum. The wisdom of the ancient sages tells us that the icons of the goddesses sanctified the arena of the temple as well as anyone who entered the space and became guardians of the sacredness of the shrine.
In the Tirtha or pilgrimage tradition of Hinduism, the river Yamuna is a popular and powerful entity. Pilgrims throughout the year, in places where the river stream is flowing, visit the banks of Yamuna, bathe in its waters, and pray for her blessings.
🔆During the Maha Kumbh Mela that happens every 12 years in Prayagraj, where Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet at the Triveni Sangam.
🔆Bathing here is believed to cleanse lifetimes of karma and grant spiritual liberation (moksha).
🔆The Yamuna Aarti—a ritual of light and prayer—echoes along her banks, just as it does for Ganga Maa.
The Brija kshetra, the residence of Sri Krishna where his Lilas took place, was watered by the stream of Yamuna. From his birth- when a flooding Yamuna was pacified by the touch of the child god’s lotus feet, to his adolescence and youth when Krishna performed the Lila of Kaliya-Mardan and played with his friends and Gopis on the river bank, Yamuna is the eternal witness to the heavenliness of the dark-skinned Lord.
🔆According to many, it is in the love of Krishna, that the river has taken a dark color, mirroring the Shyam-varn of Kanha. The dark color of Yamuna as she flows from the mountains to the plains is a visible feature, many believe it to be an expression of her bond with Krishna.
🔆An alternate belief also tells that when Sati self-immolated and Shiva was overwhelmed with rage and pain, he entered the water of Yamuna with the body of his beloved Sati, turning the water of the river dark.
A Vaishnava tradition of Bhakti, formed by Sri Vallabhacharya, Pushti Maarga worships Yamuna as one of the Ashtabhaarya (eight wives) of Sri Krishna. In the traditions of this sect, Yamuna is a prominent deity, who is always worshiped next to Srinathji, the Lord of Nathdwara, which is the center of Pushti Maarga.
In the paintings of Picchwai, Yamuna is often shown alongside Krishna, dressed similarly to him, carrying a floral garland as an offering of her affection. For the followers of this sect, no ritual for Krishna can be complete without remembering the loving Yamuna ji, who blesses them with the Bhakti and Prema of Krishna.
Much like the sacred water of Ganga, the water of Yamuna is considered life-giving and empowering, a remover of negativity and a healer of all illnesses. Ritual dip in the Yamuna River during Bhai dooj and festivals, by seekers of longevity and health. As the beloved sister of the god of death, Yamuna removes the fear of death from anyone who finds refuge in her.
🔆According to the popular legend of Yama-Dwitiya or Bhai Dooja, a festival celebrated to remember the bond of brother and sister, Yama, the brother of Yamuna was invited by her for a feast and festivities.
🔆Yamuna adorned the forehead of Yama with Tilak and offered him a grand spread of food. Joyously, Yama asked his sister to seek a boon.
🔆The kind Yamuna said that any brother who visits his sister and the sister who welcomes him with Tilak and feast, and those who take a bath in her water should not be troubled by Yama and his army.
🔸Yamuna is a sacred goddess, not just a river—revered across Vedic, Puranic, and Bhakti traditions.
🔸Twin sister of Yama, her stories teach about protection, longevity, and divine love.
🔸Her dark waters are a symbol of Krishna’s presence and the depth of divine devotion.
🔸Worshiped in temples and represented in ancient iconography, always beside Ganga.
🔸Pichwai art and Pushti Maarga celebrate Yamuna as a consort of Krishna.
🔸Bathing in Yamuna Jal during festivals like Bhai Dooj is believed to remove fear and karmic burdens.
🔸Yamuna Aarti and rituals keep her devotion alive across generations and geographies.
Yamuna is a revered river goddess, the daughter of the Sun god Surya, and sister of Yama, the god of death. She represents purity, protection, and divine love.
Yamuna is sacred for her role in Krishna’s life, her purifying waters, and her ability to remove fear of death and grant spiritual blessings.
The dark color symbolizes her eternal bond with Krishna and, in some legends, the sorrow of Lord Shiva after Sati’s demise.
In Pushti Maarga, Yamuna is honored as one of Krishna’s eight consorts and worshiped beside Srinathji. Her blessings are vital in all rituals.
On Bhai Dooj, it is believed that bathing in Yamuna and celebrating the sibling bond can protect one from untimely death, thanks to a boon from Yama.
Yes. Yamuna Jal is considered spiritually potent and is used in puja rituals, purification rites, and for invoking divine blessings.
Your email address will not be published *
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist