Yamuna is a Hindu river goddess, the daughter of the sun god Surya and his wife Sanjna, and the twin sister of Yama, the god of death. While several myths explain her transformation into a river, a notable one involves a curse placed upon her brother Yama. This story is the basis for the festival of Bhai Dooj, which celebrates the bond between siblings.
The origin of Yamuna and her twin brother Yama
The story begins with Surya and his wife, Sanjna, who was the daughter of the divine craftsman Vishwakarma.
- Sanjna found her husband’s intense brilliance and heat unbearable, so she created a shadow-clone of herself named Chhaya to take her place.
- She then returned to her father’s house, leaving Chhaya to act as Surya’s wife.
- Surya and Sanjna had three children: the twins Yama and Yami (who later became Yamuna), and another son, Vaivasvata Manu.
- Yama is the embodiment of justice and duty (dharma), while Yami was initially very restless and lively.
The curse upon Yama and Yami’s sorrow
Chhaya, in her role as Sanjna, eventually had her own children with Surya.
- She showed favoritism towards her own children, ignoring Sanjna’s original children, especially the twins Yama and Yami.
- When Yama was still a child, Chhaya’s mistreatment infuriated him. In a fit of anger, he raised his foot to kick her.
- Chhaya was enraged and cursed Yama, declaring that his foot would be afflicted with worms.
- Yama’s father, Surya, was saddened by the injustice but could not revoke the curse entirely. Instead, he reduced its severity, decreeing that the worms would only consume Yama’s flesh, not his bone.
- Meanwhile, Yami was devastated by the curse on her beloved twin brother. Her tears flowed so profusely that they became the sacred Yamuna River.
The boon of Bhai Dooj
After becoming a river goddess, Yamuna invited her brother Yama to visit her. Because of his duties as the god of death, Yama found himself unable to go for a long time.
- When he finally visited his sister on the second day after the new moon in the month of Kartika (Yama Dwitiya), Yamuna welcomed him with great love and honor.
- She applied a sacred mark (tilak) on his forehead and served him a delicious feast.
- Pleased by her devotion, Yama asked what boon she desired. She asked that any brother who visits his sister on this day, receives a tilak, and bathes in the Yamuna, would be protected from an untimely death.
- Yama, touched by his sister’s request, granted the boon, thereby establishing the festival of Bhai Dooj. He declared that those who celebrate this day with their sister would not fear his judgment.
Additional legends
In addition to this story of sibling devotion, the Yamuna is central to other Hindu myths:
- As a river, she is the setting for many of the childhood adventures of Lord Krishna. She is also regarded as one of Krishna’s wives in Vaishnava traditions.
- Some legends say the river’s waters turned dark when Lord Krishna defeated the serpent Kaliya in its depths.