Yamunâ

The Yamunâ - sometimes called Jumna , Jamna , Yamna in the local dialects - is a major river of the India, a length of 1 370 kilometers, flow of the Gange. Yamunâ belongs to the Seven rivers crowned of India.

Yamunâ takes its source with Yamunotri, in the north of Hardwar in the the Himalayas, runs in direction of south-east, crosses the chain of Siwalik and after Delhi and Âgrâ throws itself in Gange with Allâhâbâd, in the state of the Uttar Pradesh. The Chambal and the Betwâ are its principal affluents. The confluence of Yamunâ and Gange is crowned for the Hindu , Allâhâbâd is an important center of pilgrimage where every 12 years the gathering of the Kumbhamelâ is located.

One finds all along Yamunâ, a great number of historic buildings, such as the Taj Mahal in Âgrâ. Formerly, an important commercial artery, Yamunâ is used today mainly for the irrigation of the states of Uttar Pradesh and the Panjâb.

Approximately 57 million people depends on water of Yamunâ. With an annual flow of approximately 10 000 m ³ /s and the use of 4 400 m ³ /s - including 96% used for the irrigation - the river takes part for more than 70% in the water provision of Delhi.

Yamunâ is, after Gange and the Sarasvati now disappeared, the river more crowned in India. She is regarded as the girl of Sûrya, the god of the sun, and the sister of Yama, the god of died and, according to the tradition, those which take a bath in holy water of the river do not fear death. It is also closely related on the Mahâbhârata and the god Krishna from which childhood occurs on its banks.

Iconographic representation

As a divinity, Yamunâ is frequently represented in the Hindu temples. She is illustrated like a female character perched on a tortoise, frequently accompanied by one or two following carrying a Parasol. She is generally represented on the amounts of the main door of the temple, by hanging with the goddess Gange, Gangâ. On the symbolic system plan their presence induces the purification of faithful which crosses the door.

See too

List of the rivers of India

Simple: Yamuna

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