Kalindi (Yamuna)

* KALINDI (YAMUNA).

1) General. Kalindi alias Yamuna is one of the holy rivers in India. The presiding deity of the river is Kalindidevi. Kalindi, the daughter of the sun has her source in Kalinda mountairy, and hence the name Kalindi for the river. Kalindi joins the Ganges at Prayaga, and this confluence of the two rivers is called Sangama, which is a sacred place.

2) Gave way for Sri Krsna. As soon as Krsna was born Vasudeva stealthily removed the child to Ambadi. Due to heavy rains the Kalindi was overflowing, and Vasudeva begged Kalindi for a passage, and the river gave way for Vasudeva to take Krsna to Ambadi. (Bhagavata 10th Skandha).

3) Balabhadra dragged Kalindi. Balabhadrarama once stayed in Ambadi for two months. One day he was picnicking on the banks of Kalindi with the Gopis. Under the influence of liquor he desired to play with his companions in the waters of Kalindi. He called Kalindi to his side, but the chaste Kalindi refused to oblige him. So he dragged her by his plough hooking her to it. In great fear Kalindi saluted him, and he enjoyed with the gopis for some time on its waters. (Bhagavata, 10th Skandha).

4) Kalindi, Sri Krsna’s wife. After Maya had built Indraprastha for the Pandavas, Sri Krsna spent a few days there with them. And, one day while Krsna and Arjuna were strolling on the banks of Kalindi the latter saw there a beautiful woman performing penance and he approached her. She told Arjuna that the object of her penance was to get Krsna as husband, and when Arjuna passed on the information to Krsna he took her in his chariot to Dvaraka and duly married her. (Bhagavata, 10th Skandha).

5) Sons of Kalindi. Ten sons, were born to Kalindi by Krsna. (Bhagavata, 10th Skandha).

6) Harhsa and his son in Kalindi. Once Krsna attacked Jarasandha and the son of his minister, Hamsa, being told that his father had been killed, committed suicide by jumping into Kalindi. But, Harnsa had not been killed; and when he returned from the battlefield and knew about the death of his son, he too jumped into Kalindi and committed suicide. (Sabha Parva, Chapter 14).

7). Other information.

(i) Kalindi is one of the seven tributaries of the Ganges. One who drinks its water will be released from all sins. (Adi Parva, Chapter 139, Verse 19) .

(ii) The Pandavas, during their life in exile in the forest drank Yamuni water, got over their weariness and continued their sojourn. (Vanes Parva, Chapter 5, Verse 2).

(iii) Sahadeva, son of Srfijaya, gave Agni Deva 1000 golden emblems on the banks of the Yamuni. (Vanes Parva Chapter 90, Verse 7).

(iv) Bharata performed thirty-three ASvamedhas on the banks of the Y amuna (Vanes Parva, Chapter 90, Verse 8) . On another occasion he conducted six Asvamedhas at the same spot. (Drones Parva, Chapter 68) . On yet another occasion he conducted three hundred Asvamedhas. (anti Parva, Chapter 29) .

(v) Ambarisa, the son of Nabhaga conducted a yajiia on the planes of Kalindi. (Vanes Parva, Chapter 129 ). (vi) Agastya the great sage performed penance on the planes of Kalindi. (Vanes Parva, Chapter 161).

(vii) King Santanu conducted seven yajnas on the banks of the Kalindi. (Vanes Parva, Chapter 162) .

(viii) The colour of Kalindi is black. Kama (Cupid) shot arrows of flower at Siva, who was lamenting over the death of Sad, and he (Siva) thus excited to a condition of insanity jumped into Kalindi with the result that its water turned black in colour. (Vimana Purina, Chapter 6 and also see under Yamuna).

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