Shri Yamuna Devi (Kalindi)
Description of the Shri Yamuna’s Arrival
Ordered by Lord Krishna in Goloka, Yamuna, the best of rivers, circumambulated the Lord and was about to go to the earth. Then the Viraja river and the spiritual Ganga river both entered the Yamuna. For this reason, the people know that the Yamuna is the greatest of rivers and the first queen of Lord Krishna.
Then, with great force breaking through the current of the Viraja, the Yamuna left the gate of the transcendental forest grove. Touching countless universes, she came to the spiritual Ganga. With great force, the great Yamuna river broke through the Ganga’s waters. Then the Yamuna came to an opening Lord Vamana’s left toe had made in the top of a universe, an opening through which the spiritual Ganga flowed.
With Shri Ganga entering that opening, the Yamuna, the best of rivers, then came to the unconquerable Lord’s abode of Vaikunöha in the planet of Maharaja Dhruva. Then the Yamuna came to Brahmaloka. Falling from Brahma’s planet, she went to the hundreds of planets of the demigods. She went from one planet to another. Then with great force, she fell on Mount Sumeru. Flowing from its peaks, she broke the stones on its slope.
Then, in order to go south from Mount Sumeru, Shri Yamuna left Shri Ganga’s path.
Then the Ganga went to Mount Himavat and the great river Yamuna went to Mount Kalinda. Because she is thus Mount Kalinda’s daughter, she is named Kalindi. Flowing from Mount Kalinda’s peaks, and breaking the hard rocks on his slopes, the sacred Kalindi swiftly flowed on the earth, purifying the countries she passed. Then she entered the Khandava forest.
Wishing to attain Lord Krishna, the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead, as her husband, the Kalindi assumed a splendid spiritual form and performed great austerities (I have explained this in Mathura – Part 6 ). Even today she stays in a water-house her father made for her. Then the Kalindi swiftly entered Vraja-mandala.
Then she flowed through Vrindavana, beautiful Mathura, and beautiful secluded Mahavana.
As the very beautiful leader of many gopis, Shri Yamuna made her home in Shri Goloka to perform the rasa dance with Shri Krishnacandra.
As she left Vraja she became overwhelmed by feelings of separation. Filled with tears of bliss and love, she turned west (and returned to Vraja).
Then, bowing three times to Vraja-mandala, she went to very holy Prayaga, purifying the countries she passed.
When flowing with Shri Ganga, she entered the Kshira ocean, the demigods in heaven showered flowers and exclaimed victory!”
When dark Shri Yamuna, who was the best of rivers and the daughter of Mount Kalinda, entered the ocean, she spoke to Shri Ganga with words choked with emotion.
Shri Yamuna said: “O Ganga, you are fortunate. You purify all the universes. You were born from Lord Krishna’s lotus foot. Everyone bows down before you alone. Now I will ascend to Lord Hari’s abode. O beautiful one, you come also. There never was, nor will there ever be, anyone as glorious as you.”
Shri Ganga said: “I, the Ganga, who contain all holy places, bow down before you. O auspicious one, please forgive any improper words I may have said. O dark Yamuna, you are the fortunate one. You purify all the universes. You were born from Lord Krishna’s left shoulder. Your form is full of transcendental bliss. You are most perfect and complete. You are worshiped by all. You are dear to Shri Krishna, the great Supreme Personality of Godhead. O dark Yamuna, I bow down to you, the first queen of Lord Krishna. The holy places and demigods find it difficult to attain you. Even in Goloka, it is difficult to attain you.”
“By Lord Krishna’s order, I must go to Patalaloka now. I am unhappy to leave you, but I cannot go with you. I will become a leader of many gopis in the rasa-dance circle in Shri Vraja. O beloved of Lord Hari, please forgive any improper words I may have said.”
Bowing down before each other, the two rivers then quickly went their respective ways. The heavenly Ganga went to Patalaloka, purifying the planets as she passed. There she is named Bhogavati, for she flows through the Bhogavati forest. Lord Shesha and Lord Shiva carry her water on Their Heads.
Quickly traversing the seven oceans, the dark Yamuna quickly flowed through the world of seven islands. Then the Yamuna flowed to the golden land and then Mount Lokaloka where, flowing from its peaks, she broke the rocks on its slopes. Then she rose again to its peaks and, with a great stream of water, rose to Svargaloka in the heavenly worlds.
She passed through the planets on the way to Brahmaloka and, meeting the Ganga at the opening in the universe, went to Lord Hari’s abode.
As the demigods showered flowers and bowed down to offer respects, Shri Yamuna, the best of rivers, returned to Shri Krishna’s abode of Goloka.
If a person in this world hears or reads this auspicious and ever-new pastime of Mount Kalinda’s daughter Yamuna, he will attain great auspiciousness. If one regularly reads or remembers this pastime, he will attain the transcendental forest groves where the Supreme Lord enjoys His pastimes.