7. The river Yamunā and its present status

The river Yamunā occupies an important place in the Vedic literature. In one mantra^[1] of the Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, Yamunā river is mentioned among the Saptasindhavaḥ or seven rivers. It is one of the important rivers of Sapta Sindavaḥ Pradeśa. The present Yamunā river is not different to that of the old one. In the Atharvavedasaṃhitā, there is a mention of Yamunā river as Aṅśumatī river.^[2] In the Purāṇā also, Yamunā is considered as a famous river. Another name of Yamunā in the Purāṇa is Kālindī.^[3]

The Yamunā is one of the largest and the most important tributaries of the Gaṅgā. It arises from the Yamnotri icecap on the Bandarpunch Peak in Garhwal in Uttaranchal at an altitude of 6,330 m, a source which is very close to that of the Gaṅgā itself. After cutting across the Nag Tibba, the Mussoorie and Shiwalik ranges, the Yamunā river emerges out of the hilly area and enters plains near Tajewala. Many small streams such as the Ṛṣigaṅgā, the Umā and the Hanuman—Gaṅgā join it in the mountains. Its main affluent in the upper reaches is the Tons which also rises from the Bandarpunch glacier at an attitude of 3,900 m and joins Yamunā below kalsi before the latter leaves the hills. At this site, the water carried by the Tons is twice the water carried by the Yamunā. It is joined by the 256 km long Hindon in Uttar-Pradesh after completing a journey of about 300 km the plain area. The Yamunā takes a southerly course up to Mathura and south-easterly in its onward journey up to Allahabad where it unites with the Gaṅgā. The Yamunā receives some important tributaries originating from the peninsular elevation between Agra and Allahabad. These are, viz.the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken and after it joins to Gaṅgā. The total length of the Yamunā from its origin to its concourse with the Gaṅgā at Allahabad is 1,376km.^[4]