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Yamunotri Temple
Locality/village : Uttarkashi
State : Uttarakhand
Country : India
Best Season To Visit : All
Languages : Hindi & English
Temple Timings : 6.00 AM and 8.00 PM.
Photography : Not Allowed
Yamunotri Temple
Yamunotri Dham, which is one of the four sites of the Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand, is famous being the source of Yamuna River. It is at the foot-hill of the Kalind Parvat at the left bank of the Yamuna at an altitude of 3235m in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. A magnificent water fall drops, more than 2000m from the snow of Bandarpoonch into the valley at this point. Yamunotri Temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The deity is made of black marble.
The temple of Yamunotri is close to two hot springs. Surya Kund has hot boiling water and Gauri kund has tepid water suitable for bathing. The most important among the two is Surya Kund. Some potatoes or pinch of rice tied loosely in a cloth is dipped in the Kund for few minutes, when cooked, is taken home as a ‘Prasad’. Another water tank is Yamuna Bai Kund, where devotees take bath before visiting the temple. This place is located at the western flank of the famous Banderpoonch peak (6315 meter). Pujaris of Yamunotri temple come from village of Kharsali near Janki Chatti.
The Yamunotri temple has a shrine dedicated to the goddess. There is also an 18th century temple in Gangotri, built by garhwal naresh Pratap Shah, damaged and renovated again in the 19th century. The temple was destroyed twice by snow and floods before being rebuilt. It is located in the background of Bandarpunch. The temple is part of the revered Char Dham pilgrimage circuit.
The temple situated here close to the thermal springs is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The temple was constructed in 1839 by Tehri Naresh Sudarshan Shah. However, since the place is highly prone to earthquakes, the temple has been damaged several times. It was built again in 19th century by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur. Even after that the temple has been renovated and reconstructed quite a few times. Inside the temple is an idol of Goddess Yamuna carved in black stone that is mainly worshipped.
As the story goes, Yamuna is considered the daughter of the Sun (Surya) and Sangya (Goddess of perception) and the sister of Yamraj (God of death). It is for this reason that the importance this river holds good among the Hindus.
According to the legend ancient, sage Asit Muni had his hermitage here. All his life, he bathed daily both in the Ganges and the Yamuna. It is even believed that during his last days, when he could not travel to the Ganga from Yamuna, a stream of the Ganges originated nearby so that he could continue his rituals.
The temple at Yamunotri is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, who is believed to be the mother of humankind, providing them with rich nourishment. Yamuna is also one of the major rivers of India; the part of the three sister rivers that include Ganga and Saraswati too.
According to Hindu mythology, Surya, the sun god is the father of Yamuna, and Yama, the god of death is her brother. Since Yamuna is the sister of Yama, anyone who who bathes in the river is spared a painful death. The birthplace of the Yamuna is the Champasar Glacier (4,421 m) just below the Banderpoonch Mountain. The mountain adjacent to the river source is dedicated to her father, and is called Kalind Parvat, Kalind being another name of Surya.
Yamuna is known for her frivolousness, a trait that she developed because, according to a common story, Yamuna’s mother could never make eye contact with her dazzling husband.
The deity or Goddess Yamuna is made of black marble. The temple is dedicated to the river Yamuna, who is represented in the form of a silver idol, bedecked with garlands.
Temple remains opens for pilgrims from: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Aarti Time: 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Opening and Closing of the Temple
The Temple opens on the religious day of ‘Akshaya-Tritya’, which falls, generally, during the last week of April or the first week of May. The temple and the town close down due to extremely heavy snowfall on the blessed day of ‘Yama Dwitiya’ which falls on the second day after Diwali after a brief ceremony.
Special Rituals/ Prarthana performed in temple
Surya kund is the most important Kund. Near the Suryakund there is a shila called Divya Shila, which is worshipped before puja is offered to the deity. Devotees prepare rice and potatoes to offer at the shrine by dipping them in these hot water springs, tied in muslin cloth. Rice so cooked is taken back home as prasadam.
The shrine of Yamunotri attracts thousands of devotees from across the world during the period from May to October. It is generally believed that the springs surrounding the Yamunotri temple has supernatural powers which is why pilgrims carry raw potato and rice which they dip in the hot spring and regarding them as Prasad from the Goddess Yamuna take them home.
The holy abode of Goddess Yamuna is located near the foothills of Kalind Parbat (peak) and on the side of Banderpoonch Parbat. Nestled in the awe-inspiring Himalayas, the Yamunotri Temple is believed to have been built by the King of Tehri, Naresh Sudarshan Shah in 1839. The temple’s stunning setting, one of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites, is enough to fill the hearts of devotees with wonder. The river Yamuna flows from one side of the temple, which houses the goddess Yamuna in the form of a black marble idol. Ganga Devi too finds her place in the white stone by the side of the Yamuna.
The Yamuna temple closes its portals as winter approaches on Yama Dwitiya (second day after Diwali or on Bhai Dooj). Devi’s winter address is the village of Kharsali, where she reaches in a litter and remains there throughout the winter. On Akshaya Tritiya (occurring in April/May), the goddess returns to once again honor Yamunotri. The closing and opening ceremonies of the Yamunotri shrine are associated with celebrations, elaborate rituals and Vedic chants.
By Air
The closest airport from Yamunotri is Jolly Grant airport close to Dehradun, 196 km from Gangotri.
By Rail
The nearest railheads from Yamunotri are Dehradun (172 km) and Rishikesh (213 km)
By Road
Yamunotri is well connected by road to Rishikesh, Dehra Dun, Haridwar and Delhi. The Janki Chatti is well connected by road to Rishikesh and Haridwar. There is 6 km trek to Yamunotri temple from Janki Chatti. Yamunotri can be reached on foot or on a pony from Janaki Chatti. It takes about 2 1/2 hours to reach Yamunotri on a pony. During bad weather, buses generally don’t reach Janaki Chatti and one has to get down at a place called Sayana Chatti. From Sayana Chatti, regular Jeep services to Janaki Chatti are available a reasonable prices.
