Yamunotri
is situated at an altitude of 3,235 m above the sea level in the district of
Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand in
northern India. It is a full day's journey from
Uttarakhand's
main towns —
Rishikesh,
Haridwar or Dehradun.
The source of the river Yamuna lies about 1 km further ahead at an altitude
of about 4,421 m. It is the seat of the goddess Yamuna, and one of the four
sites in India's
Char Dham pilgrimage.
The sacred river of Yamuna originates from
Yamunotri
glaciers on the western edge of the Bandarpoochh peak (6,315 m).
Yamunotri can be reached by a 13 km trek from Hanuman
Chatti. Maharani Gularia of Jaipur constructed the temple of Goddess
Yamuna in the 19th century AD by Maharani Guleria of
Jaipur. The temple remains closed from November to May because of heavy
rainfall and snow.
There is quite a few thermal springs in the vicinity of the temple, which
flow into several pools. The most important of these springs is the
Surya Kund. Divya Shila is a rock pillar which is
worshipped before entering the
Yamunotri Temple.
The current temple is of recent origin, as past iterations have been
destroyed by the weather. Ritual duties such as the making and distribution
of prasad (sanctified offerings) and the supervision of pujas (ritual
venerations) are performed by the Uniyal family of pujaris (priests). Unique
aspects of ritual practice at the site include hot springs where raw rice is
cooked and made into prasad.
Mythologically Yamuna is the daughter of the Sun just like Yama who is also
considered his son. It is believed that Yama would not torment any person at
the time of death who bathe in Yamuna that is his sister. Near freezing
Yamunotri glaciers there are steaming hot spring known as Kunds. All this
present divinely control over the entire setting.
Surya Kund
is the most important Kund. A pinch of rice or some potatoes tied loosely in
a cloth and dipped in it and after few minutes is taken out gets completely
cooked which is normally taken as 'Prashad' back home by the pilgrims. Near
'
Surya Kund' there is 'Shila' called 'Dibya Shila' which
is worshipped before Puja is offered to
Yamuna ji. Nearby,
there is
Jamuna Bai Kund built about 100 years ago which
is used for the holy bath. The water is pleasantly warm and relaxing. The
'Pandas' or the Pujari of
Yamnotri come from the village
of Kharsala which is on the other bank of
Yamuna near Janki Bai
Chatti.
