Legend of Yama and Yamuna

 

Chaya was the wife of Sun. Chaya gave birth to one son and one daughter as twins children. Son was given the name of Yama and daughter was named as Yamuna. Yamuna loved her brother Yama like anything. She always requested to her brother to come to her house. But Yam Raj being so much busy in his work every time avoided to accept the invitation of his sister. (Yama in this story is the God of Death and Yamuna is the river Yamuna). On the first day of new moon in the month of kartika (Kartik month generally falls during October) Yamuna again invited her brother Yama to come and have lunch meal with her. This time Yamuna took the promise from her brother Yama to come surely. Yama thought that being the God of Death I take out the lieves of living creatures, thus no one wants to call me at his home. Sister is calling me so sentimentally, thus to keep the words given to her is my duty. And thinking like that Yam Raj made up his mind to go to his sisters home. So , on the next day - the second day of new moon, Yama went to his sister's home. Yamuna was very much pleased to see her brother. Her joy at that time was boundless. Yamuna asked Yama to take bath in order to recover from the ways fatigue. When Yama took the bath Yamuna offered Pooja to her brother. n the ancient times it was a tradition to offer Pooja by lightening a lamp in Pooja Thali to put Holi teeka mark on the forehead, shower rice on the head of the guest and to offer sweets in order to express welcome to the comer. After performing Pooja Yamuna erected the holy Roli teeka on the forehead of Yama and then offered him delicious eatables. Yama was very happy with the way his sister Yamuna hosted him. Being happy with Yamuna's lovely behaviour Yama asked her for a boon. Sister Yamuna in reply requested Yama - her brother to visit her every year on this particular day. Yamuna further desired that Yama will not terrify those who will put teeka on this day of Dooj (the second day of new moon) on the forehead of their brothers and those brothers will get long life boon through their sisters on this day. Since then this Bhai Dooj festival came in existence and people are celebrating it generation after generation.