YAMIINA", the modern Jumna, is one of the sacred rivers of the Hindus, mentioned as such as early as in the hymns of the Rigveda. Bathing in it, especially where it falls into the Ganges, at Allahabad, was at a later period, and is now, supposed to have the efficacy of removing sin, because at Allahabad the god Brahman is said to have performeda great horse-sacrifice--whence this place is termed Prayaga, literally "sac rifice," or Bhat' t'aprayliga, literally "the best sacrifice." (Though Allahabad, which is a celebrated place of pilgrimage, is the Prayaga, this term is also applied to other places where two sacred rivers meet, four of which, situated at the confluence of the 'Ganges with the Alakananda, Pindar, Mandakini, and Bliftniratlii, are, besides Allaha bad, held in especial sanctity, and severally called Nanda-, karn' a-, Parini-, and Deco Praydga.) In the Purfinrie mythology, the Yarnuna—in Sanskrit, a word in the feminine gender—is called a sister of the god Yama (q.v.); and a legend is also told in regard to
her, according to which Balarama, the brother of Kr'ishn'a (see the 8th Ava ra), once ordered the river to come to him, and as she disobeyed his bidding, plunged his ploughshare into her banks, and dragged her to him. Yamunfi, the legend contin ues, was thus compelled to quit her ordihary course, and to follow Balarama whitherso ever lie went. At last, however, appeased by her entreaties, he let her go, after she had watered all the country. Prof. Wilson appends to this legend, where occurring in his translation of the Vishniti Purtinf a, the following remark: " The legend probably alludes to the construction of canals from the Jumna, for the purposes of irrigation; and the works of the Mohammedans in this way, which are well known, were no doubt preceded by similar canals dug by order of the Hindu princes."—Vishn; u-Pu.rani a (Lond. 1840, p. 572).