In the Rig Veda it is said that Yama and Yami the twins were extremely fond of each other and lived an idyllic life on Earth where the day never ended – they went where they pleased and did what they wanted. One day when Yami returned home, she found Yama lying under a tree appearing to be asleep. Not wanting to disturb him, she waited for him to wake up. When he did not wake up for a long while, she woke him up. When he did not stir out of his sleep, she shook him.
Nothing worked and Yama her dear brother lay still. Yami started to weep with such great sorrow that her tears threatened to flood the World. She missed him tremendously. The Gods came to pacify her. All she could say brokenly was – Yam died today…Yama died today.
Her sorrow was so intense that Earth suffered – fires began and raged. Slowly it dawned on the Gods and Goddesses that Yami’s grief was not lessening for she was stuck in time. It would be “today” for ever. The Gods and Goddesses gathered and together created a sunset. The calm of the darkness settled in. Yami’s sobs reduced.
When the Sun rose the following morning Yami whispered, “Yama died…yesterday.”
Time passed and her feeling of loss reduced. And Earth – well it survived, for us to always hope for a better tomorrow. And Yami – it is said that she is the River Goddess Yamuna who flowed down to Earth.
(courtesy: http://schools.indiawaterportal.org/node/18)
