For three days, Guru Amardas ji stayed in Kurukshetra. Guru ji, along with the Sikhs then left from there, doing Simran of Sri Abinaash (the indestructible Akaal Purakh). Guru ji would walk slowly with the Sangat and would make sure everyone was well. Whoever got tired, they were given help to be carried. The Sangat would sing the praises of Guru Amardas ji as they walked. Guru ji’s praises were spread widely. People would come to see Guru ji, with love, wherever he went.
They all soon reached the shores of Kaalindri (Jamuna). Its waters were dark and fresh. They all camped under a shady area. The Sangat bathed in the Jamuna and gave donations to the Brahmins and the poor. They all had Langar and rested. After they got up, they did the Simran of Hari. The Sangat loved to hear Guru ji speak. So, they stood up, with their hands folded, and made a request to Guru ji: “Prabhoo ji, please tell us the origin story of the Jamuna. We will then bathe in it with love after knowing how the Jamuna came to be. We are being blessed everyday. For one, we are in your presence all the time; secondly, we get to bathe at the holy Teeraths; thirdly, we do Simran and then give donations. We get to hear the history of the Teeraths from you, Guru ji. Please tell us the history of this great river. Where did this river come from? Why is it called Jamuna? Why is the river considered so pure? Please tell us Guru ji.” The Guru with the blissful eyes then spoke after hearing the request of the Sikhs: “this history is very ancient as well. Listen to it with love and devotion. The Devata of Craftsmanship, Vishwakarma, is very wise. He had a daughter named Subrachala. She was a very beautiful woman. Her eyes were like the petals of a lotus flower. Her eyes were sharp at the ends like an arrow. Her walk was very mesmerizing and carefree, like an elephant’s swaying walk. Her neck was like a pigeon’s neck. The wife of Kamadeva, Ratti, was jealous of her. Suryadev (The Sun Devata) married her and brought her to his abode. She was delicate with a very attractive body. Subrachala spent a long time with Suryadev but was unhappy with his great radiance and heat. She stayed with him for the honor of her family. She had two sons and one daughter. Jamuna was the daughter’s name and the two sons were Manu and Jumm (Dharmaraj). All of the children were very powerful. There soon came a time where Subrachala had had enough of the Sun’s rays and heat. She became anxious. She would get burned by Suryadev’s radiance. Subrachala used her powers to make a duplicate of herself from her own shadow. Afraid of Suryadev, she left her shadow self there and sneaked out to go back to her father’s home.
When Subrachala came to her father’s home, Vishwakarma was angry and spoke harsh words to her: “why have you come here without notifying your husband? There is no place for you in my home. Go somewhere else.” She was very hurt to hear her father’s scolding. She changed her form into that of a mare and headed towards the jungle.
The shadow of Subrachala, became known as “Chaya” in ancient texts. As she lived with Suryadev and carried on living as his wife, she gave birth to other children. Amongst those children was one Shaanichar (Saturn). She had a daughter as well, named Tapti. Tapti flowed away as a river, hence the origin of the Tapti River in the south. Her waters are fresh and pure as well. Suryadev now had two daughters and four sons. One day, Jumm had an argument with Chaya. Both were very angry to the point where their eyes went red. As the argument carried on, Chaya said some very harsh words to Jumm. Jumm lifting his foot, as he was about to strike Chaya with his leg but Chaya cursed him. She said: “this leg that you are about to hit me with, will be blistered and will never be cured. You are to be punished for this sin.” Jumm’s leg immediately blistered up.
When Suryadev found out about Jumm and Chaya’s argument, he began to think very deeply: “how can these two be mother and son? They have both done unthinkable things to each other.” Suryadev was in doubt and came to Chaya and said: “tell me the truth, who are you? No mother would ever curse her own son.” As the king of the Day (the Sun) pressed her for the truth, Chaya eventually spoke: “your wife has gone back to her father’s home and placed me in her place. Shaanichar and Tapti are my kids. Jumm, Manu and Jamuna are Subrachala’s children. She has been gone a long time. I raised all four brothers.” As soon as Suryadev knew the truth, he went to Vishwakarma’s home right away. He said to his father-in-law: “Subrachala came back to you a long time ago. I want to know where she is now. She has done such a wrong thing. I need to find her.” Vishwakarma heard the whole story and told him what happened when she came to him: “she left your home and came here. I didn’t let her stay here because what she did was wrong. She was upset and so, she left. But listen Suryadev, she is not entirely wrong. Your fires are very difficult. They caused her a lot of pain. Your radiance is unbearable. She was very scared leaving you. Listen to what I have to say. Everything will be good. Part of your form is of smoke. I can transform your form. After my work on you is finished, your light will be more bearable.” Suryadev agreed and let Vishwakarma work on him. Vishwakarma took his sharp tool, and removed the outer-layer of the Sun. Suryadev became even more handsome. The outer layer that was giving off smoke was chiseled away. Suryadev was happy with his new look. Vishwakarma then said to him: “my daughter lives in the jungle in the form of a horse. Bring love into your heart and bring your wife back.” Suryadev changed into the form of a stallion and went to the jungle.
Suryadev found his wife and approached her. He smelled her with his nose and wooed her away. They had two more sons immediately: Ashwani and Kumar. They all then went back to the Sun’s abode and met everyone with love. Since then, Jamuna came to the jungle to do Tapasya. In the Dwapur yuga, Sri Krishan ji made Jamuna his wife. Krishan ji and Jamuna had 10 sons together. Since then, the Jamuna flows as a river and washes away the sins of all. She protects her servants.”