In glorification of Vishranti-tirtha, the Skanda Purana says, “One who bathes here will destroy all his sins and be freed from the agony and misery of the material world.”
In the Adi-Varaha Purana Lord Varaha says, “Hey Devi! Vishranti-tirtha is renowned throughout the three worlds. A person becomes worshipable in Vaikuntha Dhama if he takes bath here. Lord Gatashrama (Narayana) is situated here in this beautiful place. By His darshana one achieves the results from bathing in all other holy places.”
The Padma Purana says, “Bathing at Vishrama Ghata, is one hundred times more superior to bathing in the Ganges River at the triveni-sangamduring the Magh-mela.”
In the Mathura Mahatmya it says, “Bathing at Keshi Ghata is one hundred times more beneficial than bathing in the river Ganges, but to bathe at Vishrama Ghata, is one hundred times more beneficial than bathing at Keshi Ghata.”
In the Saura Purana it says, “Vishranti-tirtha destroys all sins and offers rest from the fatigue of wandering through the desert of material existence. Anyone who bathes here and worships Achyuta will be released from the fire of material existence and attain immortality.
Yamaraja-Yamuna Mandira (Yama-Yami Mandira)
This small temple is known locally as the Yama-Yami Mandira and it is dedicated to the brother and sister duo Lord Yamaraja and Yamuna Devi, whose father was the sun-god Lord Surya-narayana. There is a great religious festival held here during Kartika every year on the day after Govardhana Puja and known asBhaiya-duja or Yama-dwitiya. This is the occasion when brothers and sisters arrive from all over Vraja to bathe together in the River Yamuna at Vishrama Ghata and then perform puja at the Yama-Yami Temple.
This festival is held in celebration of the time when Lord Yamaraja, came to visit his sister Yamuna Devi on her birthday. Lord Yamaraja had been longing to meet his twin sister and finally got the opportunity during her birthday celebrations. Yamuna Devi received her brother in the most befitting manner and served him with a wonderfully prepared meal. Lord Yamaraja was so pleased with the reception and service of his sister; he asked her what benediction she wanted.
The ever-merciful Yamuna Devi asked for a special boon, that if any brother and sister bathed together in the River Yamuna on her birthday, they would be freed from all their sins and not be called to the court of Yamaraja at their time of death. Lord Yamaraja agreed to Yamuna Devi’s proposal saying, “So be it”. In another version of the legend Yamuna Devi asked a boon that on this day all those brothers who visit their sister’s house and take a meal cooked by her will never go to Naraka.
Lord Yamaraja agreed and also promised that any sister, who invites her brother and serves food to him on this day, will never become a widow. Consequently, many hundreds and thousands of brothers and sisters congregate at Vishram Ghata to bathe in the River Yamuna and offer prayers at the Yama-Yami shrine on this particular day.
Gatashrama Narayana Mandira
This is a popular temple with the local people of Mathura and was established in 1867 by the followers of the Ramanuja sampradaya. The Deity in the temple is a four-armed form of Lord Vishnu known as Gatashram Narayana. The temple is located near to Vishrama Ghata on a hillock known as Gatashrama-tila; one of the famous hillocks of Mathura. In the Adi Varaha Purana it says. “Hey Devi! Vishranti-tirtha is renowned throughout the three worlds. A person becomes worshipable in Vaikuntha Dhama if he takes bath here. Lord Gatashrama (Narayana) is situated here in this beautiful place. By His darshana one achieves the results from bathing in all other holy places.” From this verse it can be seen that Vishrama Ghata and Lord Gatashrama Narayana are synonymous with one-another.
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