Another name for Yamuna. One of the oldest and most important rivers in India. The goddess associated with this river is Kalindidevi. She is the daughter of Surya and the river has its origins in the Kalindi  mountains. Kalindi meets the Ganga in Prayag. This sangam is a holy place.

Immediately after Krishna’s birth, Vasudeva secretly carried him to Ambadi. The Kalindi was in spate then, and Vasudeva requested it to part and let him through. The river complied as per Bhagavata Dashamaskanda.

Once Balarama stayed away from Mathura, in Ambadi for two months. During that time, he once visited the Kalindi with his friends. He was drunk and wanted to frolic with women in the river. KHe beckoned the river but it refused to go near him. Balarama was furious and dragged the river with his plough. She begged for mercy and he calmed himself as per Bhagavata Dashamaskanda.

After Maya built Indraprastha, he stayed awhile with the Pandavas and Krishna. During that time, Krishna and Arjuna went to the Kalindi. There, Arjuna saw a beautiful woman meditating, and approached her. She said she was Kalindi and was meditating to get Krishna as her husband. Arjuna informed Krishna, who took her to Dwaraka and married her. They had ten sons including Shruta as per Bhagavata Dashamaskanda.

Once Krishna attacked Jarasandha. Jarasandha had a minister named Hamsa, whose child committed suicide by jumping into the Kalindi, after it heard a rumour that Hamsa had been killed. Hamsa hadn’t died and he came to know about his son’s death after he returned from the battle. On hearing the news, he too jumped into the Kalindi and died as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 14.

Kalindi is one of the seven tributaries of the Ganga and bathing in it rids one of sins as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 139 verse 19.

The Pandavas crossed the river during their exile as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 5 verse 2.

Srinjaya’s son Sahadeva gave Agni 1000 gold coins on the banks of the Kalindi as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 90 verse 7.

Bharata conducted 33 ashwamedhas on the banks of the Kalindi as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 90 verse 8, then six more later as per Mahabharata Dronaparva Chapter 68, and 300 more as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 29.

Ambarish, son of Nabhaga, conducted a yajna on the banks of the Kalindi as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 129.

Agastya meditated on the banks of this river as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 161.

Shantanu conducted 7 yajnas on the banks of the Kalindi as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 162.

The Kalindi is black in colour. After Sati’s death, Kama shot an arrow at Shiva, who was in mourning. Shiva experienced a sense of ecstasy, and jumped into the Kalindi river, turning it black as per Yamunapurana Chapter 6.