Yama

Yama (Sanskrit: यम, lit: twin), also known as Kāla and Dharmarāja, is the Hindu god of death and justice, responsible for the dispensation of law and punishment of sinners in his abode, Naraka. He is often identified with Dharmadeva, the personification of Dharma, though the two deities have different origins and myths.

17th century Tibetan depiction of Yama

Quotes

Hindu Scriptures

• I know the knowledge that leads to heaven. I will explain it to you so that you will understand it. O Nachiketas, remember this knowledge is the way to the endless world; the support of all worlds; and abides in subtle form within the intellects of the wise.
  • Yama in the Katha Upanishad, Chapter 1, Section 1, Verse 14.
• What enemy is invincible? What constitutes an incurable disease? What sort of man is noble and what sort is ignoble?
  • Yama in the Yaksha Prashna episode of the Mahabharata talking to Yudhishthira.
• Of the celestial Naga snakes I am Ananta; of the aquatic deities I am Varuna. Of departed ancestors I am Aryamaa and among the dispensers of law I am Yama, lord of death.
  • Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita scripture of the Mahabharata.
• As long as Vidura played the part of a śūdra, being cursed by Maṇḍūka Muni [also known as Māṇḍavya Muni], Aryamā officiated at the post of Yamarāja to punish those who committed sinful acts.
  • Sentence about Vidura, an incarnation of Yama, from Canto 1, Chapter 13, Verse 15 of the Bhagavata Purana.
• I know that you are now Vidura due to the cursing of Māṇḍavya Muni and that formerly you were King Yamarāja, the great controller of living entities after their death. You were begotten by the son of Satyavatī, Vyāsadeva, in the kept wife of his brother.
  • The sage, Maitreya telling Vidura how he is an incarnation of Yama in the Canto 3, Chapter 5, Verse 20 of the Bhagavata Purana.
• My dear servants, you have accepted me as the Supreme, but factually I am not. Above me, and above all the other demigods, including Indra and Candra, is the one supreme master and controller. The partial manifestations of His personality are Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva, who are in charge of the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this universe. He is like the two threads that form the length and breadth of a woven cloth. The entire world is controlled by Him just as a bull is controlled by a rope in its nose.
  • Yama in Canto 6, Chapter 3, Verse 12 of the Bhagavata Purana.
• O Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, what shall I do for You and Lord Balarāma, who are playing the part of ordinary humans?
  • Yama speaking to Krishna and his half brother, Balarama after they entered hell to bring back the dead son of their Guru, Sandipani.
• Riding on his terrible buffalo, the god of Death Yama hastened to that place. He was holding his sceptre (rod of chastisement). His physical body was yellow in colour. In prowess he was comparable to none. He was unparalleled in brilliance, strength and power of demanding obedience. His limbs were well developed and he wore garlands.
  • Description of Yama in Chapter 30.9–12 of the Brahma Purana.

Journey to the West

• The great sage, do not be angry. The number of people of the same name in the world are many. It must be that those who arrested you made a mistake.
  • King Yan, a Chinese version of Yama, speaking to Sun Wukong (Monkey King) in the Journey to the West.

See also

• Asura