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Hindus remember and worship lord YAMA or YAMRAJ every day. Remembering that at the end of life, the YAMARAJA will evaluate their deeds and send them to Narak, Swarg or Earth. And this reminds them to do good deeds.
There are two certainties in life. One that you were born and the second that someday you will die. Both birth and death are equally common in a family, yet death makes us insecure. We are unaware of when it will happen as it could happen at any moment.
YAMARAJ ( also called Kala and Dharmaraja) ensures the designated number of deaths happens. Yama judges the departed souls according to their Karma. And basis it assigns them to Pitralok ( forefathers- ancestral space) or sends them to Narak ( hell) or sends them to be reborn on the Earth, or allows Devdhoot ( angles) to take them to Havan.
Chitragupta, the 17th Manas Putra (brainchild) of Brahma, created by Brahma’s Soul and mind, keeps track of all human deeds in the Agrasandhanī register. When the soul is presented before Yama, Chitraguta ( married to Sobhavati – daughter to Yama) reads the karma record, and Yama decides where the soul should be sent.
YAMRAJ THE LOKPAL.
Yama is one of the Lokapalas (guardian angel protector) and is the protector of the south direction. The other principal guardians are Kubera, the god of wealth and divine god of Yaksha, which is Lokapala for the north; Indra, the king of Devtas; and Swarg, which is Lokpala of the East. There are 7 Swarg ( Haven), namely Bhuvas, Swas (controlled and governed by Indra), Tharus, Thaarus, Savithaa, Prapithaa, and Maha (governed and regulated by Brahma). Finally, Varuna, the god of sky, ocean and water, is the lokapala of the west direction.
YAMA IMAGE.
Yama is described as having four arms, protruding fangs, and a dark complexion of storm clouds, with a wrathful expression; surrounded by a garland of flames; dressed in red, yellow, or blue garments; holding a noose and a mace or sword; and riding a water-buffalo, to capture the soul. Two dark-skinned dogs walk with him; they are four-eyed dogs.
He holds a noose (pasa) of rope in one hand, seizing the lives of people about to die. He is also depicted holding a danda, a Sanskrit word for “staff”.. Dhumorna, his wife, is represented sitting on the left haunch of Yama, and she has the colour of a dark blue lotus.
YAMA NAMES
Dharmaraja, or Yama, is known by many names. Some of them are Dharma Raja, Mrtyu, Antaka, Vaivasvata, Kala, Sarva Bhoota Kshayakara, Audumbara, Dathna, Neela, Parameshti, Vrukodara, Chitra and Chitra Gupta.
WHO KILLED YAMARAJ
SHIVA KILLING YAMA FOR MARKANDEYA.
The sage Mrikandu prayed to Shiva at Vilvavanam for a son. Shiva offered him a choice: a virtuous son who would live 16 years or 100 long-lived, foolish sons. Mrikandu chose the former and accordingly had a son named Markandeya. As Markandeya neared the end of his fifteenth year, the god Brahma taught him Mahamrityunjaya Mantra (“the great death-conquering” mantra). As per Brahma’s advice, Markandeya prayed to Shiva, worshipping the linga (Shiva’s aniconic symbol) south of Vilvavanam ( identified as current, Thirukkadavoor). The gods pleaded with Shiva to extend Markandeya’s life, and Shiva consented.
As per his destiny, the messengers of Yama came to take away Markandeya’s soul but failed to approach him as he ceaselessly repeated Shiva’s name. Yama then came personally to take Markandeya’s soul and told Markandeya to stop his worship and go with him as per his fate. Markandeya refused, warning Yama that he was committing an offence against Shiva. Yama, however, said that not even Shiva could stop him. The wrathful Yama assumed a fearsome form and threw his noose to capture Markandeya, who hugged the linga tightly. When the noose touched the linga, Shiva emerged, struck Yama with his Trishula, and kicked his chest, killing the Lord of Death.
When Yam is dead.
Sages, gods and other beings appeared to praise Shiva, who blessed Markandeya to remain a youth of 16 for seven kalpas (aeons). Now, there was no one to keep account of the dead or even make people die. Earth became full of evil beings. The Earth, the gods, and Markandeya invoked Shiva to revive Yama. Once again, Shiva touched Yama with his foot, bringing him back to life.
It is believed ( as per one of the stories) that Yama promised never to touch Shiva’s devotees. Hence Shiva devotees go directly to Mount Kailasha and not to Yama.
A VARIATION FO THE LEGEND.
There was an old sage called Svetmuni residing on the banks of river Godavari who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. At the time of his death, Yamaraj sent Yamdhoots to take his soul. Still, Svetmuni did not want to give up his life, so he started chanting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. When the death loop reached the sage’s ashram, Yamdhoots saw Bhairon Baba guarding the ashram. As soon as the Yama noose tried to kill the sage, Bhairav Baba made it ineffective. Seeing this, Yamraj became very angry and came himself. He tied Bhairav Baba to the death mose, and then to kill the Svetmuni, he passed a death sentence. Svetmuni called his presiding deity Mahadev who immediately sent his son Kartikeya to rescue him.
A fierce battle occurred between Kartikeya and Yama Dev, in which Yamraj was killed. Yamraj is the son of the Sun God who went to Lord Vishnu; Lord Vishnu suggested to please Lord Shiva by doing penance. Son did the tapasya and, when Shiva was pleased, told him that due to the death of Yamraj, there was a significant imbalance on the Earth. Please revive Yamraj to maintain the balance on Earth. Lord Shiva ordered Yamuna water from Nandi and sprinkled it on the body of Yamdev, which made him alive again.
YAMA AND HIS FAMILY.
FAMILY
Yama is the twin of Yami, the river Yamuna (also called Kalandi). They both are ] the son and daughter of sun god Surya and Saranyu (also known as Sanjna or samjna – the Cloud Goddess), the primary consort of Surya.
Saranyu is the mother of the current Manu; Vaivasvata Manu, also called Shraddhadeva or Satyavrata, the progenitor of the human race and 7th of the 14 Manus of the present Kalpa (Aeon)- the period between the construction and reconstruction of the universe approximated to 4.32 Billion years in Hindi tradition. Each Manu regime is around 1 Manavantara or 71 Yuga cycles – lasting around 306,720,000 years. Manu was forewarned about the divine flood by Lord Vishnu’s Matsya Avatar (Fish). He saved mankind by building a boat that carried his family and the Saptarishi to safety. There is a different list of the Saptrishi in various scriptures. Still, the most common names for the Saptrishi ( Seven sages) are Agastya, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Vashistha, and Vishvamitra.
Saranyu is also mother to Twin dev (God) physicians Ashvin brothers and God Revanta. The Ashvins (Ashvini Kumaras or Asvinau) are twin youthful divine gods associated with medicine, health, dawn, and sciences. They travel in a chariot drawn by horses that never get tired. Nakul and Sehdev of the Pandav brothers of Mahabharata were fathered by the Ashwin brothers with Kunti.
Revanta is the youngest son of Surya and is considered a minor deity.
Shani ( Saturn), Tapati (Goddess Tapti- river Tapti in the South) and Savarni Manu ( the 8th manu) are the stepbrother and sisters of Yama – born with Chaya and Surya.
YAMRAJ WIVES AND SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
There is vagueness about the wife of Lord Yama. Dhumorna (also called Urmila) is the name that featured the most and is considered the goddess of the funeral pyre and the only consort of Lord Yama. In some other places, Syamala (also referred to as Vijaya) and Hema-mala are mentioned as two other wives of Yama.
There is confusion about the exact number of sons and daughters of Lord Yama. Yama Kumar, Lord Katila, and Yudhishthira (the spiritual son of Yamraj) feature prominently as Yama Son. However, in the case of Mahabharata, Yama and Dharamraja (the father of Yudhister) are equated, whereas, in different scripture, they are identified as two other people.
Yama’s daughter is Sunita (or Sunitha), described as an ugly woman known for bad behaviour.
YAMA TEMPLE.
DHARMESHWAR MAHARAJ AT HIMACHAL PRADESH
Dharamraj temple (Yamraj temple or Dharmeshwar Mahadev ) in Bharmour in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh s considered a unique temple of lord Yama – where deeds of life are decided. A decision is taken in the afterlife. People avoid going inside the temple and, on seeing it do their pranama or join palms in respect and leave.
Inside the temple is an empty room, which is supposed to be the room of Chitragupta, where the soul is first brought and the accounts of the person’s deeds are read. The soul then enters another room called the court of Yamraja, also called Dai-podi ( two and a half steps). Here the decision about the next journey of the soul is taken. Legend has it that there are four invisible gates to the temple. They are made of Gold, Silver, Copper and Iron; it is believed that there is a large cave under the temple which every soul must travel after the Yamraja court. The devdhoots escort the soul through these gates according to the decision made.
DHARMARAJA TEMPLE THANJAVUR
One of the other well-known temples of Yama Dharmaraja Temple is in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. As per the story, Manmatha (Kamadeva)- the Western equivalent of Cupid) provoked Lord Shiva and was burnt to death. The Puradhana Vaneswarar Temple is where Kamadeva was burnt. However, at Yama’s request, Shiva gave Kamadeva life. The Yama Dharmaraja Temple is believed to be where Kamadeva was restored to life.
DHARMARAJ AT VARANASI.
Once upon a time, in Anand Van (Kashi), Yamraj installed a Ling and did severe penance, praying to Lord Shiva, standing on one leg to start with and then one toe for many years. He continued through winter and summer, and the power and intensity of his prayers increased; Lord Shiva appeared before him and conferred him the title of Dharma Raj on Yama Raj. The Yamaraj installed Ling I called Dharmeshwar Ling. Seeing Lord Shiva, Yam Raj was overwhelmed and forgot what he wanted to ask. Lord Shiva then told him that he must do justice to dying people. Those committing sins should face punishment. Those performing Punya Karma (Virtuous deeds) should go to heaven. The judgment should be fair. Those living in Kashi and engaging in pooja should be free from all sins committed in any generation and birth. Yam Raj agreed to Lord Shiva, which is one reason why people who die in Varanasi, their soul directly gets Moksha.
Yamunaji Dharamraji Temple at Mathura.
Situated at the Vishram Ghat of Yamuna Ji in Mathura, this temple has brother-sister Yamaraj and Yami ( Yamuna) idols. They were born of Sanjana and Surya, but once Sanjana could not handle the sun’s scorching rays and heat, she left the palace and, in place of her, left a shadow ( Chaya ) of herself. The Chaya started behaving like a goddess with Yamraj and Yamuna. Disappointed, Yamraj established Yampuri, where he punished sinners. Yami then went to Golok. She would request Yama to visit her, but he was busy. One day Yama finally went searching for Yami and met her at Golok at the Vishram ghat. ( Yami) Yamuna Ji welcomed Yama with great joy and gave him food. Yamarj was pleased and asked Yami to seek a boon. Yami that people who eat at their sister’s house on this day and bathe at the Vishram Ghat in this city of Mathura should not go to Yampuri and Yamraj. Yama assured sister Yamunaji it would be done. This day we refer to as the day of Bhai Dooj. People eat meals at their sister’s pace or with their sister, then bathe in Yamuna to be absolved of all sins and avoid Yamraj.
SOME LEGENDS ASSOCIATED WITH YAMRAJ
THE LEGEND OF NACHIKETA
Nachiketa was the 10-year-old son of sage Rishi Vaajsharavas. Once, the sage decided to perform a yagna and give away all his possessions as part of the sacrifice. During yagna, old and ill cattle were being given away. Seeing this, the young boy asked his father, since he was the father’s prized possession, to whom he would be given away. The father continued doing the yagna, but the young Nachikeeta persisted with his question- flustered and irritated, the sage told him that he would give his son to Yama, the lord of death.
To keep his father’s word, Nachiketa walked towards Yamraj’s home. Yama was not in his house, so the young Nachiketa waited without food and water. When Yama returned, he was angry that a young Brahmin had to wait and offered three boons to the boy.
As his first boon, Nachiketa asked that his father should not be angry with him, which was immediately granted. The second boon was to know the truth behind the sacrificial fire. Yama explained that the fire was symbolic of knowledge. There is primary education, which is knowledge of how to light a fire. Then there is knowledge of perception, knowing that fire gives light and heat. The third is inferential knowledge, knowing fire can be controlled, utilized, or burned. The third boon was to understand what happens after death. Yama did not want to answer the question, so he offered Nachiketa every possible richness instead. However, Nachiketa wished to know the answer to his question. Yama said every cause has an effect, and every product has a reason. The soul never dies or takes birth. With this knowledge, Nachiketa became the boy who knew death and returned to his father.
THE LEGEND OF VIDHUR YAMA IN MAHABHARAT
Vidhur, the uncle of Kaurav and Pandav;’s is how Yamraj appears in Mahabharat. It was the result of a curse by Sage Mandavya. The story says that once, Sage Mandavya was in deep meditation in his ashram. A group of thieves chased by soldiers ran and hid inside the ashram without the Knowledge of Sage Mandavya. The soldiers caught the thieves from the ashram and accused the sage of assisting the thieves. One of the soldiers thrust a spear into the sage, which caused his death. On dying, Sage Mandavya asked Yama why he suffered such a fate; Yama then explained that as a child, the sage used to catch butterflies and enter sharp twigs through them for fun. Sage Mandavya felt these were innocent, unaware actions of children, and they should be forgiven and not made to the Chirtraguta register of deeds.
Sage Mandavya cursed Yama to be born from the womb of servant Das/Maid) woman and mistress of the king. Vidura was born as the son of Sage Vyasa and a dasi – the mistress in the palace of the Kurus in Hastinapura.
BIRTH OF YAMRAJ AS VIDHUR IN MAHABHARAT
Vichitravirya, the last of the prince of the Kuru clan, died childless. Satyavati ( The mother of Vichitravirya and Chitragandab and wife of Shantanu) then asked Bhishma to marry the two wives of Vichitravirya – Ambika and Ambalika. Bhoshma declined as he had promised to remain a Brahmachari. Satyavati then summoned Sage Vyasa, her son, to father her grandchildren through the accepted practice of Niyog.
Ambika and Ambalika, the wives of Vichitravirya, considered Sage Vyasa ugly. Ambika closed her eyes during copulation and gave birth to blind Dhritarashtra. Ambalika found him too repulsive and hence gave birth to Pandu, who lacked colour in his skin.
After the birth of two deformed children, Satyavati asked the queens to copulate again. But the queens were not interested, and instead, they sent a dasi to the room of Sage Vyasa. Dasi and the sage Vyas copulation, and Vidura was born to them. But being a dasi son Vidhur was denied the crown of Hastinapura.
YAMA DIALOGUE WITH YUDHISTER IN MAHABHARATA
One day when Pandavas were thirsty and roaming in a jungle, Yudhistira sent each brother one by one to a nearby pond to collect water. A Yaksha in the jungle warned each brother not to drink water without permission, but they ignored him and drank. The water was poisonous, and the Panadav brothers died.
At last, came Yudhisthir, and he successfully answered all of Yaksha’s questions.
Yaksha (Yamraj) was happy with the answers, so he asked Yudhister if he wants, he can have one of the brothers come alive. Yudhister asked for Nakula to be alive. The Yaksha asked him why Yudhister wanted Nakula when he could have brought back Arjuna and Bheema. Yudhister had his answer, ‘To me, both mothers are alike. I am the eldest son of Kunti, and I am alive. So I would want the eldest son of Mother Madri to be alive. I cannot do injustice with her”.
Yaksha was not done with the questioning. He then asked Yudhister if he would have allowed two brothers to be brought back, who would have Yudhister chosen.
Yudhister chose Sahadeva, saying he was younger than both Bheema and Arjuna.
Yaksha was pealed and offered to return all four brothers’ lives. Then Yudhister said that as a yaksha cannot give life, he wants to know the real identity. It is then that Yaksha reveals he is Dharmraj (also referred to at places as Yama), the father of Yudhistir, who wanted to test his son.
YAKSHA ( YAMRAJ) and YUDHISTHIR CONVERSATION.
Yaksha: What is heavier than the Earth?
Yudhisthir: Mother
Yaksha: What is higher than the sky?
Yudhisthir: Father
Yaksha: What is faster than the wind?
Yudhisthir: The mind.
Yaksha: What is more in number than twigs?
Yudhisthir: Worries
Yaksha: Who is a friend of the person close to his death?
Yudhisthir: Charity
Yaksha: Where do religion, success, heaven and happiness reside?
Yudhisthir: Religion resides in awareness. Success resides in charity or philanthropy. Heaven resides in truth. Happiness is Chastity (celibacy).
Yaksha: What is a man’s soul?
Yudhisthir: His children.
Yaksha: What has covered the Earth?
Yudhisthir: Ignorance.
Yaksha: What is laziness?
Yudhisthir: Ignorance towards own’s dharma is laziness.
Yaksha: Who is truly happy?
Yudhisthir: A person free from debt of any form.
Yaksha: What is true cleansing?
Yudhisthir: The cleansing of the mind.
Yaksha: What is darker than charcoal?
Yudhisthir: Disrepute
Yaksha: What is the best religion?
Yudhisthir: Pity/empathy/consideration.
Yaksha: What can prevent mourning?
Yudhisthir: Controlling the mind.
Yaksha: What is the definition of shame?
Yudhisthir: Keeping yourself away from unworthy things.
Yaksha: What is Piety?
Yudhisthir: Wishing happiness of all (including your enemies) is Piety.
Yaksha: What kills a nation?
Yudhisthir: Slavery and Anarchy
Yaksha: What is the actual test of Brahminhood? Dynasty, character, teaching or knowledge?
Yudhisthir: Dynasty, Knowledge or teaching does not prove Brahminhood. The true test of Brahminhood is the character of an individual. A person of lower caste with a strong character is more respected than a Brahman who has the knowledge and is born into a renowned family but has no character.
Yaksha: Is religion or dharma logic?
Yudhisthir: No, it is not.
Yaksha: Is religion or dharma found in the philosophy of sages?
Yudhisthir: No. Each sage differs in opinion from another sage, and their arguments lie in conflict. No philosopher, brahman or learned man has an understanding of complete truth.
Yaksha: Then where is complete truth?
Yudhisthir: Within the heart, soul and mind of a person who believes.
Yaksha: What is the greatest wonder?
Yudhisthir: The most wonderful thing in this world is that, despite countless people passing away every day, the rest still hopes to live forever.
THE LEGEND OF SAVITRI
The story is shared in Vana Parva ( a collection of stories during the Vanavas- exile in the forest )- it is one of the Parva ( collection- period- descriptor of the 18 Parv of Mahabharat- the 36th to 40th ) in Mahabharata by sage Markandeya when asked by Yudhister if there was any woman who matched Draupadi’s purity and faithfulness to her husbands.
Savitri, a princess, married Satyavan, an exiled prince, who is prophesied to die early. She saved her husband from the clutches of the lord of death- Yama.
The new moon day of Jyestha month is celebrated as Savitra brath (Fast) in Bihar-Kharkhand and Orissa zone. Similarly, in Western India, the day is observed on the Purnima (full moon) of the month as Vat Purnima. In the South of Tamil Nadu, it is believed that Savitri got her husband back on the first day of the Tamil month Panguni, celebrated as Karadayan Nonbu.
Savitri was the daughter of Ashvapati, the Madra King and his first queen Malava. After eighteen years of penance, the queen conceived her as oer the boon granted by Brahma Consort Savitri. The king asked for many sons, but the boon gave him a daughter. On an auspicious day, her father asked her to choose a husband with suitable qualities. Savitri chose an exiled prince named Satyavan ( son of blind king Dyumastena of Shalva Kingdom) as her husband. Narada, the rishi seated with her father, opined that Savitri had made a wrong choice. Satyavan was destined to die in one year. Though her father asked her to rethink, adamant Savitri married Satyavan.
The end time arrives.
Three days before the destined death of Satyavan, Savitri started on a fast and stood day and night. On the day of her husband’s predicted demise, Savitri offered oblations to the fire and obeisance to the Brahmanas, completing her vow.
She joined Satyavan when he went to chop wood. Growing fatigued due to exertion, he conveyed his desire to sleep to his wife, who placed his head on her lap. Yama, the god of death, personally arrived to collect the soul of Satyavan with his noose. Distressed, Savitri followed Yama as he carried her husband’s soul away. When he tried to convince her to turn back, she offered several successive homilies. First, she discussed the significance of adherence to dharma, followed by association with the virtuous, the righteousness of compassion, the trustworthiness of the virtuous, and finally, the conduct of the virtuous. Impressed at each homily, Yamraj praised both the content and diction of her words and offered to grant her any boon of her choice except the life of Satyavan.
Savitri first asked for her father’s eye sights to be restored, and then she asked for his kingdom to be restored. As the third boon, she asked to be the mother to 100 sons fathered by Satyavan. Thus Yama had to restore the life of Satyavan and bliss both Savitri and Satyavan with long life.
DHARAMADEVA VS YAMRAJ.
They are considered as one most of the time. Even in Mahabharat, when it is said that Yudhister was the son of Dhararaj, it is YAMRAJ who comes to meet and test him and is regarded as the father. Because Yama- the Kala (time), weighs the evil and good in man, he got the name Dharmaraja. Dharmadeva was named as he is the incarnation of dharma.
The real name of Kala is Yama. Dharmadeva got the name Yama because he possesses ‘Yama’ (control of the self for moral conduct).”
Additional differences.
Yamraj is the judge of the dead, while Dharmadeva is one of the Prajapati (agents of creation).
Yama is the son of the sun god Surya and his wife Sanjna, while Dharmadeva is born from the chest of the god Brahma.
Yamraj is married to Dhumorna. On the other hand, Dharmadeva is married to ten or thirteen daughters ( Maruvati, Vasu, Jami, Lamba, Bhanu, Urjja, Sankalp, Mahurath, Sadhya, Vishva ) of Daksha who had 60 daughters and was one of the Prajapaties and the agents of creation, a divine king-rishi. Just for your information, 27 of his daughters Ashvini, Bharani, Krttika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Tarakam or Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Janakam or Magha, Phalguni, Uttarphalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Svati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyestha, Mula, Purvashadha, Uttarasadha, Srona or Shravana, Dhanistha or Shatabhisha, Abhijit or Prachetas, Purvabhadrapada, Uttarabhadrapada and Revati are married to Chand- the Moon God.
Yamraj has a daughter Sunita. Dharmadeva fathered many sons from his wives. He also fathered Yudhishthira, the eldest of the Pandavas.
These differences are debatable, and most do not consider Yama and Dhararaj as different entities.
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DISCLAIMER
This collation of information from different sources does not guarantee factual correctness. The author is not an expert on the subject. This is part of the #IgnorantHindu series of articles and blogs- where the author has tried to place basic information for public consumption.
