Yama
Yama (Sanskrit: यम), also known as Kala, and Dharmaraja 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.
| Yama | |
|---|---|
God of Death and Justice | |
A 19th-century painting of Yama on his mount. | |
| Other names | Dharmaraja, Yamaraja, Yammui |
| Devanagari | यम |
| Affiliation | Lokapala, Deva, Gana |
| Abode | Naraka (Yamaloka) |
| Planet | Pluto |
| Mantra | Om Surya putraya Vidmahe Mahakalaya Dhimahi Tanno Yama Prachodayat |
| Weapon | Danda, Noose and Mace |
| Mount | Buffalo |
| Personal information | |
| Parents | |
| Siblings | Yami, Ashvins, Shraddhadeva Manu, Revanta, Shani and Tapati |
| Consort | Dhumorna |
| Children | Sunita (daughter); Yudhishthira (spiritual son) |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Hades |
| Roman equivalent | Remus, Dis Pater, Pluto |
| Norse equivalent | Ymir |
| Manipuri equivalent | Thongalel |
| Egyptian equivalent | Osiris, Sokar |
In Vedic tradition, Yama was considered to be the first mortal who died and espied the way to the celestial abodes; thus, as a result, he became the ruler of the departed. His role, characteristics, and abode have been expanded in texts such as the Upanishads, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.
Yama is described as the twin of Yami, and the son of the sun god Surya (in earlier traditions Vivasvat) and Sanjna. He judges the souls of the dead and depending on their deeds, he assigns them to the realm of the Pitris (forefathers), Naraka (hell), or be reborn on the earth.
Yama is one of the Lokapalas (guardians of the realms), appointed as the protector of the south direction. He is often depicted as a dark-complexioned man, riding a buffalo and carrying a noose or mace to capture souls.
Yama was also adopted subsequently adopted by Buddhist, Chinese, Tibetan, Korean, and Japanese mythology as the king of hell. In modern culture, Yama has been depicted in various safety campaigns in India.