Talk:Yama
By Swami Harshananda
Yama literally means ‘one who controls’.
Yama as per Ṛgveda[edit]
In the Ṛgveda, the word yama has been used in several mantras, in the sense of twins.[1] It has also been used to indicate a god or deity, sometimes identified with the Supreme.[2] As one of the deities like Indra or Varuṇa, he is said to be the offspring of Vivasvān[3] and his wife Samjñā. Hence he is called Vaivasvata also. Yami was his twin-sister. He is the lord of the pitṛs or manes. He is the king of the Pitṛloka, the world of the manes.[4][5] He is considered as death for the human beings.[6] He sends the dead persons to the regions they deserve, good or bad.[7]
Yama as per Kathā Upaniṣad[edit]
The Kathā Upaniṣad is the teaching given by Yama-Vaivasvata to the young seeker Naciketas.
Yama as per Purāṇas[edit]
In the epics and the purāṇas, he is described as the lord of the South. His capital is the city called Sarhyamani. Mahiṣa or the buffalo is his vāhana or mount. The river Yamunā is his sister. He gave many boons to Arjuna when he was performing austerities at the Indrakīla mountain. He also gave many boons to Sāvitrī, being pleased with her devotion to her husband Satyavān.[8] As a result of the curse of the sage Aṇimāṇdavya, Yama was born as Vidura, considered a śudra by caste.[9] After testing Yudhiṣṭhira, his own spiritual son, as a Yakṣa, he blessed him, fulfilling all his wishes.[10] When he wanted to take away Mārkaṇḍeya after his life-duration was completed, he was chastised by Lord Śiva. He reminded Rāma at the end of his earthly sojourn of his promise to return to Vaikuṇṭha.
Yama as per Yoga[edit]
Yama is the first of the eight steps of yoga.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore