| Yama | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Kāla, Dharmarāja, Enma, Yan, Yeom-ra, etc. |
|
First Appearance |
Hindu/Buddhist Mythologies |
|
Created by |
Unknown |
Origin[]
Yama, mid-17th century, Tibet
Yama, 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.
In Vedic tradition, Yama was considered the first mortal who died and espied the way to the celestial abodes; as a result, he became the ruler of the departed. His role, characteristics, and abode have been expounded in texts such as the Upanishads, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas.
Yama is described as the twin of Yami (Yamuna, Goddess of the Yamuna River, and the son of the god Surya (sun) (in earlier traditions Vivasvat) and Sanjna, also called Sandhya and Randala. He judges the souls of the dead and, depending on their deeds, assigns them to the realm of the Pitris (forefathers), Naraka (hell), or to 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 subsequently adopted by Buddhist, Chinese, Tibetan, Korean, and Japanese mythology as the king of hell. In Japan, he is called Enma, King Enma, and Great King Enma. In Korea, Yan is known as Yeom-ra and Great King Yeom-ra. In Vietnam, these Buddhist deities are known as Diêm La Vương or Diêm Vương, Minh Vương and are venerated as a council of all ten kings who oversee underworld realm of âm phủ, and according to the Vietnamese concept, the ten kings of hell are all governed by Phong Đô Đại Đế.
In Chinese mythology, Chinese religion, and Taoism, King Yan is the god of death and the ruler of Diyu, overseeing the "Ten Kings of Hell" in its capital of Youdu. He is also known as King Yanluo/Yanluo Wang, a transcription of the Sanskrit for "King Yama". In both ancient and modern times, Yan is portrayed as a large man with a scowling red face, bulging eyes, and a long beard. He wears traditional robes and a judge's cap or a crown which bears the character for "king". He typically appears on Chinese hell money in the position reserved for political figures on regular currency.
According to legend, he is often equated with Yama from Buddhism, but actually, Yanluo Wang has his own number of stories and long been worshiped in China. Yan is not only the ruler but also the judge of the underworld and passes judgment on all the dead. He always appears in a male form, and his minions include a judge who holds in his hands a brush and a book listing every soul and the allotted death date for every life. Ox-Head and Horse-Face, the fearsome guardians of hell, bring the newly dead, one by one, before Yan for judgement. Men or women with merit will be rewarded good future lives or even revival in their previous life. Men or women who committed misdeeds will be sentenced to suffering or miserable future lives. In some versions, Yan divides Diyu into eight, ten, or eighteen courts each ruled by a Yan King, such as King Chujiang, who rules the court reserved for thieves and murderers.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Yama from before January 1, 1931 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Upanishads
- Ramayana
- Mahabharata
- Puranas