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== Yama as one Devata ==

== Yama as one Devata ==

Amongst the many devatas who are glorified, Yamaraja is one. Varuna, Indra, Soma are also in the same category. ||Dyu loka (land of light ) is under the control of Yama. <blockquote>"

Amongst the many devatas who are glorified, Yamaraja is one. Varuna, Indra, Soma are also in the same category. ||Dyu loka (land of light ) is under the control of Yama. <blockquote>"''यत्र रज वय्वस्वतह, यत्र अवरोधनम् दिवहह् || (Rik Samhita 11.113.8)''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''yatra raja vayvasvataha, yatra avarodhanam divahah || (Rik Samhita 11.113.8)''"</blockquote>The upper planets (Urdhva loka) are three in number and two are controlled by  savitri, and one is controlled by Yama. Rig Veda (1.35.6).<blockquote>"''तिस्रो दयावः सवितुर दवा उपस्थां एका यमस्य भुवने विराषाट |''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''आणिं न रथ्यम अम्र्ताधि तस्थुर इह बरवीतु य उ तच चिकेतत ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''tisro dyāvaḥ savitur dvā upasthāṃ ekā yamasya bhuvane virāṣāṭ |''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''āṇiṃ na rathyam amṛtādhi tasthur iha bravītu ya u tac ciketat ||''"</blockquote>Swarga or heaven are three in number, of which two, the Dyu Loka and Bhu Loka are under the control of the Sun. One is under the control of Yama.  Sayanacharaya says the Yama contorls the middle plantet Anatarisha.     Yama Loka is described as Param Vyoma,   the dead along with the pitris (ancestors)  go to this  place, where Yama is the mentor. This is also explained in the Vedas (ruk Samhita 10.14.8). Therefore, one should not consider Yama Loka (Yama planet) as the land of suffering alone, such understanding denotes a very limited and narrow understanding. This larger understanding as explained in the Vedas demolishes the common notions prevalent among people,  Yamaloka being an infernal place.  Of course, this does not mean that the hellish planet Naraka does not exist. Naraka exists and Yamaraja is the controller of this planet. Yama’s functions as described by  Yaska in the Nirukta (10.2-20) can be summarised as follows,<blockquote>"''यच्छति उप रमयति जिवितम् सर्वम् भुत ग्रमन् इति यमह ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''yacchati upa ramayati jivitam sarvam bhuta graman iti yamaha ||''"</blockquote>Because causes death to all the beings he is called as Antaka.  Yama’s main responsibility is to give different destination according to the  piety and impiety of jiva, therefore he is called as Antaka .  It is also explained that Yama strolls along with other devatas (Rik Samhita 10.135.1). Therefore it is not correct to say that Yamaraj is only the master of the Naraka loka(hell).  The previous episodes describe Nachiketa’s journey to Yamaloka and the realisation he had was the yama loka was the resting place of his pitris (ancestors). He also heard the playing of the flute (Rik Samhita 10.135.7).

''यत्र रज वय्वस्वतह, यत्र अवरोधनम् दिवहह् || (Rik Samhita 11.113.8)''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''yatra raja vayvasvataha, yatra avarodhanam divahah || (Rik Samhita 11.113.8)''"</blockquote>The upper planets (Urdhva loka) are three in number and two are controlled by  savitri, and one is controlled by Yama. Rig Veda (1.35.6).<blockquote>"

''तिस्रो दयावः सवितुर दवा उपस्थां एका यमस्य भुवने विराषाट |''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''आणिं न रथ्यम अम्र्ताधि तस्थुर इह बरवीतु य उ तच चिकेतत ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''tisro dyāvaḥ savitur dvā upasthāṃ ekā yamasya bhuvane virāṣāṭ |''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''āṇiṃ na rathyam amṛtādhi tasthur iha bravītu ya u tac ciketat ||''"</blockquote>Swarga or heaven are three in number, of which two, the Dyu Loka and Bhu Loka are under the control of the Sun. One is under the control of Yama.  Sayanacharaya says the Yama contorls the middle plantet Anatarisha.     Yama Loka is described as Param Vyoma,   the dead along with the pitris (ancestors)  go to this  place, where Yama is the mentor. This is also explained in the Vedas (ruk Samhita 10.14.8). Therefore, one should not consider Yama Loka (Yama planet) as the land of suffering alone, such understanding denotes a very limited and narrow understanding. This larger understanding as explained in the Vedas demolishes the common notions prevalent among people,  Yamaloka being an infernal place.  Of course, this does not mean that the hellish planet Naraka does not exist. Naraka exists and Yamaraja is the controller of this planet. Yama’s functions as described by  Yaska in the Nirukta (10.2-20) can be summarised as follows,<blockquote>"

''यच्छति उप रमयति जिवितम् सर्वम् भुत ग्रमन् इति यमह ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''yacchati upa ramayati jivitam sarvam bhuta graman iti yamaha ||''"</blockquote>Because causes death to all the beings he is called as Antaka.  Yama’s main responsibility is to give different destination according to the  piety and impiety of jiva, therefore he is called as Antaka .  It is also explained that Yama strolls along with other devatas (Rik Samhita 10.135.1). Therefore it is not correct to say that Yamaraj is only the master of the Naraka loka(hell).  The previous episodes describe Nachiketa’s journey to Yamaloka and the realisation he had was the yama loka was the resting place of his pitris (ancestors). He also heard the playing of the flute (Rik Samhita 10.135.7).

== Yama in mahabharata ==

== Yama in mahabharata ==

"Bhishma continued, 'After Yama had said these words unto him, the messenger who had borne him from his abode conveyed him back to it. The Brahmana, on his return, obeyed the instructions he had received. Having thus conveyed him back to his abode the messenger of Yama fetched Sarmin who had really been sought by Yama. Taking Sarmin unto him, he informed his master. Possessed of great energy, the judge of the dead worshipped that righteous Brahmana, and having conversed with him a while dismissed him for being taken back to his abode. Unto him also Yama gave the same instructions. Sarmin, too, coming back into the world of men, did all that Yama had said. Like the gift of water, Yama, from a desire of doing good to the Pitris, applauds the gift of lamps to light dark places. Hence, the giver of a lamp for lighting a dark place is regarded as benefiting the Pitris. Hence, O best of the Bharatas, one should always give lamps for lighting dark spots. The giving of lamps enhances the visual power of the deities, the Pitris, and one's own self. 1 It has been said, O king, that the gift of gems is a very superior gift. The Brahmana, who, having accepted a gift of gems, sells the same for performing a sacrifice, incurs no fault. The Brahmana, who, having accepted a gift of gems makes a gift of them unto Brahmanas. acquires inexhaustible merit himself and confers inexhaustible merit upon him from whom he had originally received them. Conversant with every duty Manu himself has said that he, who, observant of proper restraints, earns makes a gift of gems unto a Brahmana observant of proper restraints earns inexhaustible merit himself and confers inexhaustible merit upon the recipient. The man who is content with his own wedded wife and who makes a gift of robes, earns an excellent complexion and excellent vestments for himself. I have told thee, O foremost of men, what the merits are that attach to gifts of kine, of gold, and the sesame agreeably to deserve precepts of the Vedas and the scriptures One should marry and raise offspring upon one's wedded wives. Of all acquisitions, O son of Kuru's race, that of male issue is regarded as the foremost.'"

"Bhishma continued, 'After Yama had said these words unto him, the messenger who had borne him from his abode conveyed him back to it. The Brahmana, on his return, obeyed the instructions he had received. Having thus conveyed him back to his abode the messenger of Yama fetched Sarmin who had really been sought by Yama. Taking Sarmin unto him, he informed his master. Possessed of great energy, the judge of the dead worshipped that righteous Brahmana, and having conversed with him a while dismissed him for being taken back to his abode. Unto him also Yama gave the same instructions. Sarmin, too, coming back into the world of men, did all that Yama had said. Like the gift of water, Yama, from a desire of doing good to the Pitris, applauds the gift of lamps to light dark places. Hence, the giver of a lamp for lighting a dark place is regarded as benefiting the Pitris. Hence, O best of the Bharatas, one should always give lamps for lighting dark spots. The giving of lamps enhances the visual power of the deities, the Pitris, and one's own self. 1 It has been said, O king, that the gift of gems is a very superior gift. The Brahmana, who, having accepted a gift of gems, sells the same for performing a sacrifice, incurs no fault. The Brahmana, who, having accepted a gift of gems makes a gift of them unto Brahmanas. acquires inexhaustible merit himself and confers inexhaustible merit upon him from whom he had originally received them. Conversant with every duty Manu himself has said that he, who, observant of proper restraints, earns makes a gift of gems unto a Brahmana observant of proper restraints earns inexhaustible merit himself and confers inexhaustible merit upon the recipient. The man who is content with his own wedded wife and who makes a gift of robes, earns an excellent complexion and excellent vestments for himself. I have told thee, O foremost of men, what the merits are that attach to gifts of kine, of gold, and the sesame agreeably to deserve precepts of the Vedas and the scriptures One should marry and raise offspring upon one's wedded wives. Of all acquisitions, O son of Kuru's race, that of male issue is regarded as the foremost.'"

== Yama And Crows ==

== Yama And Crows ==

In Valmiki Ramayana, Uttara Kanda, there is a story about the crow's right to eat the offering of rice to Pitrus. 

In Valmiki Ramayana, Uttara Kanda, there is a story about the crow's right to eat the offering of rice to Pitrus. 

== Worship of Yama ==

== Worship of Yama ==

Yamapanchakas is the period of time starting from Asweyuja Krishna Trayodasi till Kaartika Suddha Tritiya.  The Day of Narakachaturdashi  falls in between Sacred scripts prescribe that after taking bath on Naraka Chaturdasi day all those who are eligible to offer Pithru tharpana should give Thila Tharpanam in the name of Yama Dharma Raja (God of Death) called Yama Tharpanam by reciting the following sloka containing 14 names of Lord Yama Dharma Raja. 

Yamapanchakas is the period of time starting from Asweyuja Krishna Trayodasi till Kaartika Suddha Tritiya.  The Day of Narakachaturdashi  falls in between Sacred scripts prescribe that after taking bath on Naraka Chaturdasi day all those who are eligible to offer Pithru tharpana should give Thila Tharpanam in the name of Yama Dharma Raja (God of Death) called Yama Tharpanam by reciting the following sloka containing 14 names of Lord Yama Dharma Raja. 

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