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== Yama Devataswaroopam ==

== Yama Devataswaroopam ==

 Among the many devatas, Yamadeva is one of the significant ones, as he represents Kala (time). Along with Indra, Varuna, Agni, and Soma, Yama is also worshipped since Vedic times. द्युर्लोकः || Dyurloka (land of light ) is under the control of Yama.<blockquote>"यत्र राजा वैवस्वतो यत्रावरोधनं दिवः | यत्रामूर्यह्वतीरापस्तत्र माममृतं कृधीन्द्रायेन्दो परि स्रव ||" (Rig. Veda. 9.113.8)</blockquote><blockquote>"yatra rājā vaivasvato yatrāvarodhanaṁ divaḥ | yatrāmūryahvatīrāpastatra māmamr̥taṁ kr̥dhīndrāyendo pari srava ||" (Rig. Veda. 9.113.8) </blockquote>Meaning : Make me eternal in the realms where King Vivaswaan's son rules. Surya is also called Vivasvaan.<blockquote>"तिस्रो द्यावः सवितुर द्वा उपस्थां एका यमस्य भुवने विराषाट | आणिं न रथ्यममृताधि तस्थुरिह ब्रवीतु य उ तच्चिकेतत् ||" (Rig. Veda. 1.35.6)</blockquote><blockquote>"tisro dyāvaḥ savitura dvā upasthāṁ ekā yamasya bhuvane virāṣāṭa | āṇiṁ na rathyamamr̥tādhi tasthuriha bravītu ya u tacciketat ||" (Rig. Veda. 1.35.6)</blockquote>Meaning: Two of the three Urdhvalokas (Higher heavens) are controlled by Savitr, and one by Yama.

Among the many devatas, Yamadeva is one of the significant ones, as he represents Kala (time). Along with Indra, Varuna, Agni, and Soma, Yama is also worshipped since Vedic times. द्युर्लोकः || Dyurloka (land of light ) is under the control of Yama.<blockquote>"यत्र राजा वैवस्वतो यत्रावरोधनं दिवः | यत्रामूर्यह्वतीरापस्तत्र माममृतं कृधीन्द्रायेन्दो परि स्रव ||" (Rig. Veda. 9.113.8)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Make me eternal in the realms where King Vivaswaan's son rules. Surya is also called Vivasvaan. </blockquote><blockquote>"yatra rājā vaivasvato yatrāvarodhanaṁ divaḥ | yatrāmūryahvatīrāpastatra māmamr̥taṁ kr̥dhīndrāyendo pari srava ||" (Rig. Veda. 9.113.8)</blockquote>Two of the three Urdhvalokas (Higher heavens) are controlled by Savitr, and Yama. <blockquote>"तिस्रो द्यावः सवितुर द्वा उपस्थां एका यमस्य भुवने विराषाट | आणिं न रथ्यममृताधि तस्थुरिह ब्रवीतु य उ तच्चिकेतत् ||" (Rig. Veda. 1.35.6)</blockquote><blockquote>"tisro dyāvaḥ savitura dvā upasthāṁ ekā yamasya bhuvane virāṣāṭa | āṇiṁ na rathyamamr̥tādhi tasthuriha bravītu ya u tacciketat ||" (Rig. Veda. 1.35.6)</blockquote>Swarga or heaven are three in number, of which two, the Dyurloka and Bhuloka are under the control of the Surya. One is under the control of Yama.  Sayanacharaya says the Yama contorls the middle plantet Antariksha.     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).

 

Swarga (heavens) are three in number, of which two, the Dyurloka and Bhuloka are under the control of the Surya. One is under the control of Yama.  

 

Sayanacharaya explains that Yama controls the middle planet Antariksha.     Yama Loka is described as Paravyoma, it is the higher plane of existence for the dead, who along with the pitris (ancestors) reside in this  place for which Yama is the palaka (governor).  

 

This is also explained in the Vedas (ruk Samhita 10.14.8). Therefore, it should not be hastily construed that Yama Loka is the land of suffering alone. This larger understanding as explained in the Vedas demolishes the common notions prevalent among people, that Yamaloka is 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 ==

"Yudhishthira said, 'Do thou discourse to me once again, O grandsire, upon the merits attaching to gifts of sesame and of lamps for lighting darkness, as also of food and robes.'

"Yudhishthira said, 'Do thou discourse to me once again, O grandsire, upon the merits attaching to gifts of sesame and of lamps for lighting darkness, as also of food and robes.'