KathaUpanishad

the office of judge of the dead, as well as sovereign of the damned; all that die
appearing before him, and being confronted with Chitragupta the recorder, by whom
their actions have been registered. The virtuous are then conveyed to Swarga (Indra's
heaven), whilst the wicked are driven to the different regions of Naraka (hell)."
In the "Vishnu Purāna" the names of the different hells are given, and it is there stated
that " there are many other fearful hells which are the awful provinces of Yama, terrible
with instruments of torture and fire." In the same Purāna it is said that all men at the
end of their existence (life) become slaves to the power of Yama, by whom they are
sentenced to painful punishments." Inquiry is then made as to how men can be free
from his authority. The answer is that "Yama is the lord of all men, excepting the
worshippers of Madhusūdan (Vishnu). Worship him in one of his many forms, and Yama
can exert no authority over you."
Amongst the many names by which Yama is known, the following are the most
common:—
Dharmarāja, "King of righteousness."
Pitripati, "Lord of the fathers."
Samavurti, "He who judges impartially."
Kritānta, "The finisher."
Samana, "The leveller."
Kāla, "Time."
Dandadhara, "He who carries the rod."
Srāddhadeva, "The god of funeral ceremonies."
Vaivasvata, "The son of Vivasvata."
Antaka, "He who puts an end to life."
In art, Yama is depicted with blue skin and red clothes and rides a water buffalo. He
holds a loop of rope in his left hand with which he pulls the soul from the corpse. His
Greek counterpart is Hades and Thanatos. His Egyptian counterpart is Osiris.
Perhaps other than Indra, no other Vedic character has undergone so large a
transformation by the time of the Puranas. In the Rig Veda, he is the son of Saranyu
(daughter of Tvashta, the artisan God) and Vivasvant (associated with the sun).
Depart by the former paths by which our forefathers have departed. There shall you
behold the two monarchs Yama and Varuna rejoicing in the Svadha." (RV:10.14.7)
"Be united with the forefathers, with Yama, and with the fulfillment of your wishes in the
highest heaven. Discarding iniquity, return to your abode, and unite yourself to a
luminous body." (RV: 10.14.8)
Rigveda 10.13.4 states,‘ for the benefit of the mankind who refused immortality and
embraced death? In the Yajna of Bruhaspati, Yama sacrificed his beloved body.’ He
entered into another dimension and created a new world of joy.
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