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Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c33.s3: Yama or Vaivasvata

Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c33.s3

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Yama or Vaivasvata

v4.c33.s3.1

Yama is also a deity of some celebrity of the Vēdic period. In the *Ṛigvēda* he is mentioned as the son of Vivasvat and of Saraṇyū, the daughter of Tvaṣṭṛi, with a twin sister named Yami. This sister of his importuned him to become her husband, but he successfully resisted the incestuous offer. He was the first man who died, reached the other world and showed others the path to that world. He guides other men thither, and assembles them in a house which is secured to them for ever. He is, however, nowhere in the Vēdic period, represented as a punisher of sins; nevertheless he is still an object of terror. He has two dogs each with four eyes and wide nostrils which guard the road to this last abode of the mortals. In one place he is actually identified with death.

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In the later day mythology he is reduced to the situation of the guardian of the region of the deceased, and, as the presiding deity of the place, he is invested with the powers of appraising the quality and quantity of the sin committed by each soul and meting out proportioned punishments: as the dispenser of justice he is also known as Dharmarāja. He is said to be the father of Dharma, the eldest of the five Pāṇḍavas. The following description of the image of Yama occurs in the Sanskrit authorities:

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Yama should be of dark colour, resembling the rain-cloud, with two arms, fire-coloured eyes and sharp side-tusks. He should be adorned with a *kirīṭa-makuṭa* and other ornaments, a red flower garland and be covered over with red sandal-paste and draped in red garments. He may be seated either on a *siṃhāsana* or on a he-buffalo. His hands should bear a *khaḍga* and a *khēṭaka* or a fruit and tender leaves or *daṇḍa* and *pāśa*.

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On either side of Yama should be standing Mṛtyu and Saṃhitā, with terrific faces and of dazzling blue and red colours respectively. Besides these there should be also two women waving *chāmaras* on either side of Yama. In front of Yama should be standing two Brāhmaṇas called Dharma and Adharma, as also at the door, Chitragupta and Kālī, all clothed in red garments. Yama should be surrounded by the *dēvas*, *asuras*, *dharmis* (those who have done good acts) and *pāpis* (sinners) ever worshipping him.

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The *Viṣṇudharmōttara* states that the colour of Yama’s garments is golden yellow and that, seated on his left lap, there should be his consort *Dhūmōrṇā* whose complexion is that of the *nīlōtpala* flower. Yama has four arms, while his consort

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has only two. In his right hand Yama keeps the daṇḍa and the khaḍga and in the left hand a flaming triśūla and the akshamālā. The right arm of Dhūmōrṇā is to be passed behind Yama in embrace with the left hand bearing a pomegranate fruit. On the right side stands Chitragupta dressed like the Westerners (āpichyavēsha); he is to be of fine looks and to carry in his right hand a stile and in the left a palm leaf for recording the acts of the mortals. To the left of Yama stands Kāla of terrific appearance and armed with the pāśa.

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The figure of Yama whose photograph is given on Pl. CLIII is found in the Śiva temple at Chidambaram. It has two arms; the right hand carries a pāśa and the left a gada. There is a small karaṇḍa-makuṭa on the head and a number of ornaments on the person. His vehicle, a bull, is standing behind him.

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