South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c12.s2.24

c12.s2.24

Yama, the lord of the south and the god of Death, has been YAMA. already referred to in the description of the Siva image called Kālahā or Kālaharamūrti. He is dark of colour, exhibits the club, noose, *abhaya* and *varada* in his four arms and rides on a buffalo. The illustration from Chidambaram (fig. 148) shows only two hands in which are held the club and the noose. Hēmādri mentions as his symbols the staff, sword, a flaming trident and the rosary. His wife called Dhūmrōrnā is seated on his left thigh and holds a lime fruit in her left hand. To the right of Yama stand Chitragupta, Udīchya and others who keep a record of the actions of men. To his left stands the fierce Kāla with the death-noose in his hand. Two women called Dharmā “virtue” and Adharmā “vice” are seen on either side of Yama with *chauris* in their hands.