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Yama Asian Lord of the Dead |
| YAMA: Yama is god of death and punisher of evil found in many Asian religions, including versions of Hinduism and Buddhism. He is a green DEMON, often shown dressed in red robes and armed with a noose and a mace. Yama has red eyes and sharp fangs and is sometimes portrayed covered with open sores. Two hideous deformed dogs guard his palace in the depths of the underworld. Souls of the dead must cross the river Vaitarani and face Yama for judgment. Yama could send the spirit to a place of the "21 hells" or back to the world for rebirth. In hell, the damned face gruesome penalties that correspond to their earthly offenses. Blasphemers have their tongues ripped out, murders are drowned in blood, the frivolous are tormented with piercing knives. Yama has also been incorporated into Hindu religion, where he temporarily detains souls who must purge themselves of evil before being reincarnated. The BARDO THODOL (Tibetan Book of the Dead) describes Yama as a fierce ruler robed in human skin and wearing a necklace of severed heads and a crown of skulls. In one hand he holds a sword ready to punish sinners. In the other he carries a mirror that reflects the actions of everyone. Departed souls must look into the mirror and face their evil, which is believed to be the worst torment of the afterlife. According to the text, "No terrible god pushes you" into hell; every wicked souls damns itself. The Bardo Thodol describes the DEMONS of "Yama, Lord of Death" who arise when a vile departed spirit finally recognizes its own ugliness: "...their fang-like teeth protruding over their lips, their eyes like glass....they carry punishment boards and shout 'Beat him!' and 'Kill him!' They lick up your brains, they sever your head from your body, and they extract your heart and vital organs." Chinese belief teaches that there are many hells, each with its own Yama, or king. An ancient mural shows an underworld court where frightened souls awaiting judgment offer food and riches to the lord in hopes of winning his favor. Yama's court is a confused mass of bloodied bodies being chased and tormented by an assortment of green and red demons. Other spirits are being forced into pools infested with toothy serpents. Yama is often associated with EMMA-O, another Asian deity of death and the underworld. (o) YAMA (Sanskrit "twin," in allusion to his being twin with his sister Yami, traditionally the first human pair), in Hindu mythology, judge of men and king of the unseen world. He was the first moital to die, and having discovered the way to the other world is the guide of the dead. Three hymns in the Rig Veda are addressed to him. (y) |
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I couldn't resist. This is King Yama (or Yemma) from the anime series DragonBall Z. King Yama is the judge of the dead in DBZ. Click to enlarge graphic. |
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Resource List - entry taken verbatim from the original source: (o) "The Encyclopedia of Hell." Miriam Van Scott. St. Martin's Press. ©1998 (y) http://1911encyclopedia.org/index.htm |
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