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Yama

The Glorious Lord of the Other World by: Kusum Pradeep Merh

The image of Yama, the god of death in Hindu mythology, has come to have many variants. Dr. Merh’s study tries to capture these against their essential literary settings to explore all possible traits of Yama’s personality.

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ISBN: 9788124600665
Year Of Publication: 2005
Edition: 1st
Pages : xvi, 302+[15]
Bibliographic Details : Abbreviations; Bibliography; Glossary; Bibliography; Index; 15 B/w photographs
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 23 cm.
Weight: 600

Overview

In the Hindu pantheon, Yama holds a unique place. A counterpart, in the indigenous tradition, of Avestan Yima, Egyptian Osiris or Greek Pluto, he inspires terror in the heart of an average mortal : not only owing to his overlordship of the abode of the dead, but also for his identification with death itself. Yama’s image in Hindu mythology, however, has come to have full many variants — which Dr. Merh’s study tries to capture against their essential literary settings. Based on the prodigious mass of India’s old-world scriptural literature — the Vedas, Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads, besides the puranic texts, the book meticulously explores all possible traits of Yama’s personality, highlighting how the mythical view of this glorious, other-world god passes through a striking change over the millennia between the Rigveda and the later Puranas. Unfolding the deity’s ‘Vedic’ and ‘Puranic’ descriptions — respectively in part 1 and part 2 of the book, the author focusses specially on Yama, the creator, preacher, the philosopher, the law-giver, the punisher and above all, on his role as an eschatologist. Invaluable to the scholars of Indology, Hindu mythology and comparative religion.

Contents

Preface
Abbreviations
List of Plates
PART I
Yama in the Vedas
1. Conspects of the Vedic Literature
Date of the Vedas
Riv-Samhita
Samaveda
Yajurveda
Atharvaveda
Brahmanas
Aranyaka
Upanishads
Vedanga
Vedic Gods
Prayers to the Gods
Gods at Sacrifice
Abstract Deities
Minor Deities
Fathers
Characteristics of the Vedic Gods
Number of Gods
Classification of the Gods
Varna-Based Classification
2. Yama’s Family and Associates
Etymology
Yama’s Abode
Parentage
Yama’s Father
Yama’s Mother
Brihaddevata
Yama’s Messengers
Functions of the Dogs
Two Paths
3. Yama and Other Gods
Yama and Varuna
Yama and Agni
Yama and Havyavahana
Yama and Soma
Yama and Nirriti
Direction of Nirriti
Yama and Nirriti
4. Yama’s Personality and His Functions
Yama’s Sovereignty
Lord of the Earth
Strife for Supremacy
Lord of the South Direction
Yama’s Connection with Sacrifice
Yama the Judge
Yama’s Benevolence
Yama: The Creator
5. Yama: The Preacher and Eschatology
Eschatology

PART II
Yama in the Puranas
6. Parentage, Adobe, Companions and Messengers
Date of the Puranas
Characteristics of Puranas
Number of Puranas
Classification
Yama’s Parentage
Discussion
Yama’s Family
Yama’s Kingdom
Yama’s Sabha (The Court of Yama)
Yama’s Messengers and Assistants

7. Personality and Functions of Yama
Appearance of Yama
Yama as a Judge
Yama as a Warrior
Yama and Dharma
Yama and Other Gods
Epithets of Yama
8. Eschatology, Metapsychosis and Worship of the Manes
Path of the Pious
Fate of the Pious
Onward Journey of the Sinner
Fate of the Sinner
Rebirth
Hells
Atonement
Location of the Hells
Number of Hells
Worship of the Manes
Classification of Fathers
Ancestor Worship
Classification of Shraddhas

9. Yama: The Preacher and Law-Giver
Yama: The Preacher
Yama-Gita
Discussion
Yama: The Law-giver
Yama-Smriti
10. Epilogue
Father of Humanity
Yama and Godhood
Identity of Yama
Upholder of Morality
Yama’s Region
Yama the Judge
Yama the Punisher
Yama’s Counterparts in Other Mythologies
Dogs
Hades or Pluto
Yama-Nakshatrani
Bibliography
Glossary
Index
Plates

Meet the Author
avatar-author
1950
Kusum P. Merh is a notable Sanskrit scholar, with a brilliant academic career that led to her selection for the UGC’s (University Grants Commission’s) prestigious research fellowship. Awarded Ph.D in 1992, she currently teaches in the Department of Sanskrit, Pali & Prakrit, M.S. University, Baroda, India.
Books of Kusum Pradeep Merh