Yama
/ˈjɑː.mə/noun
In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, Yama is the god of death and the lord of the underworld.
Did you know?Yama is not just a deity of death; he also represents moral law, judging the souls of the deceased and determining their fate in the afterlife, embodying the balance between life and death.
Etymological Timeline
Sanskrit
Sanskrit
यम (Yama)
“The twin of the sun, representing the cycle of life and death.”
2nd Century BCE
Pali
Yama
“The god of death, who is also a guardian of Dharma.”
Ancient Hindu Texts
Sanskrit
यमराज (Yamaraja)
“The king of death and the underworld.”
Modern Hinduism
English
Yama
“A figure representing the inevitability of death and moral judgement.”