YAMA, in Hindu mythology son of Vaivas vata and Saranyu, is called in the Persian legend Yima, and later Jamshid. Yama or Dharma-raja resembles both the Grecian Pluto, the king of the lower regions, and Alines, judge of departed souls, and in Hindu mythology he is the regent of the south or lower division of the world, mythologically called Patala. Yama is described as of a green colour, with red garments, having a crown on his head, his eyes inflamed, and sitting on a buffalo, with a club and pasha or noose in his hands ; but as Dharma-raja he is described as of a divine countenance, mild and benevolent. The virtuous only see the latter ; the wicked are judged by Yama. If the dead have been vir tuous, they ascend to a place of happiness ; if wicked, they are sent to a particular hell, to undergo the punishment appointed for their especial crimes. Yama is called Srad'ha deva, or lord of the obsequies, and presides over the cere monies of the Srad'ha. At the time of offering the oblations to the manes of deceased ancestors, he is invoked by the priest under several names, of which Mr. Colebrooke has enumerated fourteen. The priest thus addresses him : Salutation to Yama! salutation to Dharma - raja! to Antaka, the Destroyer ! to Vaivaswata, or Child of the Sun ! to Kala, Time ! to the Slayer of all Beings ! to Andhambara or Yama,' etc. etc.- Hindus make daily oblations of water to Yama. The second day of the month Kartik is sacred to him and his sister, the river goddess Yamuna or Jumna, who entertained him on that day; in consequence of which an annual festival is held, in which sisters entertain their brothers. On this occasion an image of him of clay is made and worshipped, and then thrown into the river. He is also worshipped on the 14th day of the dark part of the month Aswina. Some of the other names of are Pitripati, or lord of the Pitri ; entail-a, from a wood from which fire is pro luced by attrition; and Daudadham. he who has
lie rod of punishment. The name of Yama occurs requently in the sacrificial ceremonies of the Hindus, oblations and invocations to him form ng a portion of several of thoso ceremonies. Minos of the Greeks has been supposed tlae same with Menu ; with whom, especially with the 7th, rttyavrata, Yaina also agrees in character as well is in name ; both beiug called Vaivaswata, or off 4pring of the sun, and Srad'ha deva, or lord of the Srad'ha is the ceremonial oblation in honour of deceased ancestors, which obsequiar to the dii manes are attended with feasting and various observances. Mr. Wilford believes Yarna or Pluto to be tho same with Serapis; deriving the latter name from a compound Sanskrit word implying thirst of blood. Tho sun, in Bhadra, had the title of Yarea; but the Egyptians gave that of Pluto, .says l'orphyry, to the great lumin ary near the winter solstice. Yama, the regent of hell, according to the Puranas, has two dogs; one of them named Cerbum, or varied ; the other Syruna, or black ; the first is also called Trisims, or with three heads, and has several other epithets signifying stained or spotted. Cerbura indubit ably the Cerberus of the Greeks. The dragon of Serapis is supposed to be the Seshnaga, which is described as in the infernal regions by the author of the Bhagavat. Yarna, as tho god of justice, presides over the different Naraka or hells. He is sou of Surya, the sun. As the judge of de parted souls, he is identified with death. His abode is in the infernal city of Yamapura, whither the Hindus believe that a. departed soul repairs, and, receiving a just sentence from Yama, ascends to Swarga, or descends to Naraka, or assumes on earth the form of some animal, according t,o its deserts. Yama rides upon a buffalo as his vahan, and is armed with a ponderous mace.—Orieulal Linguistic Studies ; As. Iles. p. 409; Moor, p. 309 ; Williams' Arata, p. 205 ; Hind. 7'heat. p.62.