Yamadutas (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

: यमदूत) are the messengers of death in

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

. As the agents of

Yama Yama (), also known as Kāla and Dharmarāja, is the Hindu god of death and justice, responsible for the dispensation of law and punishment of sinners in his abode, Naraka. He is often identified with Dharmadeva, the personification of ''Dharm ...

, the god of the netherworld, their role is to take the departed souls of the deceased who do not achieve

moksha ''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, '' nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatologic ...

to Yamaloka.

Story of Ajamila

Ajamila was a Brahmin, a man born in a priestly family. One day, while collecting things from the forest for religious work, he saw a woman and fell in love with her. She was a Shudra, but he married her and gave up his religious duties. Together, they had ten children. His youngest son was named Narayana, which is also another name for Lord Vishnu. Years later, when Ajamila was old and dying, he lovingly called out his son’s name — “Narayana.” At that moment, the Yamadutas (messengers of Yama, the god of death) came to take his soul to hell because he had committed many sins. But suddenly, the Vishnudutas (messengers of Lord Vishnu) appeared and stopped them. The Yamadutas were confused and took the case to Yama, the god of death. The Vishnudutas explained that, according to holy texts, just saying the name of Vishnu — even by accident, in a joke, or while calling someone else — is powerful enough to remove all sins. Yama agreed with this and told his messengers that the Vishnudutas were correct. Because of this, it is believed that those who take Lord Vishnu's name, even unknowingly, are protected from hell. The Yamadutas avoid harming Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu), and such people are taken to Vaikuntha (Vishnu’s heavenly abode) instead of Yamaloka (the land of the dead).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamaduta Legendary creatures in Hindu mythology Death deities Yama

Story of Ajamila

See also

References