RUDRA IN RIG VEDA.

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52
YAMA AND PITARS IN RIG VEDA
God Yama: The God of Death and Justice

According to Hindu mythology, Yama also known as Yamaraja, is the lord of death. Based on one's good and bad deeds, Yamaraja
decides which Naraka (lower world or hell) or heaven (higher world) the soul needs to spend time in, before returning to the earth- only
world from which the soul can permanently escape the birth and death cycle. Hell (Naraka) is only a purgatory where the soul gets
purified of sin by sufferings. There are many hells, and Yamaraja, sends human beings after death for appropriate punishment.
Yamaraja rides on a buffalo and carries a heavy mace and a noose, which he puts round the necks of his victims in order to drag them
back to his abode. In images, he is depicted with green or red skin, red clothes.

Yamaraja is no longer the generous figure who welcomes the dead to heaven. He presides not over the delightful abode of the Manes
or Pitris but over hell (Naraka). His gloomy palace, Kalichi, is situated in the lower regions in the southern quarter of the compass, of
which he is the regent. All souls must pass before his throne of judgment in Kalichi, where his recorder, Chandragupta, reads out from
a great book the sum of the dead one's virtues and sins. According to this register a judgment is passed by Yamaraja, who may
consign the soul to one of his hells, to the abode of the Pitar, or to another life on the earth. Heaven or Hell is allotted as per previous
karma (actions of body, speech and mind) of a man. Yamaraja also keeps another register, the great Book of Destiny, in which each
person's allotted period of life is recorded. When the Book of Destiny shows that a mans particular time of death has come, Yamaraja
sends his messengers to fetch him. All paintings are courtesy of Art of Legend India.

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Lord of Death Yama :Yama is the Devata of death and is the lord of infernal regions one visits after the cessation of life.
He is the embodiment of the rule of law and imparts justice according to deeds. The word Yama means the
restrainer, it is he who keeps the mankind in check.
In Vedas, Yama is the First Ancestor and has a full distinction of a Devata/God. Yamas mouth is a fierce
looking black buffalo, a form that he adopts for himself on occasion. Yama carries a rope in one hand and a
mace in another. Yama is a son of Vivasat, the embodiment of social morality, while his mother is Saranyu
(clouds) who is the daughter of Viswakarma, the cosmic architect. Yamas twin sister is Yami, who has the
greatest affection for her brother.
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Sukta 7.46:--Rudra.
Chhand: Trishtup,Pantihi
1) The eulogizers are requested to praise Rudra, bearing the bow, the invincible and winner of all. May our
eulogies be heard by him.
2) He is recognized by his physical and divine glory which can be felt. Rudra is requested to arrive for the
protection of our Purush/people and protect us from diseases and maladies.
3) O Rudra! Ensure that the Vidhyut/electricity from Antariksh/space that moves on Prathivi/Earth fails to
destroy us. You have thousands of Aushadhi/medicines and you should ensure that our sons and grandsons
should not be harmed or destroyed.
4) O Rudra! Do not kill us. Let us not fall pray to your anger. Allow us to participate in Yagna and we request
that you look after us.
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Sukta 10.14:--- T,A. B. Yama, Lingokta, Pitar and Shvanahchhannd:Trishtup
1) The devotees are requested to serve Yama. The Pitareshwar (Ishwar of the dead ancestors who have
attained heaven), [Yama is the son of Aditya, Surya/sun of antiquity], and to satisfy them by offering
Havya/materials offered to Agni ) in Yagna. Those who have lived and performed the best Karma/deeds and
duties are sent by him to the Loka that is full of happiness and peace. Yama makes their path easier because all
Pranies/living beings who perform Yagna ultimately reach him.
2) No one could cover the path the path of Yama (and it remains obscured from perception). All (Aatamaas
of) Pranies reach their destination according to their achievement in the worldly life along the path by which
our ancestors went. The illustrious Yama is the knower of our deeds.
3) Indra, the lord of the charioteers arouses for helping the deceased ancestors by offering Kavya (used as
oblation to ancestors). Brahaspati advances for helping the Pitars called Riwaja and Yama forward to help
Angiras so that the Devtaas become expansive, Some derive pleasure from Swaaha (word used while offerings
oblations to fire and some from Swadha (word used when making offerings to manes).
4) O Yama! You come along with Angira while the hymns for the Ritwaja inspire you. Make happy the Pitars
when you are satisfied after partaking Havya.
The performer having different forms, are invited along with Angiras in the Yagna to give them happiness. I
advance the praise to your father Aditya and invite them to take the seat on the cushions.
5) I praise your father Aaditya and request you to be seated on the carpets laid for you by the Yajamaan for his
happiness.
6) The Pitars named Angiraas, Atharvaa and Bhrugu endowed with the privileges of Soma (having the
knowledge of the foot prints of creation) come. Let us live by the grace of Pitars and make our selves happy in
our lives.

7) O Pitah/father! Proceed along the ancient path on which our ancient Purush went and have Darshan/sight
of King Yama and Varuna who were pleased there by Swadha.
8) O Pitah/father! Give company to the Pitars/deceased ancestors who attained the best Swarga/heaven by
their deeds. Discarding the Paash/bondage offer your body to the house named Asta (that had gone under the
horizon).
9) O Pishachas/spirits of the devils reigning on the cremation ground! Pitars have reserved this place for the
deceased Yajmaan. Hence go away from here. The king has reserved this place for the dead, which is provided
with Jal/water, day and night.
10) O father! You bye pass speedily, avoiding the four-eyed dogs of extraordinary breed guarding this divine
path that is praised by Manushya, and attain the Pitars residing with Yama along the best path.
11) O King Yama! Ensuring the Kalyaan/welfare of the deceased person ensuring, protect him from guards
and the four-eyed dogs guarding your residence.
12) The fast and extremely powerful dogs having ling nose are satisfied by killing others. Let these dogs
safeguard us so that we can continue to see the Surya/sun hereafter.
13) O Ritwajaas! Contrive the Havya for Yama. Offer Soma (relics of the past/Cosmic Background
Radiations) for Yagna. The Yagna proceed forward for Yagna consisting of various substances in which Agni
Devataa is a messenger.
14) O Ritwajaas! Offer and serve the entire Havya along with clarified butter. We request Yama to prolong
our life.
15) O Ritwajaas! We welcome those ancient Ritwajaas who proposed this beautiful path, with folded hands.
You offer Havya for the sake of this Yajamaan.
16) King Yama is suitable for witnessing the Trikadruka Yagna. This is the Yamaraja who is praised in
Trishtup and Gayatri Chhandas.
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Sukta 10.15: ---

Pitars

Chhand:Trishtup, Jagati.

1) May the Pitars (deceased ancestors), attending the Yagna, give us protection. Pitars of high, middle and
lowly status are requested to bless us and accept the Havies of the Yagna.
2) We pay our respects to all those Pitars who have deceased on Prathivi in ancient times, those who
remembered them or those who took amongst the fortunate ones there after, with folded hands.
3) I have understood the purpose of performing this Yagna. The Pitars are requested to sit on the Kush/carpet
of grass. They have come with a desire to accept our Havies mixed with Soma. I found here the Pitars who
were known to me.
4) O Pitars! Those sitting on the best carpets are provided with the substances suitable for them. Accepting
these offerings, give us sustenance for our welfare and pardon our sins.
5) They are all seated on the Kush. They have been invited to partake the Soma Rasa/juice. They are requested
to come and express their joy and listen to our praiseful hymns.
6) O Pitars we are mediocre and liable to commit crimes. Do not punish us for any crime. Praise our Yagna
while kneeling on the southern side.
7) O Pitars! Please sit near the red flames and give wealth to the philanthropic Yajmaan and inspire their
Pitars for the Yagna.
8) The Pitars deserving Soma/Cosmic Background Radiations drink it systematically and desire Havya.
Yamaraaj is pleased and accepts the Havya.
9) O Agni/thermal energy! The Pitars who created many Richaas/ hymns, know the schematic performance
of the Yagna and who have attained the divinity by their best performances and deeds, are invited in the Yagna
if they feel hungry and thirsty and get desired satisfaction by sitting here in the Yagna.
10) Those noble Pitars come with the Devataas and accept the true Kavya are requested to come with the
organizers of such functions along with Indra on his chariot.
11) O Pitars! Come and be seated on the carpet and partake the Havya. Thereafter bless us with sons and
grandsons, animals and glory.

12) Agni is the knower of all and serve the Devtaas by infusing incense in Havya. Pitars are requested to
accept the Havies with Swadha. Agni is requested to consume Havya offered to them faithfully while praising
you.
13) O All pervading Agni! You know all the Pitars, who are present or absent here and those whom we know
or those who are unknown. O Pitars! Yagna involving Swadha satisfies you.
14) O Agni! The Pitars, who were consigned to the funeral pyre ceremoniously or not, are satisfied by Swadha
and attain heaven. Agni associated with their body gives divinity to their bodies.
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Sukta 10.16: ---- Agni.
Chhand: Trishtup, Anushtup.
1) Agni is requested not to give afflictions or fragment the body of the dead Purush while the flames convert
their bodies into ashes. Then only they be sent to Pitars
2) When Agni begins to consume the deceased. He is sent to the Pitars. He will again be alive when he goes to
the resort of Deva/God.
3) O dead Purush! Your breath mixes with Vaayu/ wind, the eyes with Surya/sun and your good
performances lead you to heaven, or intermix with Jal to become part of Vanaspati.
4) O Agni! The unborn residing in the body be subjected to heat and sent to Punyaloka/holy world.
5) By partaking the Havya in Yagna, the fire which is here, is requested to reveal its form near the Pitars. The
remaining Vaayu of Yagna may become alive and give the dead Purush for rebirth.
6) O Deceased! Agni Devataa reduces the pain (of in the parts of the body) inflicted by the bite of a crow or
serpent. May the Agni Devataa make you free from the impurities that prevail and the make the Soma that
remains in your body be freed from the evils.
7) O Deceased! You may become full of marrow and flesh. Cover yourself with the shield like flames of
Agni. In this way Agni Devataa will not burn your Ansha (the unit form of soul).
8) Hey Agni! The Devataas who are used to drinking Soma derive enlightenment. You should not destroy it.
On seeing the Chamas (large wooden spoon used to offer Havya) the Devataas as are excited.
9) Acquire closeness to the Agni that devours flesh. Yama is the owner of this Agni that devours flesh. May
this Agni that is here, carry the Havya to the Devataas.
10) I send away the flesh devouring fire in the funeral pyre. I accept the fire that is different from this fire, on
behalf of the Pitars for accepting the Yagna. This magnificent fire helps to take the Yagna to the heaven.
11) The fire that expands the Yagna, as the Devataa, invokes the Pitars and allows the flow of Havya (the
materials offered in Yagna) in Shraddha (the ceremony prescribed for the sake of remembering the ancestors)
to them.
12) I establish the Agni and ignite it systematically according to the precepts. The Agni sends the Havya to the
Devataas and Pitars who desire it for Yagna.
13) O Agni cool down the person whom you have burnt. Let the waters be made available for growing the
grass having branches.
14) O Prathivi having cool growth of Vanaspati/plants! You also become cool to grow pleasant medicines and
become glorious. Shower rains for the female frog according to her wish.
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Sukta 10.18:---Mrityu, Dhata, Twashta, Pitru Meghah, Prajapati.
Chhand: Trishtup. Panti, Anushtup.
1) O Death! I request you not to afflict the brave sons and grandsons while you follow the path different from
that of the Devayaan (the vehicle used by Devataas). You are equipped with the eyes and you are the knower of
all.
2) O relatives of the deceased! You abandon the path of Devayaan. This will elongate your life. O Performers
of the Yagna! When you have the sons and grandsons, cows and Pashus (creatures) and having derived the
pleasure with them, you will be free from this birth or you become free from the sins.
3) Our Pitramegh Yagna (as part of respects to the parents) is blissful. The people who are around the
deceased may go back, derive strength to perform their routine works and be blessed with long life.

4) I prescribe a Prastar (piece of stone) ritual for the protection of the sons and grandsons from the way to
death. Let them have a life of hundred years by this piece of stone.
5) Just as the day go and come, the seasons also come and go, and just as the sons and others born after the
parents do not suffer untimely death, O Vidhata! (Supreme Parmeshwar) Grant us the grace so that our life
may not be reduced untimely.
6) O Sons of the deceased! You live the prescribed life span and prosper. Follow the traditions in which the
elder brother yields the rights to the younger one. O Twasta Deva! You are the best among those who are born
(in Antariksh-Tritup Chhand) and request you to grant Manushya a long life.
7) The married Sadhava women (whos husbands are alive) of the beautiful husbands are requested to apply
lampblack to their eyes are requested to return home. Discarding the Asurs, and cleansing their mind from
distortions move with grace in the forefront to their home.
8) O wife of the deceased! Your husband is dead and there is no use sitting here. Arise for the sake of the sons
and the welfare of the house to back home. You have fulfilled the duties of a wife by bearing the children and
otherwise and you know about the demise of your husband. Hence return home.
9) I grasp the arrow in the hand of the deceased and blessed with the sons and defeat the egoist evil spirits. O
the deceased! You remain here.
10) O the deceased! This Prathivi/Earth is like your mother and hence stay happily in the lap of this
magnificent Prathivi. May this Prathivi be soft and provide comfort. The Prathivi protects you in all ways
because you have performed religious Yagna and other duties
11) O Prathivi! Lift the deceased to save him from the pangs and take care of him. Cover the deceased who
lies in the form of skeleton by your Tej/radiance like a mother covers a child.
12) The Prathivi takes the form of a Stupa /pillar and covers sprinkle it with thousands of fine dust particles.
May this Prathivi comfort you like clarified butter.
13) O skeleton! I dig Prathivi and place the lump of earth so that the granular earth does not cause you any
discomfort. The Pitar Gana carry the peg and Yama -the lord of Pitar Ganas provide residence for you at this
place.

14) O Prajapati! Just as there are wings in the front end of an arrow, the Devataas established Samkumuk
Rishies in Samvatsar form of days. Just as a rope controls a horse, you control our praises.
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Funeral Pyre

Burial Coffin

Embalmed Mummy

RUDRA IN RIG VEDA.