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Lord Yama, the god of death, started as a cheerful and handsome deity before his transformation into the fearsome figure often portrayed riding a buffalo with a mace and a noose. This change in his depiction originated from an intriguing legend.
Characters in the story:
Lord Yama: Lord Yama is the Hindu god of death and the ruler of the afterlife who judges the souls of the deceased and determines their fate in the next world.
Lord Vishnu: Lord Vishnu is one of the three major deities in Hinduism, known as the preserver of the universe and the protector of dharma (righteousness). He is often depicted with four arms holding a conch shell, a discus, a mace, and a lotus flower.
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva holds significant prominence in Hinduism as a prominent deity, revered for his role as the vanquisher of malevolence and the catalyst of universal change. Depicted in various forms, he is often portrayed as a tranquil ascetic engaged in deep meditation or as the divine dancer, adorned with a third eye, an entwined serpent around his neck, and a trident grasped firmly in his hand.
In the early days, Yama possessed extraordinary physical attractiveness. His handsome appearance attracted the attention of the apsaras, who vied for his favor. Filled with vanity, Yama spent his days admiring himself, neglecting his duties as the god of death. His responsibility involved releasing souls from mortal bodies and guiding them to either heaven or hell.
Initially, people on Earth rejoiced when they discovered the possibility of living joyfully for eternity. However, challenges soon arose. The population grew rapidly, and essential resources began to diminish. There was not enough food or water to sustain everyone.
The burden on Mother Earth intensified, leading to chaos and devastation. Shiva, responsible for the cycle of life, became deeply troubled by Yama’s arrogance and disregard for his responsibilities. Thus, he decided it was time to impart a lesson to Yama.
Shiva summoned Yama to his icy abode, Kailash. When Yama arrived, he anticipated a confrontation, but to his surprise, Shiva greeted him warmly with a smile. Puzzled by the unexpected reception, Yama cautiously took a seat. After exchanging pleasantries, Shiva made a simple request.
“Yama, could you please fetch some water for me from the nearby pond?”
Yama complied and approached the pond with a pot in hand. As he bent down to collect water, he was startled by a creature that appeared demon-like. Filled with terror at the creature’s frightful gaze, large mustache, and two curved horns atop its head, Yama trembled uncontrollably. Filled with panic, he hurried back to Shiva.
“Mahadeva, there’s an intimidating demon in the pond! It possesses fearsome red eyes, an unusually large mustache, and two formidable horns,” Yama exclaimed.
Smiling at Yama’s distress, Shiva replied, “Touch your head, Yama. What you saw in the pond was merely your own reflection.”
Yama immediately touched his head and was overcome with panic. “No, this cannot be!” he thought to himself. Feeling desperate, he pleaded with Shiva to restore his former appearance. However, Shiva closed his eyes and resumed his meditative state, signaling that he had no intention of granting Yama’s request.
Recognizing that Shiva was unmoved by his pleas, Yama sought help from Brahma, only to find the lord engrossed in scripting a manuscript at his abode, Brahmaloka.
Disheartened, Yama turned to Vishnu and Lakshmi for assistance. However, the divine couple were deeply engaged in a profound discussion about cosmic matters, making it impossible for Yama to approach them. Overwhelmed by hopelessness, Yama resolved to undertake severe penance in an attempt to gain Vishnu’s attention and favor.
After years of devoted prayers, Vishnu finally appeared before Yama and asked, “What is your wish, Yama?”
Bowing humbly before Vishnu, Yama pleaded, “Oh Lord, please restore my former handsomeness.”
Vishnu shook his head with a compassionate expression. “I cannot grant your request, Yama. If I were to do so, you would once again become complacent and neglect your responsibilities.”
Yama begged for forgiveness, realizing the wisdom in Vishnu’s words. Moved by Yama’s plight, Vishnu offered a solution, saying, “I can remove your horns and transfer them to an animal who will serve as your loyal mount.”
Understanding the wisdom behind Vishnu’s proposition, Yama accepted his fate. Gazing glumly at the buffalo standing beside him, now his new vehicle, Yama finally resembled the fearsome god of death as Shiva had intended.
Prior to his departure, Yama earnestly requested Vishnu to accompany him to Alagar Kovil, near Tiruchirappalli (a city in South India), to provide solace to the people. Vishnu graciously consented and established his abode there.
Subsequently, when Lakshmi embarked on a quest to find Vishnu, Yama entreated her to stay by Vishnu’s side at Alagar. Lakshmi accepted his plea, and the sacred abode where these celestial beings dwelled came to be recognized as the Kallalagar temple. It is believed that Yama visits this temple annually to offer prayers to his cherished deity.
In the end, Yama’s vanity and neglect led to his transformation into the fearsome god of death, but through his penance and the intervention of divine beings, he found a place of reverence where he could fulfill his duties with humility and seek redemption.
