Yamaduta

Messengers of Yama in Hinduism

Vishnudutas rescue Ajamila's soul from Yamadutas (right).

Yamadutas (Sanskrit: यमदूत) are the messengers of death in Hinduism. As the agents of Yama, the god of the netherworld, their role is to take the departed souls of the deceased who do not achieve moksha to Yamaloka.[1]

## Story of Ajamila

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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).

## See also

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* Psychopomp
* Naraka (Hinduism)
* Ajamila

## References

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1. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2010-12-19). "Yamaduta, Yama-duta, Yamadūta, Yāmadūta: 15 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-09-04.