The Rig-Veda

The Rig-Veda, gives an insight into the origin of Yama (यम, itrans: yama) , a personification of death. Like other Devas, Death is also a natural force or phenomenon. Rig Veda describes Yama and Yami, who were the first two mortals to be born they were twins. According to Monier Williams Sanskrit Dictionary the original meaning of the male Vedic name Yama is twin.
Symbolically death and life are twins. The birth of a being automatically decides the death of that mortal sometime in future. Rigveda poetically describes that life and death are twinborn. The Yama, thus signifying death was born together with Yami, a symbol of life. Yami is a personification of life in the form of river Yamuna, the rivers are considered essential for survival and thus symbolize life. In the metaphoric poetic expression of Vedic poets, the life and death were personified as …show more content…
She gently calls his name and softly shakes him, but Yama does not respond. She calls louder and shakes him harder, but Yama still does not move. Suddenly Yami realizes that Yama is no longer alive and that she is now completely alone in this world. Yami’s heart is full of grief from this dreadful revelation. Her tears pour from her eyes and soon becomes a river (the Yamuna), which began flooding the earth. And because the sun does not set and the day appears to be everlasting, Yami’s great sorrow is likewise eternal and can never be abated, and the world resounds with her dreadful moaning from her deepest despair.
In vain did the Devas try to comfort Yami, the only words she would say were: “But Yama just died today! Yama died today!” Time after time they tried to reason with her about the ephemeral nature of mortal existence, of how all that is born must inevitably die, but always the only words she repeated were: “But Yama just died today! Yama died