YAMA DEEPAM
INTRODUCTION
Yama Deepam is a type of ritual held in the Hindu households, by lighting an oil lamp in order to honour the death god Yama, and this ritual would be observed on the day of Dhanteras, which would be celebrated before Diwali festival, and this year, Danteras festival is celebrated on 02.11.2021. During the Dhanteras festival day, Hindus would worship Lord Dhanvantri, god of medicine and Lord Kubera and Ma Lakshmi Devi, who are considered as the deities of wealth and fortunes. In addition to that, in order to remove the death related fear, Yama Deepam would be lighted in the evening time of the Dhanteras festival day. It is believed that those who light lamps outside the main entrance of the homes need not worry about their lives, and their family members and they would be blessed with longevity and peace of mind by Lord Yama Dharma Raja.
Similar to worshipping other deities in our homes, we can also keep a framed or laminated picture of Lord Yama in our homes, in order to get a blessed, happy and a prosperous life for us. Lord Yama Deva is praised in the Vedas, and he is also considered as the Lord of justice, similar to his brother Lord Shani Dev.
As per legend, once there lived a young prince. As per his birth chart, he was supposed to die due to a snake bite within one month of his marriage. After learning about the details of her husband, the newly wedded bride worshipped Lord Yama and also lighted lamps in the outside of the main entrance of her home and performed puja to Lord Yama in the puja room. When Lord Yama arrived in the form of a snake in order to take away the life of the prince, he was very much pleased with the devotion of the bride, and also he was satisfied with the lighting arrangements made at the entrance of her home, and due to that, he blessed the bride and her husband and gave longevity to her husband, and disappeared.
Hence, as per the above incident, it is a must for us to light lamps at the main entrance of our homes, especially during Dhanteras festival day, in order to avoid death related threats. Apart from lighting of lamps, we can also please Lord Yama, by chanting the below mentioned Mantra.
My humble salutations to Lord Yama Dev, you are the son of Lord Surya and Ma Sandhya, you always walk on the path of Dharma, and you also expects others to follow it, and you are the god for our Pitrus (Forefathers).
Please relieve the death related fear from my mind, and give great confidence, energy and will power to me.
My humble salutations to Lord Yama Dev, you have been praised in the Vedas and in the Puranas, and your powers are unlimited. Though you look dark in colour, but you are a noble and gentle god, who takes care of your devotees and fulfils their wishes.
Please relieve the death related fear from my mind, and give great confidence, energy and will power to me.
My humble salutations to Lord Yama Dev, you are very fond of your lovely sister, Ma Yamuna Devi, who lives in the earth in the form of a Holy River. I sincerely offer my worship to Ma Yamuna to get her grace as well as your grace.
Please relieve the death related fear from my mind, and give great confidence, energy and will power to me.
My humble salutations to Lord Yama Dev, You are a pure and pious god similar to your brother Lord Shani Dev, and you never punishes the souls of the noble ones. You are worshipped by the saints and sages, and you contain enormous powers.
Please relieve the death related fear from my mind, and give great confidence, energy and will power to me.
My humble salutations to Lord Yama Dev, You have shown great mercy towards your devotee Ma Savitri and as per her request, you have restored the life of her husband Satyavan. Though you have been described as a rough and tough person in the holy texts, but you acts very leniently towards your devotees, and in our eyes, you appears like the handsome Devendra.
Please relieve the death related fear from my mind, and give great confidence, energy and will power to me.
My humble salutations to Lord Yama Dev, even the sky might fall down and all the divine worlds might be submerged in the oceans, but your judgement would never fail, and it would always be a correct judgement.
Please relieve the death related fear from my mind, and give great confidence, energy and will power to me.
“OM SRI YAMA DHARMA MAHARAJAVE NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR