In Hinduism, Yama is the son of sun-god Surya and Sanjana, the daughter of Vishvakarma.
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Yama is one of the oldest deities in the pantheon and some of his earliest appearances are found in the Rigveda.
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Yama is one of the Lokapalas, appointed as the protector of the southern direction.
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Yama is described as having four arms, protruding fangs, and complexion of storm clouds with a wrathful expression; surrounded by a garland of flames; dressed in red, yellow, or blue garments; riding a water-buffalo and holding a sword, noose and a mace to capture the souls of those who have sinned.
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In Pali Canon Buddhist myths, Yama takes those who have mistreated elders, holy spirits, or their parents when they die.
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Contrary though, in the Majjhima Nikaya commentary by Buddhagosa, Yama is a vimanapeta – a preta with occasional suffering.
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In Chinese texts, Yama only holds transitional places in Hell where he oversaw the deceased before he, and the Generals of Five Paths, were assigned a course of rebirth.
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Yama was later placed as a King in the Fifth Court when texts led to the fruition of the underworld that marked the beginnings of systemizations.
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Yama can be found in one of the oldest Japanese religious works called Nipponkoku Genpo Zenaku Ryoiki, a literary work compiled by the Monk Keikai in 822.
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