Yamaduta, Yama-duta, Yamadūta, Yāmadūta: 9 definitions
Introduction
Yamaduta means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryYamadūta (यमदूत).—The messengers of Yamarāja, the lord of death.
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaYamadūta (यमदूत).—One of the Brahmavādī sons of Viśvāmitra. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 4, Verse 51).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1) Yamadūta (यमदूत).—Met Viṣṇu dūtas at the death of Ajāmila, and argued that punishment depended on the character of one's action, and that Ajāmila a Brahmana deserved punishment for having forsaken his svadharma and led an evil life with a dāsi. Overpowered by Hari's dūtas, they reported to Yama (s.v.) and wanted to know the truth of the matter. Instructed by Yama as knower of Dharma and ordained by Hari, his messengers cherished Hari's glory, and did not go near his devotees.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 1. 20, 40. 68; 3. 10-34.
2) Yāmadūta (यामदूत).—Belong to Kauśika gotra.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 66. 72; Vāyu-purāṇa 91. 100.
Yamadūta (यमदूत) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIII.4.50, XIII.4) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Yamadūta) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryyamadūta : (m.) death's messenger.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryyamadūta (यमदूत).—m (S) A messenger or angel of Yama. He conducts the spirits of the dead to Yama's judgment-seat; and thence to their final destination. 2 Hence applied to a stern and inexorable messenger in general.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishyamadūta (यमदूत).—m A messenger or angel of yama.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryYamadūta (यमदूत).—
1) a messenger of death.
2) a crow.
Derivable forms: yamadūtaḥ (यमदूतः).
Yamadūta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms yama and dūta (दूत). See also (synonyms): yamadūtaka.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryYamadūta (यमदूत).—m.
(-taḥ) 1. An infernal spirit, the messenger or minister of Yama, employed to bring the souls of the dead to Yama'S judgment seat, and thence conduct them to their final destination. 2. A crow. E. yapta Yama, and dūta a messenger.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Yamadutaka.
Full-text: Yamabhata, Lohaparigha, Duta, Yamadutaka, Kaushikagotra, Vishnuduta, Musician, Ajamila, Lilavati, Yama.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Yamaduta, Yama-duta, Yamadūta, Yāmadūta, Yama-dūta, Yāma-dūta; (plurals include: Yamadutas, dutas, Yamadūtas, Yāmadūtas, dūtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 22 - On the narrative of the sins leading to hells < [Book 8]
Chapter 23 - On the description of the remaining hells < [Book 8]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Bhagavata Purana (by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Chapter 2 - Ajamila Delivered by the Visnudutas < [Canto VI - Prescribed Duties for Mankind]
Chapter 3 - Yamaraja Instructs His Messengers < [Canto VI - Prescribed Duties for Mankind]
Chapter 26 - A Description of the Hellish Planets < [Canto V - The Creative Impetus]
Bhagavad-gita-mahatmya (by Shankaracharya)
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 66 - Description of Amāvasu dynasty (vaṃśa) < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)