DOTW: The 'killings' of Yamraj and Mrityu Devi

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Since there has been so many assorted discussions on the 'killings' of Yamaraja and Mrityu Devi, I thought I will start a separate thread to discuss this.

DkDM has often thrown up a lot of rubbish, but occasionally a few sparkling moments crop up -which makes it worthwhile tolerating the rubbish.

And though the so-called 'killings' of Yama and Mrityu devi seemed ludicurous and spawned a lot a jokes, I found it to be deeply profound and full of inner meanings. So here's my two cents.

First of all, the killings of Yama and Mrityu are not physical. It is merely a metaphorical way of depicting how Death (Mrtiyu) and the Lord of Death (Yama) can be subjugated.

When a person's life span on Earth is over, Yamaraj sends his messengers to bring that person's soul to him.

But the actual death- the cessation of breath- is caused by Mrityu Devi.

The killing of Mrityu Devi by Kartikeya represents the victory of the positive forces against the dark negative forces. If the soul, mind and body are filled with positive energies, it is possible to delay / prevent death. There have been so many sages, even today, who have through their power of tapas conquered death. There have been so many great people who have chosen their own manner to leave their physical body.

"Mrityu" means the darkness, the despair, the depression caused to the soul in the final moments of one's life. - such a despair that the soul is willing to shed the physical body.

But, Kartikeya has risen above her. By killing Mrityu, he has subduded all the dark forces which engulf one's soul in the final moments.

Now, in the next stage, Kartikeya goes one step further. He conquers the Lord of Death himself. Yama represents the necessity of death for a living being, It is a certain and established fact that all livings being have to die.

By killing Yama, Kartikeya breaks free from this necessity. His triumph over Yama shows how Death need not be a finality. It is possible to break free from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

At no point should it be understood that Yama and Mrityu have been killed physically.

It is a psychological experience. Kartikeya represents a matured human soul, which is both fearless and has surrendered to the Divine. For such a soul, it is possible to rise above Death and the Laws of Rebirth.

So, IMHO, questions like 'Does Yama go to Yamlok after he dies' do not arise.

Topic open for further discussion...

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Vrish

@Vr15h

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 12 years ago

This reminds me - when Yamaraj wanted to take Markandeya to Yamalok and Mahadev struck him down, was he physically preventing Yamaraj, or did he do something else, like train Markandeya to subjugate the negative forces engulfing his soul, and then going on to eliminate the necessity of his dying?

Also, in that story, I don't recall reading about any role by Mrityu Devi. In case of Savitri & Satyavan, had Mrityu Devi already taken over Satyavan, or was it still left to be done? Is her takeover reversible? Also, what exactly is Mrityu Devi's status - is she Yamaraj's wife?

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sia

@Sia889

Sparkler

Posted: 12 years ago

I remember someone making a post where they have said that, the holy Trinity Brhma, Vishnu and Mahesh are like the Manager, VP etc (like in a company); so I believe that like Indr and other devtas they too either replaced or retired from their positions time to time. 😛

@ Its quite a take on the whole Birth death cycle you explained in there.. so the more positive, active and rich karmic soul gets to live a longer, happier life, with conditions applied of course!😆 Oh yes a soul with a purpose.

I'd like to share a word here... the enlightened one say that there are a few souls (rishis and all) who maintain the peace and balance on earth with their tap shakti all the time.

I love the fact that this very quest is brought up here which is tricky... And I equally loved the way u explained all.⭐️

Thanks for bringing back DOTW🤗

Edited by Killer_Shark - 12 years ago

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Surya Sundarraj Sriram

@Surya_krsnbhakt

Dazzler

Posted: 12 years ago

Nice explanation 👍🏼

So what you mean to say is the "Death" of Mrityu and Yama is just metaphorical... Okay, I get it.

So Mrityu Devi represents the negative forces which Kartikeya is shown conquering.

Thanks for explaining.

And, in the discussion thread (which i am seeing for the first time), is it like ONLY discussions or can we ask doubts and things like that?

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Originally posted by: Surya_krsnbhakt

And, in the discussion thread (which i am seeing for the first time), is it like ONLY discussions or can we ask doubts and things like that?

Unless there are doubts, what can we discuss?

Something like "Disha bhatakna hi...whatever...whatever..." - the standard line of Rishi Dadhichi 😆

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sia221

@sia221

Rocker

Posted: 12 years ago

Very nice explanation..Varaali..!!

Makes more sense this way.. 😊

I wish CVs were more clearer than what they showed..for the sake of lay..confused ppl (like me) 😆

Narayan and all ..in their live telecast discussions could have enlightened on this one.. 😊

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Some more information on Mrityu Devi:

The character of Mrityu devi appears in several places, but she is described in detail in the Shiva Purana.

She was created by Brahma who wanted to ensure that the Earth did not become overpopulated. She appeared from Brahma's body as a female, clad in black and red clothes, black eyes, black palms and black earrings.

She was given the unenviable task of destroying life. Mrityu did not like the task assigned by Brahma and did severe penance in hopes of getting a better job. But Brahma did not yield and convinced Mrityu Devi that she has to do what she has been told.

Mrityu Devi agreed but wanted the assurance that the lives that she would take would be reborn on Earth. Brahma agreed saying that her very appearance would cause fear and anger in the dying person's heart which would ensure his rebirth

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Originally posted by: .Vrish.
This reminds me - when Yamaraj wanted to take Markandeya to Yamalok and Mahadev struck him down, was he physically preventing Yamaraj, or did he do something else, like train Markandeya to subjugate the negative forces engulfing his soul, and then going on to eliminate the necessity of his dying?

Also, in that story, I don't recall reading about any role by Mrityu Devi. In case of Savitri & Satyavan, had Mrityu Devi already taken over Satyavan, or was it still left to be done? Is her takeover reversible? Also, what exactly is Mrityu Devi's status - is she Yamaraj's wife?

Also, what exactly is Mrityu Devi's status - is she Yamaraj's wife?

No, she is a separate entity. Yamaraj's wife is Shyamala (according to Garuda purana, at least)

Is her takeover reversible?

Actually it is said, in the scriptures, that a person may be declared dead only after one and half hours after the heart has stopped beating. The reason given is that in this interval, Yama's messengers take the soul of the person to Yama to confirm whether this indeed was the person whose time on earth had ended. If Yama concurs, the messengers carry the soul back to the body, from where it proceeds on its new journey.

In rare cases, where Mrityu Dvei has made a mistake and taken away the life of a person who was not supposed to die at that point of time, Yama's messengers give back both the soul and the prana - the life force into the body.

So, to that exent, her takeover is reversible.

In case of Savitri & Satyavan, had Mrityu Devi already taken over Satyavan, or was it still left to be done?

Mrityu Devi is mentioned in detail only in the Shiva Purana and once in the Mahabharata (Shanti Parva). So in Savitri - Satyavan's case, only Yama is mentioned (not even Yama's messengers) . However Sri Aurobindo, in his monumental classic 'Savitri' refers to the character who comes to take away Satyavan's soul as "Death"- (not Yama). It is Death who she follows, it is Death with whom she has a long debate and it is Death whom she forces to release Satyavan's soul / life.

So, Sri Aurobindo's "Death" may correspond with Mrityu Devi, albeit in a male form.

when Yamaraj wanted to take Markandeya to Yamalok and Mahadev struck him down, was he physically preventing Yamaraj, or did he do something else, like train Markandeya to subjugate the negative forces engulfing his soul, and then going on to eliminate the necessity of his dying?

Also, in that story, I don't recall reading about any role by Mrityu Devi.

Yes, Mrityu Devi is not mentioned there, the popular version being that Yama himself tried to throw the noose around Markandeya's neck.

It was probably a combination of both. Marandeya was a child devotee who had been worshiping Shiva from his childhood (at least he grew up in a such an atmosphere). So when the crucial moment came, Markandeya found the strength to fight the darkness which was about to engulf his soul and call to Lord Shiva for help.

Similar to what Kartikeya did in the serial.

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Surya Sundarraj Sriram

@Surya_krsnbhakt

Dazzler

Posted: 12 years ago

Yamraj's wife was Shyamala? Now who is she???😕

Also, in which portion of the Shiva PUrana is Mrityu mentioned? Like, creation, or one of the middle portions?

I think the Greek counterparts of Yama and Mrityu would be Hades and Thanatos (Thanatos is male), while the Roman counterparts are Pluto and Letus. SO we can say that some deity like this DOES exist.

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dersha91

@dersha91

Navigator

Posted: 12 years ago

#10

There is a scientific reason behind the scriptures which mention Yama's messengers taking the soul to Yama who concurs if the person has died.Death is divided into somatic and molecular death.Somatic death is where the brain functions and other functions cease.Molecular death occurs when the cells and tissues cease to function.This takes approximately one to two hours.Somatic death which occurs earlier is necessary in revival of the person and in organ transplants.

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DOTW: The 'killings' of Yamraj and Mrityu Devi

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