In Hindu mythology, the god traditionally associated with death is Yama.
Yama is one of the oldest deities in Hindu tradition. In the Rigveda, he is presented as the first mortal to die and as a guide or ruler of the departed. Later Hindu literature develops him into the king of the dead and a judge who assesses the deeds of deceased people.
Yama is also called Dharmaraja, meaning “king of dharma,” emphasizing his association with moral order and judgment. His attendants are sometimes described as messengers who bring souls before him. Traditional imagery often gives him a dark complexion and shows him riding a buffalo, while a noose is among his recognizable attributes.
Yama should not be confused with Varuna, associated with cosmic and moral order and waters, or Agni, the fire deity. In Buddhist traditions, Yama also appears as a judge of the dead, though details differ from Hindu accounts.