In Hindu mythology, Yama is traditionally the judge and ruler of the dead. He is one of the oldest deities in Hindu tradition and is associated with death, moral judgment, and the destinations of departed souls.
The Rigveda presents Yama as the first mortal to die and discover the path to the ancestors. Because he went before others, he became a guide and ruler of the dead. Later Hindu texts give him a more developed role as Dharmaraja, the lord of justice.
Stories often portray Yama judging a person’s deeds after death. Chitragupta, his record-keeper in later traditions, is said to maintain an account of actions. Depending on the text and religious tradition, souls may receive rewards or punishments before eventual rebirth.
Yama is not identical to the god of death in every Indian religion. In Buddhist traditions, Yama appears in adapted forms, while Jainism uses different cosmological frameworks. Hindu teachings also vary widely about karma, reincarnation, heaven, and hell.