Yamarāja Says Real Religion is Given by God
Śrīla Prabhupāda brings forward the authoritative and deeply philosophical instructions of Yamarāja, the cosmic judge of the deceased. By studying what Yamarāja says, we learn the strict definition of true religion, the importance of receiving knowledge from authorized sources, the supreme protection afforded to a Vaiṣṇava, and the absolute necessity of overcoming material lamentation.
The Divine Origin of Religion
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes Yamarāja's foundational teaching that true dharma, or religion, can only be given by the Supreme Lord. Yamarāja asserts that no human being, sage, or even demigod has the power to manufacture a religious system, rendering all man-made philosophies completely invalid.
- In the Sixth Canto we find the following statements of Yamaraja, the controller of all unfaithful living entities - The principles of religion are initiated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, & no one else, including the sages and demigods, can manufacture any such principles.
- As stated by Yamaraja, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam (SB 6.3.19). Yamaraja, the representative of the Lord who takes care of the living beings after their death, gives his verdict as to how and when the living being will change his body.
- The authority, Dharmaraja, says that dharma cannot be manufactured by anybody, even great sages or demigods. But nowadays everyone is manufacturing a dharma, and the so-called rascals, they are supporting that.
- Yamaraja said, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam. Even the demigods, they cannot manufacture dharma.
The Twelve Authorities of Religion
To properly understand these divine principles, one must receive them through authorized channels. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Yamarāja is counted among the twelve mahājanas, or supreme authorities, who are specifically empowered by the Lord to protect and propagate real religion through the paramparā system.
- Twelve personalities - Brahma, Narada, Lord Siva, Kumara, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja, Bhisma, Bali, Sukadeva Gosvami and Yamaraja - are agents of the Lord authorized to speak and propagate the principles of religion.
- The twelve authorities are Brahma, Narada, Lord Siva and Kumara, Manu and Lord Kapila, Bhisma and Prahlada, Janaka and Yamaraja and this Sukadeva Gosvami, who is speaking the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Vaiyasaki. Vaiyasaki means - the son of Vyasadeva.
- Yamaraja states herein (SB 6.3.20-21) that this religious principle is understandable if one follows the parampara system of Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, the four Kumaras and the other standard authorities.
The Supreme Principle of Devotional Service
According to Yamarāja, the ultimate goal of all religious codes is the awakening of pure bhakti-yoga. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights Yamarāja's instruction that devotional service, especially the chanting of the holy names, offers perfect protection, commanding his servants to stay far away from any Vaiṣṇava.
- Yamaraja says that etavan eva loke 'smin pumsam dharmah parah smrtah: "The highest principle of religion is this." What is that? Bhakti-yogah bhagavati. Bhakti-yoga.
- In Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 6.3.22) Yamaraja says: Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity in human society.
- When Yamaraja, the superintendent of death, was instructing his assistants, he told them not to approach the devotees. "The devotees should be offered respect," he said, "but do not go near them.
- Yamaraja, considering himself and his servants to be offenders, spoke as follows, begging pardon from the Lord: O my Lord, my servants have surely committed a great offense by arresting a Vaisnava such as Ajamila.
Dispelling the Illusion of Lamentation
Yamarāja also acts to remove the ignorance of conditioned souls suffering from material attachment. Śrīla Prabhupāda recounts how Yamarāja, appearing in the guise of a small boy, philosophically chastised grieving relatives, pointing out the foolishness of lamenting for the dead while remaining blind to their own inevitable mortality.
- Sri Yamaraja said: Alas, how amazing it is! These persons, who are older than me, have full experience that hundreds and thousands of living entities have taken birth and died.
- Thus Yamaraja, in the guise of a small boy, told all the queens: You are all so foolish that you lament but do not see your own death.
- Yamaraja approached them (the relatives of the dead body) as a child because a child is not restricted but is granted admittance anywhere, even to the palace of a king. Besides this, the child was speaking philosophy.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals the absolute clarity and authority of Yamarāja’s teachings on the science of God. By explicitly defining dharma as the direct injunctions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yamarāja completely invalidates all manufactured, concocted religious systems created by conditioned souls. As one of the twelve authorized mahājanas, he perfectly guides humanity through the paramparā system toward the ultimate religious principle: pure bhakti-yoga. Yamarāja not only dispels the bodily illusion of lamentation through his profound philosophy but also establishes the supreme position of a Vaiṣṇava, humbly warning his agents that surrendered devotees are forever beyond the jurisdiction of death.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Yamaraja Says. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.