Or Yama. The God of death. When living beings finish the lifespan that Brahma has allotted them, Kala sends his messengers to bring their souls back to Kalapuri. The good souls are sent to Vaikuntha and the rest to Naraka.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Marichi – Kashyapa – Surya – Kala. Surya married Samjna, the daughter of Vishwakarma. They had three children – Manu, Yama, Yami. Yama came to be known as Kala (time) because his duty was to bring back souls after their time on earth was over.

Once Samjna was oppressed by Surya’s brilliance and gave the duty of looking after him to Chaya and left for the forests. Surya mistook Chaya for Samjna and had 3 children with her too – Shanaishchara, another Manu and Tapati. Surya understood his mistake only when Chaya once cursed Yama. Surya brought Samjna back and to them were born the Ashwinis, Revanta and Bhaya as per Vishnupurana Ansh 3 Chapter 2. Bhaya was married to an asura named Heti.

Kala’s eldest daughter was Sunidhi who was married to Anga. Their son was the famous king Vena as per Vishnupurana Ansh 1 Chapter 13.

Once Kuber meditated on his head under water, surrounded by fire for ten thousand years, and when Brahma appeared asked to be one of the digpalakas. Brahma decreed that henceforth Indra would be the digpalaka of the east, Kala south, Varuna west and Kuber north. Kala’s city was known as Samyamini as per Uttararamayana.

A sage named Animandavya once cursed Kala and that was how he was born as Vidura. See Animandavya.

After his exile, Rama became the king of Ayodhya, and ruled for 10001 years. It was then time for Vishnu (incarnated as Rama) to return to Vaikuntha. Brahma instructed Kala to do so. Kala took the form of a sage and visited Rama. He told Rama that he was a disciple of Atibala and wanted to convey a secret. Rama asked Lakshmana to stand outside the door and not let anyone in and declared that if someone managed to get in, Lakshmana would be punished by death. In a while, Durvasa appeared at the door with his disciples. He said that he had been meditating for a thousand years and wanted a feast from the king. Lakshmana asked him to wait a while, but Durvasa refused and threatened to burn everyone into ash. Left with no choice, Lakshmana went in and apprised Rama. Though Durvasa got his meal, Lakshmana had to die because he didn’t fulfill his duty. Vasishta suggested that it would be enough for Lakshmana to be banished. Rama was heartbroken, as Lakshmana went to a deep part of the Sarayu river and committed suicide. According to Uttararamayana, in a short while, Rama divided the kingdom’s responsibilities and ended his life the same way, in the presence of his subjects. Kala took their souls as per Uttararamayana.

Kala became a crow during Marutta’s yajna. See Crow for details.

The scriptures mention three ages without Kala. Once, in Kritayuga, Vishnu conducted Yamatva. No deaths occurred then and more living beings continued to be born, filling up the world. As a result of the increase in weight, the earth fell by a hundred yojanas. Bhumi approached Vishnu for help, who incarnated as varaha and took the earth back to its original place as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 142.

When Markandeya was sixteen years old, Kala came for his soul. he lad hid behind a shivalinga, and Kala threw his noose. It fell over the shivalinga and Shiva burned Kala to ash with his third eye. See Markandeya.

See Panchali for the third instance.

See Satyavan for how Kala gave back his life.

See Nriga for Kala and Nriga.

Kalapuri spreads over a thousand yojanas and has entry points on all four sides. One one side Chitragupta’s house can be seen. The fort walls are made of iron. There are a hundred decorated streets in Kalapuri. A group of attendants live in Chitragupta’s house and their main duty is to calculate human lifespans, considering their good and bad deeds. To the south of Chitragupta’s house is the abode of all diseases with smaller abodes for specific diseases. Twenty yojanas away from Chitragupta’s house is Kala’s own palace. It is 200 yojanas wide and fifty yojanas tall. It is held up by a thousand pillars. On on side of it is a huge hall. The souls who have done good deeds stay here forever in heavenly pleasure as per Garudapurana Chapter 14.

In between the three worlds, beolow the mortal world, is the pitrloka. Agnishatva and other pitrs stay there in samadhi for the good of the worlds. Since Kala is the most just of all, he is also known as Yamadharma. Kala sits here and delivers the fate of all living beings, basis their deeds. Kala cannot change the rules for the punishments or the way they are carried out. He sends various beings to different narakas as per their bad deeds. There are 28 narakas as per the scriptures. According to Devibhagavata Ashtamaskanda, Vishnupurana Ansh 2 Chapter 6,

Tamisra is the naraka for those who steal others’ wealth, wife or children. Those who get in here are beaten with sticks. When they become unconscious Yama’s attendants step away. When they wake up and try to escape, the attendants bring them back and begin again.

Andhatamisra is for wives and husbands who eat without feeding the other. There are no beatings here but those here suffer from intense pain. The rest is like Tamisra.

Raurava is for those who hurt other living beings. This also includes stealing others’ material possessions. Those who land up here are attacked by ruru, a giant serpent, hence the name.

Maharaurava, in which larger rurus live is meant for those who cheat others of their inheritance and enjoy it themselves.

Kumbhipaka is the naraka for those who kill and eat other living beings. There are huge vats of hot oil here and those who end up in this naraka are immersed and pulled out these vats alternately. This lasts for as many years as the number of hairs on the dead beings’ bodies.

Kalasutra is a very hot place and is for those who disrespect elders including teachers and parents.

Asipatra is for those who take up an alternate religion. Those who land up here are beaten with whips made of sugarcane  leaves and trunks. When they run, the uneven stones cause them to fall down and the soldiers hurt them with the pointed sugarcane leaves. This is repeated.

Sukaramukha is for kings who rule unjustly. Here too, the treatment is same as Asipatra.

Andhakupa is for those who harm brahmins or those devoted to god. It contains wild animals like tigers and bears, vultures, as well as reptiles like snakes and scorpions and insects like mosquitoes and bugs. These beings harm those who land up in this naraka.

Krimibhojana (Samdamshana) is for those who don’t show devotion to gods or guests. They are put in this naraka spread over a lakh yojanas, where snakes and insects eat them up. They are then given a fresh body and put in the naraka again.

Taptamurti is for those who forcibly steal the wealth of others. Such beings are put into the fire burning in this naraka. It is made of iron and is perpetually hot.

Shalmali is for those who accept a man/woman they do not have the right to. A body made of iron, red hot, is made and those sent to this naraka are whipped until they hug it.

Vajrakandakashali is for those who abuse peaceful animals like cows. Iron statues are made with glass shards on the outside and those sent to this naraka are made to hug it.

Vaitarani is for those people who stray away from the scriptures. Vaitarani is a river and is filled with blood, nails excretions, hair, bones, meat, fat etc, and predators. Those sent to this naraka have to survive all this until their punishment timeframe ends.

Puyodaka is a well filled with the same things as above. The brahmins who copulate with women of lower caste and those who roam around without a sense of duty are sent to this naraka.

Pranarodha is for those brahmins who breed dogs, donkeys and also hunt animals. Yama’s soldiers hurt those in this naraka with arrows.

Vishasana is for those who use their monetary might to conduct yajnas in which cows are killed. They are whipped throught their punishment sentence.

Lalabhaksha is for those individuals who make their wives swallow semen. This naraka is filled with semen and those who end up here have to consume it throught their sentence.

Sarameyashana is for those who set fire to houses, give poison to others, destroy kingdoms, carry out mass murders. They are fed dog meat and then dogs, as seven hundred ferocious dogs are set on them.

Aveechi is for those who lie under oath and take up false names. They are thrown from a mountain hundred yojanas high into this naraka, which seems like a dark ocean. As soon as they touch it, their bodies explode. This cycle is repeated.

Ayapaana is the naraka for brahmins, kshatriyas and vasihyas who consume soma. Here, they are made to drink molten iron.

Ksharakarddama is for those who boast and make fun of those above them in station. They are hung upside down and punished in various ways.

Rakshobhaksha is for those who consume meat including those who conduct human sacrifices. The beings they have killed are allowed to harm them .

Shulaprota is for those who hurt others who have not harmed them by word or deed. This naraka has spears and tridents and those who land up here are hung on these and then tortured by Yama’s soldiers.

Dantashuka is for those constantly harass others. It is filled with wild animals and snakes, who eat up those who land here.

Vatarodha is for those who harm animals and birds which live in the forest. This naraka is also a forest and those guilty of the above crime are put in there and hurt with fire, poison, smoke etc

Paryavartanuka is for those who are rude to guests who arrive at meal times. Those who land up in this naraka have their eyes gouged out by crows and vultures.

Suchimukha is for those who are miserly and don’t spend money even on necessary things. People who do not give back the money they borrowed are also sent here. They are constantly pricked by needles during the time spent in this naraka.

As per Agnipurana Chapter 56, Yama can be invoked with

Mahishasthayamagachcha, Dandahasta Mahabala, Rakshatva, Dakshinadwara, Vaivaswata Namosthuthe.

He should then be prayed to using the Vaivaswatam Sangamanam mantra.

Once Narada reached Ravana’s court and began describing Yama’s heroics. Ravana immediately set out for Samyamini to vanquish Yama. Yama took up the challenge and a battle was fought, which went on for seven days. In the end, neither was defeated, since both had been blessed by Brahma. At the end of the seventh day, Yama jumped towards Ravana to kill him with his staff. Ravana invoked the brahmastra and Brahma himself appeared to make Yama retreat. Yama went back to his city and shut the gates, with Ravana laughing at him outside, as per Uttararamayana.

Yama was present at Draupadi’s swayamwar as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 186 verse 6.

Yama did the Shamitra (animal killing) in the yajna conducted by the devas in Naimisharanya as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 196 verse 1.

During the burning of Khandava, Yama was on Indra’s side in the battle with Arjuna as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 226 verse 32.

Every thousand years, Yama conducts a yajna at Bindusarovara as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 3 verse 15.

Yama frequents Brahma’s court as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 11 verse 51.

When Arjuna earned the Pashupatastra from Shiva, Yama was pleased and gifted him the Dandastra as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 41 verse 25.

Yama was one of the devas who first tested and then blessed Nala during Damayanti’s swayamwar. See Nala

Indra made Yama the lord of the pitrs as per Mahabharata Udyogaparva Chapter 16 verse 14.

When the devas milked Bhumidevi, Yama stood as a calf, as per Mahabharata Dronaparva Chapter 96 verse 26. See Vena.

During the destruction of Tripura, Yama was in the Shaivabana as per Mahabharata Dronaparva Chapter 202 verse 77. See Tripura.

Yama gifted two warriors – Unmadha, Pramadha to Skanda as per Mahabharata Shalyaparva Chapter 45 verse 30.

Yama once advised the sage Gautama on dharma as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 192.

Yama once gave a boon to a brahmin named Japaka as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 199. See Japaka.

Once Vihsnu taught Yama Shivasahasranama as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 17. See Shiva, Nachiketa.

Yama sent a special messenger to bring the brahmin Sharmi as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 68. See Sharmi.

Once Yama spoke about the importance of giving water to brahmins as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 68.

Yama once narrated the secrets of dharma as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 130.

Yama prayed to Shiva on the Munjavan mountain as per Mahabharata Ashwamedhaparva Chapter 8.

Yama’s wife is Dhumorna as per Mahabharata Udyogaparva Chapter 117 verse 9.

Once Yama conducted a yajna in Naimisharanya. During this time, living beings stopped dying. The devas approached him and requested him to get back to his duties. He agreed as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 199.

Or Karshika. A measurement of gold and silver in ancient India as per Manusmriti Chapter 8.

A deva gandharva who attended Arjuna’s birth celebrations as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 122 verse 56.

A region in ancient India. The maids from this kingdom served in Yudhishtira’s rajasuya as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 51 verse 8.

Son of Shiva. See Skanda.

An asura emperor as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 227 Verse 52.

Also known as Kartavirya. A famous king in the Hehaya dynasty.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Atri – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – Ayus – Nahusha – Yayati – Yadu – Sahasrajit – Shatajit – Hehaya – Dharma – Kunti – Bhadrasena – Dhanaka – Kritavirya – – Kartaviryarjuna

The Hehayas were kshatriyas and Bhargavas were brahmins and the spiritual advisors of the Hehayas. The Hehayas rewarded the Bhargavas handsomely but after a while, began to decline, while the Bhargavas prospered. The Hehayas then decided to get some wealth from the Bhargavas, but were told that the Bhargavas had no money. The Hehayas began killing the Bhargavas who buried their wealth and went to the Himalayas. But the killing continued until Arushi gave birth to Ourva from her thigh. Ourva managed to subdue the Hehayas. Many years passed and Kartaviryarjuna was born in the Hehaya dynasty while Jamadagni took birth in the Bhargava dynasty. They renewed the rivalry as Kartaviryarjuna set up his capital Mahishmati on the banks of the Narmada.

Once Narada arrived at Mahishmati. After greeting the sage, Kartaviryarjuna asked Narada how he could achieve moksha and enjoy worldly pleasures at the same time. Narada asked him to do the Bhadradipapratishta for this. The king began doing this along with his wife in a hermitage on the banks of the Narmada. Dattatreya, son of Atri, was his guru. At the end of the yajna, Dattatreya was pleased with the king and asked him to seek a boon, and as per the king’s request granted him a thousand hands. The King became arrogant and ruled Mahishmati for 86000 years as per Brahmandapurana Chapter 44.

When Kartaviryarjuna was returning to his palace after getting the boon, he heard a divine voice that said that brahmins were more illustrious than kshatriyas and a king could rule well only with the help of brahmins. The king understood that the voice belonged to the messenger of the devas – Vayu, and he mocked the wind god, and argued that the kshatriya was more important than brahmins. Vayu warned him that he would be cursed by a brahmin as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 152.

Once Agni approached Kartaviryarjuna and asked for food. The king asked Agni to consume any mountain or forests from his kingdom. Agni began doing this and accidentally destroyed the sage Aapava’s hermitage. The sage cursed that Parashurama would cut off all thousand of Kartaviryarjuna’s thousand hands.

When Ravana began his journey to conquer the worlds, he reached the river Narmada and liked the place enough to spend a night there. He woke in the morning, and as part of his morning rituals fixed a shivalinga on the river’s banks. At that time, Kartaviryarjuna reached a place downstream with his wives and began frolicking in the river. He stopped the river with his thousand hands and that caused the river to rise and Ravana and his offerings to be washed away. Ravana was enraged and sent his spies to find out what had happened. The spies reported back about Kartaviryarjuna and Ravana set out to fight him. After a fierce battle, Kartaviryarjuna defeated Ravana with a blow from his mace and imprisoned him. Ravana remained there for a year until his father Pulastya reached there and requested Kartaviryarjuna to release him. The two then parted as friends as per Uttararamayana.

When Parashurama was fourteen, his father Jamadagni once went to the forest to collect firewood. His wife Renuka cleaned the hermitage and left Parashurama there while she went to the river. She reached there to find Kartaviryarjuna and his wives and spent some time watching them. After they left, she found the river muddy and had to go to another part of its banks to fetch clean water. There she saw the king of Salva, Chitraratha with his wives and she spent more time watching them. She collected water only after they left. When she returned to the hermitage she found an impatient Jamadagni who ordered Parashurama to hack her head off as per Brahmandapurana Chapter 58.

As per the Brahmandapurana Chapter 16, Kartaviryarjuna conquered the entire world and even Suryavanshi kings like Harishchandra, Trairyaruna, Rohitashwa, Chunchu were defeated by him.  He also defeated the devas, yakshas, several sages and then challenged Vishnu. He also embarrassed Indra as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 115. He then challenged the ocean and destroyed the creatures living in it with his arrows. Varuna appeared and asked him what he wanted. He asked for the name of a person who was worthy enough to fight him, and Varuna replied that Jamadagni’s son Parashurama was indeed one such person, as per Mahabharata Ashwamedhaparva Chapter 29.

Once Kartaviryarjuna went hunting with his attendants and finally reached the banks of the Narmada, tired. They bathed in the river and were about to leave when they spotted Jamadagni’s hermitage. The king went there alone and greeted the sage. The sage asked him to get his attendants too, and then proceeded to give them a sumptuous meal. They spent the night there and the king wondered how the sage had managed to feed them. While they returned, his minister Chandragupta told him that he had seen a cow in the hermitage, which had provided the food. The king sent Chandragupta to Jamadagni, requesting him to give the cow. Chandragupta reached there when Parashurama had gone out. The sage said that the cow was Kamadhenu’s sister Sushila and he was not willing to part with it. When Chandragupta tried to take the cow by force, it disappeared. He then tried to take the calf, and when Jamadagni tried to stop him, he killed the sage as per Brahmandapurana Chapters 67-71. Parashurama returned just then with a disciple named Akritavarna. He saw his dead father and burst out crying. Renuka beat her chest twenty one times, wailing. Parashurama vowed that he would roam the earth twenty one times and destroy kings. Shukra then appeared there with Sushila and revived Jamadagni.

Parashurama first reached Mahishmati along with Akritavarna and called out Kartaviryarjuna. The king came out with his army and a fierce battle took place. Parashurama hacked away all thousand of Kartaviryarjuna’s arms, killed his sons, beheaded him and fixed the head on the central pillar of the Hehaya kingdom as per Brahmandapurana Chapter 81.

Kartaviryarjuna had a hundred sons, all of whom were killed by Parashurama. Their names as per Brahmandapurana Chapter 76 were Nirmada, Rochana, Shanku, Ugrada, Dhundhubhi, Dhruva, Suparshi, Shatrujit, Krauncha, Shanta, Nirdaya, Antaka, Aakriti, Vimala, Dhira, Neeroga, Bahuti, Dama, Adhari, Vidhura, Saumya, Manasvi, Pushkala, Busha, Taruna, Rishabha, Rishaka, Satyaka, Subala, Bali, Ugreshta, Ugrakarma, Satyasena, Durasada, Viradhanwa, Deerkhabahu, Akambana, Subahu, Deerkhaksha, Varthulaksha, Charudamshtra, Gothravan, Mahojava, Oordhvabahu, Krodha, Satyakeerti, Dushpradharshana, Savyasandha, Mahasena, Sulochana, Raktanetra, Vakradamshtra, Sudamshtra, Kshatravarma, Manonuga, Dhumrakesha, Pingalochana, Avyanga, Jatila, Venuman, Sanu, Pashapani, Anudhata, Durantha, Kapila, Shambhu, Anantha, Vishwaga, Udaara, Kriti, Kshatrajit, Dharmi, Vyakhra, Khosha, Adbhuta, Puranjaya, Charana, Vagmi, Vira, Rathi, Govihvala, Sangramajit, Suparva, Narada, Satyaketu, Shatanika, Dridhayudha, Chitradhanva, Jayatsena, Virupaksha, Bhimakarma, Shatrutapana, Chitrasena, Duradharsha, Vidhuratha, Shura, Shurasena, Dhishana, Madhu, Jayadhwaja

A venomous and powerful snake. He was born to Kashyapa and Kadru.

Once he cheated Narada, who banished him to a forest and cursed that he would stay there immobile until Nala released him. So Karkodaka remained there waiting for Nala. Once, there was a forest fire and he began crying for help, calling for Nala. This was when Nala was roaming in the forest after leaving Damayanti. Nala heard the cries and Karkodaka then informed him of Narada’s curse. Karkodaka reduced his size and Nala carried him to a safe place. Karkodaka then asked Nala to walk ahead counting his steps. At the tenth step, Karkodaka bit him and disfigured him. He said that he had done so, so that Nala wouldn’t be recognised and also informed him that Kali, who had caused Nala’s downfall, was living inside him and the venom had affected him. Nala would henceforth be immune to venom and would be invincible in wars. Karkodaka advised Nala to take on the name of Bahuka and become the charioteer of the king Rituparna of Ayodhya and said that they would teach other Ashwahridaya and Akshahridaya mantras. Karkodaka then gave Nala two dresses and said that he would would regain his normal form when he wore them. Karkodaka blessed Nala before leaving as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 66.

A region near the eastern sea, from which the river Shithoda is not far. Beyond that is the Udaya mountain as per Kathasaitasagara.

The son born to the sage Aapasthamba and Akshasutra.