Dharmadeva

deity single tradition · 1

Dharmadeva is the god personifying the concept of Dharma, and is considered by some to be the same as Yama. According to Mani, Dharmadeva is one of the Prajapatis (agents of creation). Dharmadeva is born from the chest of the god Brahma, and is married to ten or thirteen daughters of Daksha, with whom he fathered many sons, including Yudhishthira.

When

First attested
1500 BCE
Attested period
-1500 – 2020
Historical notes
Vedic period

Relationships

co occurs with
Yami, Vivasvat, Sanjna, Dhumorna, Sunita, Sūrya
teacher of
Yudhishthira
parent of
Yudhishthira
syncretized with
Yama, Kala, Dharmarāja
child of
Brahma

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Sources

wikipedia (1)

Source passages

“In the Yaksha Prashna, Dharmadeva (Yama) appears as a yaksha (nature spirit) in the form of a crane to question Yudhishthira and test his righteousness. Impressed by Yudhishthira's strict adherence to dharma and his answers to the riddles posed, Yama reveals himself as his father”

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