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Articles: Devotion | In the Realm of Yamaraja
- Prof. venkata ramanamurty mallajosyula
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There was a Brahman, a religious man and fond in his affections, but without deep wisdom. He had a son of great promise, who, when seven years old, was struck with a fatal disease and died. The unfortunate father was unable to control himself : he threw himself on the corpse and lay there as one dead. The relatives came and buried the dead child and when the father came to himself, he was so immoderate in his grief that he behaved like an insane person. He no longer gave way to tears, but wandered about asking for the residence of Yamaraja, the king of death, humbly to beg of him that his child might be allowed to return to life.
'Kind sirs, can you tell me where the residence of Yamaraja is?'
'Your son has obtained celestial happiness because he died in faith and in love to the Lord, the Buddha.'
Having arrived at a great Brahman temple, the sad father went through certain religious rites and fell asleep. While wandering on in his dream he came to a deep mountain pass where he met a number of samanas (monks) who had acquired supreme wisdom.
'Kind sirs,' he said, 'Can you not tell me where the residence of Yamaraja is?'
And they asked him, 'Good friend, why would you know?' Where upon he told them his sad story and explained his intentions.
Pitying his self-delusion, the samanas said : 'No mortal man can reach the place where Yama reigns, but some four hundred miles westward lies a great city in which many good spirits live; every eighth day of the month Yama visits the place, and there you may see him who is the King of Death and ask him for a boon.'
The Brahman, rejoicing at the news, went to the city and found it as the samanas had told him. He was admitted to the dread presence of Yama, the King of Death, who, on hearing his request, said : 'Your son now lives in the eastern garden where he is enjoying himself; go there and ask him to follow you.'
Said the happy father, 'How does it happen that my son, without having performed one good work, is now living in paradise?
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