Yami- Hindu GodDeity"Goddess of the Yamuna River"
Also known as: Yamuna, Kalindi, यमी, and Yamī
Titles & Epithets
Domains
Symbols
Description
When Yama died, the first death, his twin Yami wept without ceasing. But only daytime existed, and she could only say he had died 'today.' The gods created night so that tomorrow could come. Her tears became the Yamuna River.
Mythology & Lore
The Twin's Proposal
Rigveda 10.10 preserves a dialogue between Yami and her twin brother Yama, the first mortals. Yami proposed that they unite to produce offspring: they were the only pair, and the human race depended on them. Yama refused. The gods were watching. Mitra and Varuna, guardians of cosmic law, would condemn a union between brother and sister. Yami pressed him. Yama would not yield.
The Origin of Night
When Yama died, the first mortal to perish, Yami was consumed by grief. She wept without ceasing. No matter what the gods said to comfort her, she could only answer that he had died "today." At that time only daytime existed. There was no night to mark the passage of days.
The gods realized that without night, Yami could never move beyond the immediate present of her loss. They created night. When the next morning came, Yami acknowledged that a new day had dawned. Time could pass. Her mourning could ease. Her tears became the Yamuna River.