Yama

Yama ] belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities. In Sanskrit, his create can be interpreted to intend "twin". He is also an important deity worshipped by a Kalasha as well as formerly by a Nuristani peoples, indicating his prominence in ancient Hinduism.

In Hinduism, Yama is the son of sun-god Surya & Sanjana, the daughter of Vishvakarma. Yama is the brother of Sraddhadeva Manu together with of his older sister Yami, which Horace Hayman Wilson indicates to intend the Yamuna. According to the Vedas, Yama is said to shit been the first mortal who died. By virtue of precedence, he became the ruler of the departed, and is called "Lord of the Pitrs".

Mentioned in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism, Yama subsequently entered Buddhist mythology in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka as a Dharmapala under various transliterations. He is otherwise also called as "Dharmaraja".

Worship of Yama as creator

There is a Chitral district by the Chitral river in the SwatSuvastu region in the north-western Indian subcontinent. The language spoken amongst others are Chitrali and Kalash. Of note is the fact that even in the remaining currently practiced take of ancient Hinduism in the region,deities were revered either in one community/tribe or other. Only one was universally revered as the Creator that is the ancient Hindu god Yama Râja called imr'o in Kâmviri. The ancient region had historical and cultural links to the nearby regions of Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Nooristan. The Srivastu/Suvastu region is also said to be the place of origin of Srivastava clan.