[Advaita-l] Stories from the Shiva Purana - 4 (The Yama Gita)

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continuation of the Gunanidhi episode, with the warning that Yama gives to his attendants about capturing the Devotees of Shiva:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226016.html
Section 2.1, Chapter 18)
 
 
On hearing the words of Shiva’s attendants, the emissaries of Yama returned to Yama’s abode. They narrated to Yama whatever the
messengers of Shiva told them about Dharma.
 
 
Dharmaraja (Yama) said:—
 
“O Ganas, listen attentively to what I say. Whatever I direct you to do, you shall do with loving devotion.
You shall avoid those persons who bear on their forehead the mark of Tripundra besmeared with white ashes. Never shall they be brought here.
You shall avoid those persons who regularly dust their body with white ashes. Never shall they be brought here.
You shall avoid those persons who assume the garb and features of Shiva whatever their reason may be. Never shall they be brought here.
You shall avoid those persons who wear Rudrakshas and keep matted hair. Never shall they be brought here.
You shall avoid those persons who imitate the dress or the features of Shiva, even for their livelihood. Never shall they be brought here.
You shall avoid those persons who imitate the dress and features of Shiva even for the purpose of deception. Never shall they be brought here.”
 
 
Yama thus commanded his servants. They too agreed to follow his command and remained silent with the flickering smile on their lips.
 
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Compare the above instructions of Yama Dharmaraja with an equivalent decree in the Vishnu Purana, called the “Yama Gita”:
 
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc115984.html
 
(Book 3, Chapter 7 of Vishnu Purana)
 
Yama, beholding one of his servants with his noose in his hand, whispered to him, and said, “Keep clear of the worshippers of Madhusudana.
I am the lord of all men, the Vaishnavas excepted. I was appointed by Brahma, who is reverenced by all the immortals, to restrain mankind,
and regulate the consequences of good and evil in the universe. But he who obeys Hari as his spiritual guide, is here independent of me;
for Vishnu is of power to govern and control me. As gold is one substance still, however diversified as bracelets, tiaras, or earrings,
so Hari is one and the same, although modified in the forms of gods, animals, and man...He who through holy knowledge diligently adores
the lotus foot of that Hari, who is reverenced by the gods, is released from all the bonds of sin; and you must avoid him as you would avoid
fire fed with oil...Do you proceed afar off from those in whose hearts Ananta is enshrined; from him whose sanctified understanding
conceives the supreme male and ruler, Vasudeva, as one with his votary, and with all this world. Avoid those holy persons who are constantly
invoking the lotus-eyed Vasudeva, Vishnu, the supporter of the earth, the immortal wielder of the discus and the shell, the asylum of the world.
Come not into the sight of him in whose heart the imperishable soul resides, for he is defended from my power by the discus of his Deity:
he is designed for another world (for the heaven of Vishnu).”
 
 
(To be Continued)