Yamlok ki yatra

Know which cities of Yamalok the ghost body has to pass through after death and what sufferings it has to endure?

The distance between Prithvi Loka and Yamloka is eighty-six thousand yojanas (1 Yojana = 12.8 km). After death, that living being is capable of covering a maximum distance of only two hundred and forty-seven yojanas and half a kosa in a day. Due to walking at this speed, that creature is able to reach Yamalok in three hundred and forty-eight days. During this journey, Yamdoot drags the creature. Those beings who commit sins in their life, are not able to acquire any virtue while living in a human body, are engaged only in the selfishness of their son, wife and relatives, they have to suffer on this path. After death, the creature wanders about its home for thirteen days and on the thirteenth day, Yamdoot ties the creature in a circle of rope made by his power. Being very angry, they hit him with a stick and drag him towards Yamalok located in the south direction. That path is full of weeds, thorns, thistles, nails and hard stones. Fire keeps burning on that path. The Yamdoots beat and drag the creature along that path filled with intense heat of the sun and mosquitoes. The one who has not done any good deeds in his life except sin, has earned only sin, that sinner goes on the path of Yamalok full of terrible troubles and pain and due to burning of the body, he becomes very weak. According to the deeds, the body parts of that creature are eaten by animals, on the way it is pierced, and its body is pierced due to which the body has to bear a lot of pain. The living being acquires a body according to his karma and suffers many types of sufferings. There are sixteen towns (cities) in this path of Yamalok full of excruciating pain - Yamya, Sauripur, Nagendrabhavan, Gandharvapur, Shailagam, Kraunch, Krurpur, Vichitra Bhavan, Bahyapad, Dukhad, Nanakrandpur, Sutaptabhan, Raudra, Payovarshan, Sheetadhya and Bahubhiti. When a living being is dragged by the messengers of Yama, then that living being crosses these sixteen cities and enters Yamalok. After first entering Yamyapur along with the messengers of Yam, that creature said, 'O son! Protect me', making such a compassionate cry, pleading for mercy and crying, he remembers the sins committed by him and on the eighteenth day, he reaches the city of Yamraj i.e. Yamyapuri. There flows a river named Pushpa Bhadra. There is a very beautiful banyan tree near that river where the creature wants to rest but Yamdoot does not allow it to rest there.

That living being eats the monthly Pind-daan that is given on earth with love by his son or by someone else with pleasure.

After that his journey from there goes to Sauripur. While walking, Yama's messengers beat him with a crowbar. Being extremely distressed by that sorrow, he laments like this-

jalaashaayo naiv krto maya tada manushyatrpyai pashupakshitrptaye.

gotrapatihetorn ch gocharah krtah shareer he nistaar yat tvaya krtam.

In that life, I did not dig a reservoir to satisfy the thirst of humans, animals and birds. Didn't even donate pastureland to satisfy the hunger of the cows. So this body. Now you dispose of yourself according to your actions.

In that Sauripur, a king in the form of Kama reigns, who always remains in one position and moves continuously according to his will. On seeing him, the living being trembles with fear and is tormented by the doubt of being harmed, knowing that there is no one to speak in his favour. That living being eats the watery bodies given to him on earth by his son and his relatives and moves ahead. From there he moves ahead and, on the way, suffers many attacks from the swords of Yamdoots and mutters thus –

na nityadaanan na saaksheenikan krtan pustan ch dattan na hi vedashaastrayoh.

puraanadrshto na hi sevitodhva shareer he nistaar yat tvaya krtam .

O body! I have never donated water etc., nor have I done the ritual of feeding Gogras etc. to the cow every day as per the rules, nor have I donated the book of Vedas. I have not followed the path (pilgrimage etc.) mentioned in the Puranas, hence O body! Save yourself in the same way as you have done.

After this the creature goes to 'Nagendranagar'. There he eats the food given by his brothers in the second month and moves ahead. When the Yamdoots attack him with saber punches while he is walking, he mutters thus –

paraadheenambhoot sarvan mam moorkhashiromaneh.

mahata punyayogen manushyayan labdhaavanaham.

After performing great deeds, I got a human body, but I remained engaged in royal enjoyment and remained under its control and even after getting a human body, I could not do any good deeds.

In this way, as soon as the third month ends, the grieving soul reaches ‘Gandharvanagar’. After this, after eating the third menstrual Pind-daan offered there, he moves ahead again. On the way, Yamdoot attacks him with the tip of his dagger, due to which he gets injured and cries out in unbearable pain –

maya na dattan na hutan hutaashane tapo na taptan himashailagahvare.

na sevitan gangamaho mahaajalan shareer he nistaar yat tvaya krtam .

I have neither made any donation, nor offered any sacrifice in the fire, nor have I gone to any cave in the Himalayas and performed penance. Oho! I am so lowly that I have not even consumed the most holy Ganga water, hence O body. Dispose of yourself according to your deeds.

In the fourth month the creature reaches 'Shailagampur'. There is continuous rain of stones there. After accepting the fourth monthly Shraddha given by his son, the creature walks slowly, but falls after being hit by stones and while crying says this –

na gyaanamaargo na ch yogamaargon na karmamaargo na ch bhaktimaargah.

na saadhusangat kimapootan maaya shareer he nistaar yat tvaya krtam .

In my entire life, I have neither adopted the path of knowledge, nor of yoga, nor of karma, nor of devotion, nor by associating with sages and saints, I have heard only a few favourable things from them. So, this body! Then deal with yourself accordingly as you have done.

A few days before the fifth month of death, that soul reaches 'Kraunchpur', at that time he rests there for a while after consuming the food and water of Unshanmasik Shraddha given by his son or relatives.

After this, in the sixth month the creature moves towards 'Krurpur'. On the way, he takes refreshment by eating the fifth monthly Pind-daan given on earth. After that he again moves towards Krurpur, but on the way Yamdoot attacks him with straps (special weapon), due to which he falls and mutters thus –

ha maataraha pitrbhatah suta ha ha mam streeh .

yusmaabhirnopadishtoh- maavasthaan praapt eedrsheem.

O my parents and brothers! O my son! O my wife! You people did not give me any advice that could have saved me from the misdeeds that led to my condition.

Hearing the lamentation of that creature, Yamdoot said to that creature - Oh fool! Where is your mother, where is your father, where is your wife, where is your son and where are your friends? You walk alone and suffer the consequences of your misdeeds on this path. Hey fool! You should know that it is useless for people following this path to rely on the power of others. There is no need of anyone else's support to go to the next world. There only self-acquired virtues support us. You are bound to go through the same path, in which even the necessary luxuries cannot be procured by any buyer or seller.

After this the creature moves towards 'Vichitranagar'. On the way, Yamdoot kills him with thorns, due to being ambushed, he has to suffer extreme pain due to which he becomes sad and groans like this -

kutr yaami na hi gaamee jeevitan ha mrtasy maranan punarjanm vai.

Hi! Where am I going, I can't bear this unbearable pain. I certainly don't want to be alive anymore, yet I'm alive. A dead creature does not die again.

In this way, the groaning creature assumes the body of torture and goes to 'Vichitranagar'. Where a king named Vichitra rules. There he quenches his hunger with Shanamasik Pinda and moves towards the next city. On the way, Yamdoot attacks him with a spear, due to which he gets injured, he says in pain –

maata bhraata pita putrah kopi me vartate na va.

yo maamudharate paapan patanan duhkhasaagare .

Is it any of my parents, brothers or sons? Who can save me a sinner from drowning in this ocean of sorrow?

The creature continues to walk on the path groaning like this. On the same route there is a river named 'Vaitarani', which is a hundred yojanas wide and is full of blood and pus. As soon as the deceased reaches the bank of that river, the sailors and boatmen present there see him and say that if you have donated the Vaitarani cow, then sit on this boat and cross this river happily. Only the one who has donated a cow named Vaitarani can cross this river happily. Those who have not donated the Vaitarani cow, the sailors drag them by the hand. Birds named crow, heron and owl cause a lot of pain to him with their attacks with their sharp and pointed beaks. When the end comes, donating the Vaitarani cow is beneficial for the human being. If a person donates a cow named Vaitarani during his lifetime, then that cow destroys all his sins and instead of taking him to Yamalok, he takes him to Vishnuloka. When the seventh month comes, that creature reaches a city called 'Bahyapad'. There, after eating the food given in the seventh month, he is suffering from the pain of Parigha (object standing for cover) and moves ahead muttering thus –

na dattan na hutan taptan na snaatan na krtan hitam.

yadrshan charitan karm moodhaatman bhunkshv taadrsham.

O body! I have not done any auspicious work like charity, yagya, penance, pilgrimage, charity etc. throughout my life. Hey idiot! Now enjoy as per your karma.

After this, in the eighth month that creature reaches 'Dukhhadpur'. There he takes refreshment by consuming the food given by his relatives in the eighth month and after that he leaves for a city called 'Nankrand'. While walking on the road, suffering from bleeding, he laments thus:

kv jaayachatulayashchaatupatubhirvachanairmam.

bhojanan bhallabhalleebhirmusalaishch kv maranam.

Hi! Where I used to eat, enjoying the flattering words of my bright-eyed wife, and where I am being killed with spears, axes and spears!

In this way, that groaning creature reaches 'Nanakrandapur' in the ninth month. Thereafter, in the ninth month, he eats the food given to him by his son and cries bitterly. After that, in the tenth month, Yamdoot drags him towards 'Suttapbhavan' and beats him with a plough. Being crushed and trampled by the plough, he cries and endures the pain and says –

k‍va sunupeshalakaraih paadasanvaahanan mam .

kv dootavajrapratimakraayamatpadakarshanam.

Hi! Where my feet used to be pressed by the delicate hands of my sons, which would remove my tiredness and where today I am being dragged mercilessly by holding my feet with the hands as hard as thunderbolts of these Yamdoots.

In the tenth month, after eating the mass and drinking water, the creature again starts crawling and moving forward. As soon as the eleventh month is over, he reaches 'Raudrapur'. As soon as the Yamdoots attack his back on the way, he starts rolling around screaming, wailing, crying and thus sobbing and saying –

kavahan satulishaayane parivartan kshane kshane.

bhatahastabhrashtayashtikrtaprshthah vav va punahpraapti .

Where I used to lie down on a very soft mattress made of cotton and was tossing and turning every moment, and where today I am tossing and turning with a broken back due to my back being cut due to the blows of the sticks which were being brutally beaten by the hands of Yamdoots.

After this, that creature eats the water body given on the earth and moves towards a city called 'Pyovarshan'. On the way, Yamdoot attacks his head with an axe. Wounded and screaming, he laments like this –

bhrtyakomalakarairgandhatailavasechanam .

kv kv kinaashaanugaih krodhaatkuthaaraih shirasi vyatha.

Hi! Where my head used to be massaged with fragrant oil by the soft hands of servants, where today the angry Yamdoots are hitting my head with axes.

In this city called Payovarshan, that creature performs Unabdika Shraddha (Shraddha performed a day before the completion of a year) with sorrow and helpless suffering. Later, as the years pass, he moves towards 'Shitadhya' city. While walking on the way, Yamdoot cuts the tongue of the deceased with a knife, which causes extreme pain to him, and then he cries out in pain and says –

priyalaapaih kv ch rasamadhuratvasy varnanam.

uktamaatre sipatraadijihvaachchhedah kv chaiv hi.

Oho! Where the sweetness of the tongue was praised through mutual love-filled conversations, where today my same tongue is being cut with knives as sharp as swords as soon as I open my mouth.

After this, in the same city that creature consumes the annual Pindodak and other things offered in Shraddh and moves ahead. He enters the Pindaj body and goes to a city called 'Bahubhiti'. There he reveals his sins and condemns himself along the way.

In this path of Yampuri, the woman also mourns in the same way. After this the deceased goes to Yampuri located nearby. That Yamalok extends for forty-four yojanas. There are thirteen Pratiharas named Shravan in it. Those Pratihars become very happy by doing Shravan Karma, otherwise they get angry. After reaching such a world, the living being sees Yamraj, who has a terrible form like a black mountain with red eyes and is situated in the middle of the time of death and end. His face looks very scary with big teeth. His eyebrows remain tense, which makes his figure appear frightening. Hundreds of tigers with extremely distorted faces surround them. He has a stick in one hand and Bhairav-paash in the other hand. The soul that reaches Yamalok receives auspicious and inauspicious motion as told by Yama. Those who donate umbrellas, shoes, slippers and houses, and those who perform virtuous deeds, reach there and see Yamraj with a gentle face and beautiful appearance, earrings in his ears and a crown on his head. Since the living being feels hungry there, food should be fed to many Brahmins on Ekadshah, Dwadshah, Shanmas and annual dates. The person who considers it his duty to fulfill the selfish interests of his son, wife, friends and other relatives and does not do any good deeds like charity etc. to create his next world, that person suffers in the end.

The above act is taken from Garuda Purana. Once when Garuda ji traveled to Yamalok, many questions arose in his mind, answering which Lord Shri Krishna ji describes the journey to Yamalok. Shri Krishna ji tells Garuda ji that the description of this journey is for those people who do not do good deeds in their entire life and always indulge in sinful deeds. While describing Yamalok, Shri Krishna ji says that after the death of a person, he stays in his house for thirteen days but after thirteen days he has to travel to Yamalok.

Lord Shri Krishna says that when a living being begins his journey to Yamalok after thirteen days, he gets a specific body according to his deeds and in that body itself, he faces all the terrible sufferings that he faces in Yamalok as per his deeds. One has to complete the journey to Yamalok with patience.

Therefore, to avoid the terrible troubles during the journey to Yamalok, a person should always keep doing good deeds in life. Also one should be involved in social work. A man should save only that much money in his life as is necessary for him and the rest of the money should be invested in charity and good deeds because after the death of a person, the accumulated wealth does not go with him, but the charity, religion, virtue done with that money. And only good deeds save him from the terrible sorrows of Yamalok.

A person should do social welfare activities in his life like planting trees, donating cows, giving food and water to animals and birds, donating food, working to improve the society, remembering God, not looking at other women. Man should do such work so that peace is maintained in the society and everyone remains happy with each other. Only such good deeds can provide welfare to man, that is, a person who does such good deeds does not have to suffer the tortures he faces during his journey to Yamalok. Also, man easily attains Vaikunthaloka.

From this story we learn that we create our destiny by our actions. If our deeds are good then our fortune will always be good, hence man should always move towards good deeds in his life.

Writer :- krishna