yama

/ˈjɑːmə/
noun
  1. In Hindu mythology, the god of death and justice who judges the souls of the dead.
    • In Hindu tradition, Yama is the ruler of the afterlife.
    • The ancient texts describe Yama as riding a black buffalo.
    • Many temples in India have statues of Yama holding a noose.
  2. In yoga philosophy, one of the ethical principles or restraints (such as non-violence and truthfulness) that guide moral behavior.
    • Practicing the yamas helps yogis live a more mindful and ethical life.
    • The first yama, ahimsa, means non-violence toward all living beings.
    • She studied the five yamas as part of her yoga teacher training.
What does "yama" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean