Common Ancient Origin of Legends - Yima, Ymir, and Yama
Our Ancient past is full of diverse legends and myths which strangely seem to be coming from the same origin. Yima, Ymir, and Yama are one of those. The Old Norse religion, also known as Norse Paganism, was a folk religion followed by the early settlers of the area that is now Scandinavia and Northern Germany. It is not known exactly when this belief system was formed but it has been traced as far back as the 2nd Century AD (1). The Vedic religion is the basis of modern-day Hinduism and was the belief system of the Indo-Aryans who lived in Ancient Northern India. It is commonly accepted by scholars that the Old Norse Religion, the Vedic religion of India, and the pre-Islamic Indo-Iranian religion of Ancient Persia descend from a common Proto-Indo-European origin. The source of this origin stretches as far back as the end of the last ice age, which according to the Pleistocene Epoch theory came to an end about 11,700 years ago. Evidence of this common origin can be found in the profound similarities between the downfall of a primordial King who sought refuge for his people from an environmental disaster that can be associated with the occurrences that took place at the end of the ice age. Yima According to many scholars, the Indo-Iranian religion as it is today, known in the West as Zoroastrianism, was founded by ancient sage/seer known as Zarathustra (ca. 1800 BCE). It is believed to be the earliest known Monotheistic faith as well as a hidden inspiration for the Abrahamic religions. According to the scriptures of this faith known today as the Avesta, Yima is remembered as a primordial king who brought great material comforts to his people, but failed to bring them spiritual comforts. He saved his people from what the Avesta describes as the ‘evil winters’ by leading them South and building a ‘Vara’ (a type of underground castle enclosed and protected from the outside world) (2). Modern academic David Wilcock believes that this ‘Vara’ structure is located in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, in the unbelievable multi-level underground city known as Derinkuyu (coming article on this one soon!), matching the descriptions of the Avesta. The downfall of Yima came as he grew more proud and arrogant of his earthly achievements. Yima is also remembered in Yasna 32.8 of the Avesta as being the first among his people to commit the sin of eating the flesh of animals (3).
Derinkuyu - the deepest subterrenean city on the world Ymir In the Old Norse mythology, Ymir is associated with having emerged from melting ice and is considered to be a progenitor of a race of ‘frost giants’ (4). According to the ancient Norse legend, Ymir was not well liked by his grandchildren Odin, Ve and Vili who are believed to have killed him. Yama In Vedic religion, Yama is mentioned variously in scriptures such as the Rig Veda, the Upanishads, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas. In the Rig Vedas (the earliest writings of the Vedic religion that contain a sacred collection of Sanskrit hymns), Yama and his wife Yami are regarded as the primeval pair from whom the human family found its origin. The various Hindu scriptures all have different accounts on the nature and character of who Yama was (4). In the early Vedas (1500-800 BCE) Yama is mentioned as a hero of mankind. By the time of the Upanishads (a series of texts composed between the 3rd and 16th centuray CE containing the central philosophical concepts of Hinduism), Yama rose to the status of God. Finally, by the time the Puranas (a series of texts praising various deities) were composed (500-1500 AD), Yama was demoted to a king of the underworld (5). Yama is also mentioned in Buddhist scriptures and is well known to the Buddhists of India, Tibet, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.
Illustration of Yama Although modern day legends and lore of Yima/Ymir/Yama differ from each other to some extent, it seems as though they have been passed down to us orally for thousands of years from an ancient and common origin before being committed to writing. Illustrations by: Amir Mohammad Dehestani Sources (1) Norse Mythology (Norse Mythology: Gods and Goddesses) http://viking-mythology.com (2) Encyclopædia Iranica (RSS) http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/jamsid-i (3) Vegetarianism in the poetic gathas and the primary Zoroastrian Texts (Authentic Gatha Zoroastrianism) http://authenticgathazoroastrianism.org/2012/06/04/vegetarianism-in-the-poetic-gathas/ (4) Ymir (Ymir) http://www.pantheon.org/articles/y/ymir.html (5) Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic: Part I. The Vedic Deities: Chapter X. Yama (Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic: Part I. The Vedic Deities: Chapter X. Yama) http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/hmvp/hmvp14.htm