The Temple of Death: The Abode of Yamraj

Chamba, Mar 11, 2017: Hinduism with it's over 1 billion followers is the world's oldest and 3rd largest religion in the world. Hinduism has 330 million Gods and Goddesses who are worshiped. Idolatry is an important component of Hinduism, where it's believed that the spirit of the God or Goddess comes to reside in the idols.

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The only temple dedicated to the Indian God of death Yamraj, is located at Bharmour in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. This is the sole temple where people are fearful of entering, here people prefer to offer their prayers from outside rather than entering the temple, because it's the temple of death.

One room of this temple is dedicated to Chitragupta, Yamraj's secretary cum accountant, who keeps the record of all good and bad deeds of all the mortal beings. After death it's believed that the soul is first brought before Chitragupta, who spells out before Yamraj a person's good and bad karmas, who is aided in this task by Lord Shravan, Lord Brahma's son, who knows everything in heaven, earth and hell.

According to the religious text Garud Puran, the temple is believed to have 4 invisible doors made out of gold, silver, bronze and iron, and according to one's deeds in the lifetime, Yamraj decides which door a soul should pass through.

Prepared by Upama Bhattacharya. Twitter @Upama_myself