The encounter with the Ashwini twins had changed the lives of Adam and Eve completely. The absence of their carefree innocence plagued them with a conscious, constant restlessness as they wandered the forest for days on end. Despite the fact that their newfound understanding had opened up the world, the fruit of knowledge left a bitter taste in their mouths that soon spread to their hearts. Quickly after the incident, the trickster twins had disappeared, leaving Adam and Eve to bear the brunt of Brahma's rage. Brahma had pronounced them sinful creatures, and they resented the mark of treachery that followed them wherever they went.
One day as they were winding between the trees, Eve caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. Every foreign movement now sent waves of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She stopped in her tracks and Adam halted a pace behind her, sensing her distress.
"I don't think we are alone," she said in a quiet voice.
As if on cue, a figure stepped out from behind a thicket of bushes. The majestic being had vibrant blue skin and four unruly arms. He stood before them, staring Eve dead in the eye. For a spell neither of them spoke. Then, slowly, the figure said, "Greetings. I am Yama, God of death and the destination of souls. I stand before you because I am concerned for yours."
Both Adam and Eve were startled to stand before yet another God after their previous encounter with the Ashwinis. Even with her new burden of knowledge, however, Eve’s sense of curiosity had not left her. She asked Yama, “Why should you be concerned for our souls?”
He replied, “Do not be deceitful, child. I know the sin which you have committed, and what it will cost you. Let me help you absolve this sin and reclaim your righteous identity in this life and the next.”
Adam mumbled under his breath, “Oh boy. Not again.”
Eve poked him in the ribs and stepped forward. “What proof have you that you do not intend to harm us? Your kind tricked us once before and we paid dearly for it. The wrath of Brahma leaves a mark one cannot erase.”
Yama paused. “I understand your hesitation. We will certainly not act hastily in this matter,” he reassured her, “and ultimately the choice to act will be yours alone. I will take you to see my twin sister, and she will explain everything.”
Yama motioned for Adam and Eve to come with him, and the two cautiously followed in the God’s mighty footsteps. Eve could hear Adam making disgruntled noises in protest behind her, but her own intellect (which she was growing accustomed to day by day) told her that Yama’s intentions were good, and onward they walked.
The three of them soon approached a lush river at the edge of the forest. Just as they reached the riverbank, the waters rose up and took the form of a woman.
“Greetings. I am the Goddess Yami, the body of water known as the Ganges River. I have risen in this form to help you. Not far from here is a tributary of my river known as the Yamuna, where the water shimmers like crystal. It is the purest of my waters, and bathing in it will absolve any sin. I can grant you access to these purifying waters.”
Eve was listening intently, taking in the beautiful watery spirit before them. She did not wish to wear the mark of sin for eternity and was intent on the possibility of another chance to lead a benevolent life.
Yami continued, “There is a catch, however. The Yamuna joins my waters from the other side of the river. In order to bathe there, you will need to leave the forest in which you stand, and you will never be permitted to re-enter. This forest dawns the name Eden, and it is where the creatures nurtured in the womb of the earth are birthed unto the land. Leaving the bounds of these trees means that you will need to begin your lives anew outside the sheltered grounds of your birth. These lands bear the harsh realities of the earth’s temperament and will not be so hospitable as your cozy forest.”
During this speech Yama had called upon souls living in the depths of the river, who had carried a small boat made of reeds to the water’s edge. They stood ready to swim with it to the opposite bank.
Just as Eve turned to Adam to process what Yami had said, the goddess quickly added, “But there is another special catch for the two of you. Because you are the first humans in this new incarnation of the world, your exile from Eden will not be a curse, but a blessing; once you have bathed in my waters and are no longer marked as impure beings, your task will be to begin to build the foundations of human civilization. You must create the children whose children will walk the earth.”
With these words, Adam and Eve at last realized what their true purpose was. The final piece of knowledge that the apple withheld from them was now granted, and they realized that Yami’s offer was the path to their future. Eve slowly lowered herself into the small boat, Adam following closely behind. As the souls of the river carried them to the opposite bank, Eve glanced over her shoulder and took in the majestic forest for the last time. She and Adam were leaving behind the last traces of their innocence. Together they were entering into the great unknown.
Author's Note: Yama and Yami represent the Lord of Death and the Lady of Life; in some myths, they are also said to be the first humans. I thought it was only fitting that the first humans on earth meet their God equivalents, and I utilized the story of the Yamuna River to do this. The Yamuna is a tributary of the sacred Ganges River in India, and it is worshipped as the Goddess Yami. It is said that drinking and bathing in these waters removes sin. After Adam and Eve encountered the twins and endured their tragic fate with the fruit from the tree of knowledge, I decided to introduce the benevolent character Yami, who offers them the chance to absolve their sin in the Yamuna. I also wanted to explore how I could contrast the trickster Ashwinis with more sophisticated, ephemeral Gods. I chose to portray the twins Yama and Yami as benevolent figures who wish to help Adam and Eve. At the same time, however, they are also helping to further the plan for the earth and the expansion of the human race by encouraging Adam and Eve to leave the Forest of Eden.
Bibliography:
"Yamuna in Hinduism" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamuna_in_Hinduism
Image information - Source: Wikimedia Commons