Yama Ashtakam

Om Yamaaya Namaha

In this sculpture, Yama, the Lord of Death and Ruler of the Underworld, stands atop his vehicle, the water buffalo. A human figure lies trampled beneath, symbolizing the conquest of illusion. Hands raised in apan mudra, his robust form is adorned with a billowing sash, chains inlaid with turquoise, a garland of human heads and a skull crown. His separately cast consort Yami, stands at his left wearing an animal skin holding a kapala, or skull cup in her left hand. Yama is one of the primary Dharmapalas, or protectors of Buddhist law.
Nedd to note: Yamaraja is the personification of death, but in contrast to others dangerous deities, Yama  come to collect people in "ordinary" dying. He is a divine agent, who preside over the heavens where people get after death.
The octet on Yama composed by Savithri. From the first chapter of Brahma Vaivartha Maha Purana.

1.Thapasaa Dharma Rajaya pushkare Bhaskare puraa,
Dharmasam yam sutham prapa Dharmarajam namamyaham.
In the olden times Sun God got Yamuna and Dharma Raja as children, and the Son who is the follower of dharma, was named as King of dharma.
2.Samathaa sarva bhootheshu yasya sarvasya sakshina,
Atho yan nama samanam ithi tham pranamamyaham.
He treated every living being as equal and is the witness of everything, and thus he was equal to his name and I salute him.
3.Yenaa anthascha krutho viswe sarveshaam jeevinaam param,
Karmo anuroopa kalena tham kruthantham namamyaham.
He made all beings of the world die, at the proper time and I salute him who puts an end.
4.Bbarthi dandam dandachyaa paapinaam shudhi hethave,
Namami tham Danda dharam ya saastha sarva karmanam.
He gave punishment using his scepter to the sinners to make them pure, I salute he who holds the scepter, who is the teacher of all duties.
5.Viswe ya kavalayathyeva sarvayuschapi santhatham,
Atheeva durnirvarya cha tham kaalam pranamamyaham.
Since he was swallowing the world and he always takes away all souls, at highly exceptional circumstances and I salute that Kala.
6.Thapaswi Vaishnavo dharmo samyami vijithendriya,
Jeevinaam karma phaladham tham Yamam pranamamyaham.
An ascetic following the Vaishnava Dharma, one who has won over his senses, and one who awards the results of Karma to beings is Yama, and I salute him.
7.Swa athmaramascha sarvagno mithram
Punyakruthaam bhaveth,
Paapinam klesadham yasya , puthro mithro namamyaham.
Rejoicing in his own self, One who knows all, One who is a friend of those who do good deeds, and One who troubles sinners is the son of Sun God and I salute him.
8.Yajjanma Brahmaano vamse jwalantham Brahma thejasaa,
Yo dhyayathi Param brahma Brahma vamsam namamyaham.
He took birth in the clan of Brahma and shined with effulgence of Brahmana, and he meditates on the divine Brahman, and I salute the clan of Brahma.

Phala Sruthi
9.Ithyukthwaa saa cha Savithri prananama Yamam Mune,
Yamasthaam Vishnu Bhajanam karmapakam uvacha ha.
Oh sage after saying this Savithri saluted that Yama, and Yama heard her praise of Lord Vishnu due to her ripening of her Karma.
10.Idham Yamastakam nithyam prathar uthaya padeth,
Yamath thasya bhayam Nasthi sarva paapath pramuchyathe.
If this octet on Yama is read daily as soon as one gets up in the morning, He will have no fear of Yama and would get rid of all his sins.
11.Maha Paapi yathi paden nithyam BHakthyaa cha Narada,
Yama karothi tham shudham kaya vyuhena nischitham.
Oh Narada, if a great sinner reads it daily with devotion, Yama will make him pure from at the time of his soul separating from body.
Ithi Sri Brahma Vaivartha Maha purane prakruthi khande Savithri krutha Sri yamashtakam sampoornam.