According to mainstream Hinduism, no. Following one’s dharma, doing good karma, and devotion to one’s Ishta Devata are sufficient. The Yamdand is an auxiliary text.
It has survived for centuries not because everyone believes every detail, but because it asks the one question that no human can escape: What happens after death? And in a world of increasing moral ambiguity, many still find comfort in a book that draws a clear, terrifying, but ultimately reformative line between right and wrong. yamdand book in gujarati
Yes. While some older versions discouraged women from reading detailed hell descriptions, modern practice shows no gender restriction. In fact, many women’s satsang mandals recite Yamdand stanzas. According to mainstream Hinduism, no