Yamantaka is the guardian deity of Gelugpa sect. He is both Yidam and Dharampala. He is also known as the conqueror of death and also called Vajrabhairava. He is the wrathful manifestation of Manjushri and belongs to the supreme Yoga Tantra.

In this sculpture Yamantaka is depicted with his consort Rolangma.  This 34-armed, 16-legged awesome form of Vajrabhairava Yamantaka has a central bull’s head with long horns.  The main and largest head wears a tiara of human skulls.  Above, the hair stands on end and is treated much like the style seen in Mahakala images - "with scorpion-sting shaped tips." The mouth is open wide to reveal teeth, a lolling tongue and large lips. The eyes are large and protruding with a third eye located at the center of the forehead. The eyebrows are angrily knitted and elaborately raised. In total there are eight main heads plus a ninth small crowned head of the Bodhisattva Manjushri at the apex. In Tantric texts, these nine heads are linked to the nine classic "sentiments."

The central main hands of the deity hold a chopping knife (kartika) and human skull-bowl (kapala), ornamented by pearl chains, flammiforms and scepters (vajra). The lower main hands hold a magical knife (purba) and the severed multi-faced head of Brahma the Creator. The upper main hands hold an arrow and an elaborately decorated shield with a Chinese-style makara or dragon face at the center. The other hands hold a ritual scepter (vajra), lance, axe, double-drum (damaru), Wheel of Law (dharmachakra), dagger, swirling flames, ritual bell (ghanta), skeleton-staff (khatvanga), banner, a human right foot, a transfixed corpse, various magical knives and stakes, a noose, a skin, and other Tantric weapons.

The deity wears snake-bracelets, an elaborate chain and pearl motif looped necklace, armbands, an intricate draped girdle, anklets and other Dharmapala ornaments done in a style normally seen in the Yongle-period bronzes of Yamantaka and Mahakala. Everywhere the decoration is lavishly finished.   Seen from the back and sides, the passivity of this subject is all the more apparent. The layers of legs and arms convey a feeling of hallucinatory exuberance; the pair of legs at the extreme back are off the podium, as if in dance. The main legs are in the alidhasana posture, the row of right legs bent at the knee and the left legs straight.

The deity stands on the back of a row of birds (under the proper left feet), animals (a horse, bulls) and a man (under the right foot), and four small figures plus a large bird in obeisance can be seen on the podium. Together, they all represent the "four ancient classes of beings" (birds, animals, humans and gods). The three seated figures are the Hindu "trinity" of gods - a multi-headed Brahma holding an elixir-vase, a single-headed Vishnu and a multi-headed Shiva. The large bird is the Garuda, spiritual vehicle of Vishnu. The human figure on one knee in front of the left foot of the deity is of a king or prince.  He wears the armor of a Mongol warrior.

The lotus podium is of a most unusual type. Generally one sees double lotus podiums, one above the other, and if single, the lotus petals point downwards. The row of single upward-turned lotus petals on the base of piece goes all around its base. The petals are modeled in the typical early Yuan fashion, with elaborate swirling formalized patterns repeated and the tips of the petals protruding outwards. Each petal has its design raised and embellished. A row of "pearls" of even size encircles the upper part of the podium.

The hands and feet have protruding nails or claws.  Yamantaka wears an elephant skin which stretches across his back.

The great clusters of limbs and heads create an awesome, even if cumbersome, effect. The Tibetan infusion of a quality of deep primordial power emanates without restraint from this mesmerizing figure, striking to the heart of one who witnesses it!

Please email, or call us, toll free with any questions or comments 1(888) DHARMA-4, info@dharmasculpture.com

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