Description
Yamantaka (Sanskrit: यमान्तक, Yamāntaka) is a deity in Mahayana Buddhism. The deity is popular in the Gelug tradition, but also appears in Japanese Zen, for example. Dharmapalas, or guardian deities, are guardians and guardians of the Buddhist teachings; their task is to expel demons. These include even old demons and restless spirits, who were subdued and converted by important figures in Buddhism. Among these figures, Guru Rinpoche, or Padmasambhava, played an important role. There are eight different dharmapalas: besides Yamantaka, these are Begtse, Devi (Kálii), Hayagriva, Kubera (Jambhala), Mahakala, Sitabrahman, and Yama. They all retain a demonic facial expression and are often depicted on riding animals. To underscore their influence, they are often depicted with a flamed halo. Their artifacts vary, from magical swords to skull bowls. Yamantaka is the warrior of the dead; he made his name by converting the subdued Yama, the god of death, to Buddhism. Yamantaka is especially popular in Tibet, having saved the population from extinction. Manjushri, the guardian of Tibet, assumed the form of Yamantaka to stop a major epidemic. Like Yama, Yamantaka has a face resembling a buffalo. His mount is the buffalo, which he adopted from the vanquished Yama. There are many different depictions of Yamantaka, holding a skull bowl, with multiple arms, or with his tantric partner in sexual union.
