A gilt bronze figure of Yama Dharmaraja

TIBET, CIRCA 18TH CENTURY

Details

A gilt bronze figure of Yama Dharmaraja
Tibet, circa 18th century
Striding in alidhasana on the back of a buffalo over a prostrate figure and a lotus base, both hands raised in vitarkamudra, adorned with a garland of severed heads and a beaded harness, the face in the form of a ferocious buffalo, with bared fangs and bulging eyes, surmounted by a skull tiara and wavy locks of hair supporting a vajra
5 7/8 in. (15 cm.) high

Provenance

Acquired in Taiwan, 20 April 1997

Literature

Himalayan Art Resources (himalayanart.org), item no. 23416

Lot Essay

Yama Dharmaraja ("Lord of Death, King of Law") is in Tibetan Buddhism a protector deity of the Vajrabhairava cycle of tantras, found in all Sarma ("New Transmission") sects of Buddhism. As one of three special protectors of Tsongkhapa, the Gelugpa hold Yama Dharmaraja in especially high esteem.

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