Figurine of Yama

NEPAL

This figurine of Yama was created in Nepal around the 10th century. Yama, originally the Hindu god of death, is also part of the Buddhist mythology. He is one of the guardians of the ten directions, specifically responsible for the south.
The figurine is 8.2 cm high and is made of copper alloy. Yama is depicted with his hair tied up with a band to create a flat topknot. He wears large earrings, which are a feature of Nepalese style sculpture between the 10th and 12th centuries. He has a square face, large eyes, bulbous nose, and appears to be glancing downward. Both hands are now empty but it is thought that they once held Dharma instruments. There are snakes coiled around Yama’s body while he squats on the back of a water buffalo. His left knee rests on the animal’s head and his right foot on its backside.