Potala Palace: Yamantaka

CHINA, Tibet, Lhasa

Yamantaka, meaning Conqueror of Death and also known as Vajrabhairava, is a wrathful manifestation of Manjusri. He is depicted with nine faces, thirty-four arms and sixteen legs. Eight ferocious faces wearing skull crowns are tiered with five at the bottom and three in the middle; the compassionate Amitabha Buddha crowns them. The main face below resembles the King of Death with a buffalo’s head, glaring eyes and a fanged mouth. Yamantaka’s many hands wield a variety of weapons. Those at the front carry a vajra, a skull-cup filled with blood, a bundle of freshly severed heads and a ritual dagger. The short body is adorned with jewels, some of which swing as he tramples birds, beasts and humans beneath him. The sculpture is made of polished wood with ornaments of bronze.