Material: Yamantaka brocade embroidered cloth frame thangka

Size: about 61x 85 cm

Description:

Yamantaka (Sanskrit: Yamāntaka, Tibetan: Dorje Jigje) is one of the most important deities in Tibetan Buddhism. It belongs to the wisdom deity of the Anuttarayoga Tantra and is famous for its powerful power of subjugation and profound teachings. He has a high status in Tibetan Buddhism, especially in the Gelugpa school. He is an important protector and deity used by practitioners to fight against ignorance, troubles and death. The following is a description from two aspects: the influence and the origin of the myth:

1. The influence and status of Yamantaka in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **Doctrine and symbolic meaning**:

- Yamantaka is regarded as the wrathful form of Manjushri, representing the combination of wisdom and compassion. His image is mighty, symbolizing the use of great power to subdue internal and external obstacles, especially ignorance and fear of death.

- In the practice of the highest yoga tantra, the practice of Yamantaka is believed to help practitioners transcend their attachment to death, recognize the nature of their own mind, and achieve enlightenment. His practice involves complex visualization, rituals and mantras, and belongs to the advanced tantric practice.

- His name "Yamāntaka" means "Yamā Terminator" or "Death Conqueror", symbolizing the power to overcome death and reincarnation.

2. ** Sect influence**:

- **Gelug**: Yamantaka is one of the three main deities of the Gelug sect (the other two are Guhyasamaja and Heruka). Master Tsongkhapa particularly praised the practice of Yamantaka and regarded it as the core practice to overcome obstacles and purify karma. Many high monks of the Gelug sect, such as successive Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas, practiced this deity.

- **Other sects**: Yamantaka is also revered in the Nyingma, Sakya and Kagyu schools, and although the details of the practice are slightly different, its importance remains the same.

- The practice of Yamantaka is not limited to high monks in monasteries, but is also widely spread among lay practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism, especially for rituals to liberate the souls of the dead or to fight against evil spirits.

3. **Culture and Art**:

- The image of Yamantaka is very common in Tibetan Buddhist art. It often appears in a wrathful form with multiple heads, arms and feet, with a buffalo head on his head, holding various ritual instruments in his hands, and stepping on sentient beings and demons, symbolizing victory over all obstacles.

- In thangkas, sculptures and temple murals, he is usually depicted as a blue-black body surrounded by flames, with an awe-inspiring aura, reflecting his powerful protective power.

- His practice and image also influenced Tibetan Buddhist festivals and rituals. For example, the incarnation of Yamantaka is often seen in the Cham Dance.

2. The myth and origin of Yamantaka

The myth of Yamantaka mainly originated from the Indian Tantric legends and was further developed in Tibetan Buddhism. The following are its main origin stories:

1. **The legend of subduing Yama**:

- According to mythology, Yama is the god of death in Hinduism and Buddhism, who controls death and hell, possesses great power and threatens all living beings. Yama once ravaged the world, killed countless practitioners, and hindered the spread of Buddhism.

- In order to save all living beings, Manjushri Bodhisattva transformed into the wrathful form of Yamantaka to fight against Yama with greater power. Yamantaka appears in a terrifying image with a buffalo head, multiple arms and legs, holding a skull staff, axe and other instruments, symbolizing the destruction of ignorance and troubles.

- In the fierce battle, Yamantaka finally subdued Yama, transformed him into a guardian deity of Buddhism, and became his follower. This story symbolizes the victory of wisdom over death and fear, and teaches practitioners to transcend reincarnation with mindfulness and wisdom.

2. **Relationship with Manjushri**:

- The essence of Yamantaka is the wrathful incarnation of Manjushri. Manjushri represents wisdom, while Yamantaka is the action force of wisdom, which is used to fight against powerful negative forces.

- According to legend, Manjushri chose to appear in a wrathful form in order to adapt to the roots of certain sentient beings, because the gentle image could not effectively subdue the vicious demons. This teaching of "fighting poison with poison" is a characteristic of Tantra, emphasizing the use of powerful forces to transform negative emotions and obstacles.

3. **Introduction to Tibet and localization**:

- The practice of Yamantaka was introduced to Tibet by great Indian masters (such as Atisha), and was later sorted and promoted by masters such as Tsongkhapa, becoming one of the core tantras of Tibetan Buddhism.

- In Tibet, his image and practice are integrated with local cultural elements, such as the buffalo head, which may be related to the Tibetan worship of animals. His practice is also combined with the belief in the guardian gods of Tibetan Buddhism, becoming an important deity to fight against evil spirits and disasters.

4. **Origin of different images**:

- There are many images of Yamantaka, such as Ekavira Yamantaka (single deity), thirteen Yamantaka, etc. Each image has a different number of heads, arms and followers, reflecting different practices and symbolic meanings.

- For example, the nine-headed image (mainly the head of a buffalo) symbolizes the nine kinds of wisdom, the thirty-four arms represent the thirty-four ways to eliminate afflictions, and the sixteen feet symbolize the sixteen emptinesses.

III. Summary

Yamādakara is not only an important deity in Tibetan Buddhism, but also a symbol of wisdom and compassion. His practice and image have profoundly influenced doctrines, art and culture. His mythological story tells the process of wisdom defeating death and ignorance, inspiring practitioners to face internal and external obstacles with a courageous and diligent attitude. Especially in the Gelugpa school, the practice of Yamantaka is regarded as a key method to enlightenment, reflecting the depth and power of Tibetan Buddhist tantras.