Yamantaka with Consort Thangka

Yamantaka is portrayed in many forms; this form is with wisdom consort. He is depicted with a bull’s or buffalo’s head with long horns as the central head among many. In total there are eight main heads, plus a ninth small crowned head of the Bodhisattva Manjushri at the apex.

Yamantaka wears an elephant-skin cloak, a garland of freshly cut human heads, a garland of snakes, and bracelets, necklaces and a girdle made of interlaced bone ornaments.

He is unclothed except for his adornments. His erect phallus has a red tip, and there is a flame aureole behind him. His central main hands hold a chopping knife (kartika), representing his ability to cut the root of delusion, and a human skull bowl (kapala) filled with blood, symbolizing his victory over the forces of death.

THANGKA / ZTHANKA