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Yamāntaka is a Mahāyāna Buddhist yidam or iṣṭadevatā of the Highest Yoga Tantra class, popular within the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism. Yamāntaka is seen as a wrathful manifestation of Mañjuśrī, the buddha of wisdom.
Yamāntaka is a Sanskrit name that can be broken down into two primary elements: Yama, the name of the god of death; and antaka, or "terminator". Thus, Yamāntaka's name literally means "the terminator of death".
Within Buddhism, "terminating death" is actually a quality of all buddhas as they have stopped the cycle of rebirth samsara. In this context, Yamantaka represents the goal of the Mahayana practitioner's journey to enlightenment, or the journey itself: in awakening, one adopts the practice of Yamāntaka – the practice of terminating death.
Iconography
The iconography of Yamāntaka in his most common appearance as Vajrabhairava has the following characteristics:
1). Nine heads. The first head is that of a bull. Next to his right horn he has three heads, and three heads next to the left horn. Between the horns, is a head red and terrible, above which is the head of Mañjuśrī, with a slightly irritated expression.
The main enormous buffalo head is truly fearsome, with its gaping jaws, rolling tongue, three red-rimmed, popping eyes, and red nostrils.
2). Thirty four arms, each holding a symbolic implement. The two main arms hold a skull and a chopper.
3). Sixteen legs, eight on each side. Lying face down under his bent right legs are a human male and animals that are in turn, stepping on four devas, or heavenly gods. Under his outstretched left legs, a number of birds are stepping on four devas, including a personification of Ganesha, the Lord of obstacles.
How does Yamāntaka terminate death?
This question depends upon the meaning ascribed to the term death – but one way in which this ability can be identified is through the enlightening activity of wisdom. The wisdom mind is able to perceive that death has no intrinsic, concrete existence: our understanding of death emerges solely from the conventions of the world. Also, when we achieve the same realisation of Yamantaka - who is a Buddha - then we have transcended death.
Three Types of Death
There are three types of death spoken of in the Yamāntaka Tantra : Outer death is the regular end of life, which is embodied by Yama, Lord of Death, who resides in the east, seven stories under the earth. The inner death is misknowledge of reality, which is instinctive clinging to objectively real objects and subjects. The secret death is dualistic appearance on the subtelest level of clear light mind and illusory body. With the practice of Yamāntaka one overcomes those types of death and gains immortality as a buddha.
External links
- Yamantaka org
- Vajrabhairava (Yamantaka) practice support
- Thangka Painting of Yamantaka
- Wrathful Guardians of Buddhism - Aesthetics and Mythology
Yidams | Buddhist deities | Mahayana Buddhism | Tibetan Buddhism
"Yamantaka"