The Black Yamantaka Ekavira – Wrathful Emanation of Manjushri

This black thangka portrays the black Yamantaka Ekavira, with nine faces, twenty-four arms and sixteen feet. Yamantaka – the conqueror of Yama (Lord of Death) is one of the most venerated deities in Tibet, especially among the Gelupas and Sakyapas. He belongs to both the archetype (ishtadevata) and protector (dharmapala) group of deities.

Yamantaka is actually the terrific emanation of Manjushri, his wrathful aspect. He is the sacred terror so that the people never betray the precepts of the Buddha Shakyamuni. He is the fusion of two aspects: the blessed aspect and the irate aspect of Manjushri. He is so fierce as to destroy all forces contrary to Dharma. In order to conquer Death, the compassionate Bodhisattva assumes the buffalo-headed form of Yama, Lord of Death. Thus Yamantaka symbolizes the victory of Wisdom over Death, death being associated with ignorance by Buddhists.

In Tibetan Buddhist practices, there are three main forms of Yamantaka – the red Yamantaka, Ratktaymari, the black Yamantaka, Krishnayamari, and the Vajrabhairava, the Diamond Terrifier. The present painting is of the black Yamantaka Ekavira meaning Lone Hero, the only form who does not embrace a consort. This form of Yamantaka is tremendous powerful. As mentioned above, he has nine faces, three on each side of the main head and one above it, each with three eyes. The main head is that of a fierce buffalo with horns. The small topmost head is of Manjushri. The eight other heads wear skull crowns, and their hair rises upward, signifying the deity's enlightenment. Yamantaka wears bone ornaments, necklaces of freshly cut human heads and of a snake. He has twenty-four arms, twelve on each side with his two main arms that hold a skull cup and vajra ghanta. His remaining hands are holding Tantra symbols. He has sixteen legs, eight on each side. Lying under his slight bent legs are one human male and seven animals that are, in turn, stepping on four heavenly gods. Under his outstretched left legs, eight birds are also stepping on four devas. His body is short and fat, with a protruding belly. He is naked except for his ornaments. There is protective fire aureole behind him.

On the top is Vajradhara Yab-Yum, flaked by Tsong Khapa and Mahasiddha Naropa. Below the Tsong khapa on the left side, Manjushri is seated on a throne. Vajrasattva Father-Mother is depicted below Naropa on the right side. On the foreground are goddess Palden Lhamo – the protector of Dalai Lama and Dharma, six-armed Mahakala – the Great Black One, Dharmaraja Yama – god of Death and hell, Vaishravana – guardian of the North and the god of Wealth. Brilliantly drawn and painted. Its dark setting is very effective in creating a serious mood. The painting is very much suitable for esoteric practices.

Selective Bibliography

A. Getty, The Gods of Northern Buddhism, Tokyo, 1962

B. Bhattacharyya, The Indian Buddhist Iconography,Calcutta, 1968

J.C. Huntington and D. Bangdel, The Circle of Bliss: Buddhist Meditational Art, Ohio, 2004

Marylin M. Rhie & Robert A.F. Thurman, Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet, Thames and Hudson, 1996

R. Linrothe & J. Watt, Demonic Divine: Himalayan Art and Beyond, New York, 2005

This description is by Dr. Shailendra K. Verma, whose Doctorate thesis is on "Emergence and Evolution of the Buddha Image (From its inception to 8th century A.D.)".

Click Here to View the Thangka Painting along with its Brocade

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