Dimensions: Height 4,9 cm Wide 3,7 cm Depth 2,3 cm

Weight: 40,1 grams

The wrathful deity Yama, lord of death, is here represented with the head of a bull, his flaming hair rising behind the crown of horns. He stands powerfully atop a recumbent bull, symbolizing his dominion over death and the cycle of rebirth. His hands are held before his chest in a fierce mudrā, grasping ritual attributes associated with protection and judgment. The muscular body is clad in ornate garments and jewelry, detailed in repoussé and chased decoration, the face rendered with expressive ferocity. The oval double-lotus pedestal completes the figure.

Yama, a guardian deity in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, occupies an important role in Tibetan Buddhism as a dharmapāla (protector of the teachings). He is closely associated with the Wheel of Life (bhavacakra), where he is depicted holding the cosmic cycle of existence. Figures of Yama were venerated to ward off obstacles and negative forces, especially those connected with untimely death.