Description

Yama is recognized as the foremost among mortals and is often equated with the Hindu deity Pluto. He is the son of Sun-Vivasvat. The significance of Yama in Indian tradition can be traced back to ancient hymns located in the Rig Veda and Puranas. After death all souls go directly to Yama. This journey takes four hours & forty minutes. The dead body must not be cremated till this journey is accomplished. Yama also holds considerable importance within Buddhist traditions, particularly among the tantric schools of Tibet. In the depicted sculpture, Yama is portrayed in the Tribhanga posture, possessing two arms; in his left hand, he holds a Dhanda (his attribute), while his right hand is absent. His eyes are depicted in fiery hues, and he is adorned with a Kirita-Mukuta, along with various ornaments and a garland of flowers. Additionally, an animal figure is present in the upper right section of the sculpture, that is his Vahan buffalo.