Yama Dharmaraja

This painting depicts one of the primary protective deities (dharmapala) of the Gelug tradition. Yama is considered the defender of Gelug tradition in particular and became popular in Mongolia after a gifted Gelugpa monk taught there and was given the Mongolian title Dalai Lama. The painting depicts Yama brandishing a skull club and a noose while standing on a buffalo. Below is another form of Yama, armed with a chopper and a skull cup standing on a corpse. The top register depicts Tsongkapa, the founding teacher of the Gelug tradition and his two main disciples. The remaining figures are members of Yama’s retinue.