Yamantaka Vajrabhairava and consort Vajravetali

Practitioners of tantric Buddhism meditate on this powerful image to conquer fear of death. As a manifestation of the bodhisattva of wisdom, Manjushri, whose gold head is at the apex of his nine heads, Yamantaka Vajrabhairava demonstrates that wisdom conquers fear and, ultimately, overcomes death itself by leading to enlightenment. With 9 heads, 34 hands, and 16 legs, he surpasses the powers of Yama, god of death. Yama, the blue figure with buffalo head below, has only two arms, and he wields his skull-topped scepter at impaled and decapitated bodies, judging their souls be sent to hell.