**TIBET ARTS**

Vajrabhairava, also known asYamantaka, is a wrathful, buffalo-headed meditational deity (Tib: yi-dam) of the Highest Yoga Tantra class and a dharma protector. Vajrabhairava is one of the principal three meditational deities of the Gelug school (Tib: gsang bde "jigs gsum") the others are Chakrasamvara and Guhyasamaja. He is also one of the main yidams in the Sakya School where he comes in a variety of appearances with different mandalas. In both schools Vajrabhairava is seen as the wrathful manifestation of Manjushri, the Bodhisatwa of wisdom. In the other schools of Tibetan Buddhism Yamantaka seems to be mostly revered as a protector. The (mostly secret and arcane) practices there involve different activities for various purposes.

Terminology
In Sanskrit "Vajrabhairava" stands for 'Adamantine Terrifier'. Regardless which manifestation of Vajrabhairava you are looking at it he is always depicted as fear-inducing, scary, and intimidating. Not only is he terrifying to look at but - according to the Vajrabhairava Tantra - he also has conquered all evil spirits, including the Lord of Death, Yama. That's why he is also called "Yamantaka", the Slayer of Death. Read Full post at

Vajrabhairava