With one face and two hands, dark blue in colour, the head is that of a buffalo, fierce and angry. In the right hand is held a bone stick composed of a fused spine and skull; in the left is a lasso. He wears a necklace of fifty freshly severed heads. Appearing extremely animate he stands with his right leg bent and the left extended on the back of a buffalo above a human body, sun disc and lotus seat. To the right is the consort Chamundi, with one face and two hands. She holds a trident in the right and a skullcup in the left. Both are adorned with wrathful attire, skull tiaras, bone ornaments and various skins; completely surrounded by the flames of primordial wisdom.

At the top center is the dakini Simhamuka (Lion Faced One, also known as Simhavaktra in Sanskrit), blue in colour, with one face and two hands holding in the right a curved knife and in the left a skullcup and katvanga in the bend of the elbow. To the left is Vyaghramukha (Tiger Faced One) in the same appearance as Simhamukha, save for the lower garment of tiger skin and katvanga staff. On the right is Rikshamukha (Bear Faced One) again without the tiger skin and katvanga.

At the left edge of the middle of the painting a small figure is depicted in meditation posture seated in a cave and at the bottom right another figure is being devoured by a tiger. At the bottom center, spread upon a mat of tiger and human skins are the three offerings arranged in three skullcups, nectar, the five sense and blood. An arrow with silk pendants is placed adorning the offering of the senses.

Yama Dharmaraja is a wisdom deity protector of the father class of Anuttarayoga Tantra specifically employed by those engaged in the practices of the Vajrabhairava/Yamantaka tantras. This practice is found in all the Sarma Schools however the Gelupas hold Yama Dharmaraja in a special regard as one of their three main Dharma protectors along with the Sadbhuja Mahakala (one face, six hands) and Vaisravana. These three were the special protectors of Tsongkhapa. Although similar in appearance and name Yama Dharmaraja is not the same individual as Yama the ‘Lord of Death’ depicted as the central figure in Buddhist depictions of the hell realms. (For another example see #402) Indian Lineage: Vajradhara, Shri Vajrabhairava, Jnana Dakini, Lalitavajra, Vajrasana, Amoghavajra, Jnana Sambhava Bepa, Padmavajra, Dipamkara Shrijnana, (the Nepali) Bharo Chag Dum, (the Tibetan) Ra Lotsawa Dorje Drak, etc.

J.Watt 6-98