Play Phaeder’s Gyuto Chant
Phaeder Yamantaka Chant from the album “Singularity”
In Vajrayana Buddhism, Vajrabhairava, also known as Yamantaka, is a wrathful, buffalo-headed meditational deity of the Highest Yoga Tantra class. Vajrabhairava is one of the principal three meditational deities of the Gelug school (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 Buddha of wisdom.
Terminology
In Sanskrit “Vajrabhairava” stands for ‘Adamantine Terrifier’. Regardless which manifestation of Vajrabhairava you are looking at, 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 has conquered all evil spirits, including the Lord of Death, Yama. That’s why he is also called “Yamantaka”, the Slayer of Death.
It seems that the term “Yamantaka” (and “Yamari”) is used in a more general way than “Vajrabhairava” which is restricted to the buffalo-headed yidam of the Gelug and Sakya schools. Sometimes the protector Kalarupa is called “Yamaraja” and comes as Outer, Inner, and Secret Yama- or Dharmaraja. In the Gelug school Yama- or Dharmaraja is part of the Vajrabhairava practice.
