Yama, Lord of Death: Regent of the South

Yama, Lord of Death: Regent of the South

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The lokapalas stand in each of the four cardinal directions as protectors of both the Buddhist dharma (teachings) and the religious community. Texts speak of monasteries being constructed on grids symbolically marked with these deities, leaving the specific ritual function of these sculptures an open question. Yama, Lord of Death is Regent of the South. He holds the remains of a staff. His mount is the buffalo.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Yama, Lord of Death: Regent of the SouthYama, Lord of Death: Regent of the SouthYama, Lord of Death: Regent of the SouthYama, Lord of Death: Regent of the SouthYama, Lord of Death: Regent of the South

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.