YAMA, RULER OF THE DEAD

Yama is an early Indian god who ruled the dead, shepherding the souls of the deceased through judgment and reincarnation. He is a prominent figure in the Angkorian world, often mentioned as the guardian who will inflict horrible retribution on those who steal from or vandalise a temple. His mount is a buffalo, and he appears sculpted at many temples, including Pre Rup, Banteay Srey, and most spectacularly on a major frieze at Angkor Wat. There he is flanked by stick-wielding kiṅkaras, his brutal servants, who beat the living daylights out of those who have done wrong in their human lives. We can see him in three dimensions at Angkor Thom, seated above the mistakenly called Terrace of the Leper King.

The photograph to the left, was taken by Émile GSELL in 1866, with the original image held at the Musée Guimet, Paris. The sculpture is of Yama, and his terrace denotes a cremation ground, auspiciously located to the northeast of the ancient royal palace. The apparent circular aura surrounding Yama’s head is an unintended optical illusion of early photographic technology. Yama is present during Buddhist cremations and Pchum Ben, the Cambodian festival honouring deceased ancestors. To the right of Gsell’s image is a cast of Yama, made of concrete at Mr Paris’ workshop close to Wat Svay, Siem Reap