Yellow Jambhala Statue – The Wealth Deity

Description

Yellow Jambhala Statue – The Wealth Deity is made in Nepal by statue artists. Yellow Jambhala depicts a masculine deity adorned in celestial garments and jewels, similar to a bodhisattva figure in Buddhist art. Jambhala has the appearance of a Yaksha figure from Indian art and the Four Guardian Kings from Tibetan art.

According to the Tibetan Art System of Eleven Iconographic Appearances, Jambhala belongs to King Appearance. In Mahayana Buddhism, Jambhala is the riches deity and defender of the northern direction. He is the Buddhist version of Kubera, the ancient nature spirit (yaksha) who was venerated in early Hinduism as the protector of diamonds and other riches.

Jambhala is the chief of the yaksha; his secondary role as a directional guardian was probably assumed later.