Tib., : father
and yum: mother
in union with consort
A Tibetan term that, literally translated, means father-mother. It is a phrase used for ritual union, similar to the Sanskrit mithunam, but can also be compared with the Chinese concept of the yin and yang energies permeating all of universe.
In the typical yab-yum pose, the couple faces each other with the woman sitting in or on the man’s lap. Deities in the yab-yum position, often found in sculptures and on thangkas, can be found in almost every temple and monastery of Vajrayana affiliation.
The yab yum position is the one used in visualizations as well as physical ritual, be it during the Kalachakra initiation or in Zaplam practices. It is the position in which the flow of energies through the various channels (Skt., nadi) and chakras can best be controlled and steered.
One should also note that even during a physical ritual, the practitioners also - simultaneously - envision one or more divine couples in union with their respective consorts.