Yama, the Vedic god of death and guardian of the South, who is hence displayed on the southern side of this temple in Khajuraho (fig.).

He is the very powerful son of the sun god Surya (fig.) and is here portrayed with skulls and parrots, perhaps a reference to the story of Indra's golden parrot, or to Kama, the Hindu god of love and desire, whose mount is also  a parrot.