Khmer History, Mythology, Gods, Deities and Information

GODS, GODDESSES, MINOR DEITIES AND MYTHICAL BEINGS OF THE KHMER

GODS

SHIVA

One of the earliest and most popular Hindu gods represented in Khmer iconography. In the pre-Angkor period he appeared as Harihara (who was half Vishnu, half Shiva). In the early Angkor period several temples – Phnom Bakheng, Baksei Chamkrong, Banteay Srei, Bakong, Lole and Preah Ko – were dedicated to him. Early representations were in the form of a linga . The phallic meaning associated with it in India is less pronounced in Khmer, where it is a symbol of the ‘creative energy of the powers of nature.’

Shiva as linga is widely represented in Angkor, but he also appears in some human forms in Khmer art. He is most often depicted as a benevolent god, and his fierce aspect so popular in India, is rarely found at Angkor.

Shiva lives on Mount Kailasha in the western Himalayas with his wife Uma (Pavarti) and two sons – Skanda, the God of War and Ganesh, the God of Knowledge. His mount is the bull Nandin, who is ‘white as the Himalayan peaks’.

His main weapon is a trident, an indestructible weapon that represents absolute truth. Shiva has a chignon separated into strands of loops in tiers, a Brahmin cord over his shoulder and has a third eye in the middle of his forehead, representing universal balance.

VISHNU

Vishnu is very popular in Khmer art and widely depicted in both sculpture and reliefs. In the pre-Angkor period Vishnu wears a cylindrical headdress, whereas later he wears a diadem. He is most frequently depicted in his four-armed form and carries characteristic items; a small globe (the earth), a disc (a throwing weapon, but also a symbol of the sun and which alludes to the samsara – ‘the cycle of human destines’), a conch shell (symbol of the links between god and ocean) and a club (a weapon but also a symbol of sovereign power). Vishnu, like Shiva, could assume various forms. Some of his avatars or manifestations appear in epic myths – Rama or Krishna. He can also appear in other manifestations, most popularly: Kurma (the tortoise, associated with creation. In the most famous Khmer relief – The Churning of the Ocean of Milk – Vishnu, in the form of a tortoise, serves as a pivot whilst the ocean is churned.), Narasimha (the man-lion), Matsya (a fish,Vishnu saved mankind from a flood in the form of a fish), the Buddha , and Kalki (a horse, or human figure with a horse’s head. This, Vishnu’s last incarnation, has not happened yet. Kalki will emerge at the end of our present time cycle).

AGNI

In Vedic times known as god of fire, as a Hindu god he is the purifier of sacrificial offerings and, in Khmer, rides a ram or rhinoceros.

BRAHMA

Brahma was never as widely worshipped in Cambodia as Shiva and Vishnu. Brahma is known as the Creator and is identified by his four faces, each one looking in a cardinal direction. In his four hands he holds a rosary, a vase, a ladle and a book. Legend has it that Brahma was born from a golden lotus that emerged from the navel of Vishnu, who was relining during a cosmic sleep on the serpent, Ananta, on the waves of the ocean. His mount is Hamsa, a sacred goose, and his consort is Sarasvati.

MINOR DEITIES

CHANDRA

Chandra is god of the moon, born of Atri (detachment) and Anasuya (benevolence). When the ocean was churned the moon sprang forth joyfully, just after Laksmi, spreading cool light. His chariothas three wheels and is pulled by ten horses of the whiteness of jasmine.

GANESH

Son of Shiva and Uma (Parvati). In Angkor Ganesh is a popular sculpture, though reliefs are uncommon. According to legend, Ganesh was born with a human head. Shiva was away at the time of his birth and when he returned he encountered an unfamiliar young man guarding Uma’s quarters. When Ganesh forbade him to enter, Shiva was so angry he beheaded him, not knowing he was his son. Uma pleaded with Shiva to save Ganesh’s life, so Shiva gave him the head of the next creature he encountered, which was an elephant.

Besides his elephant-shaped head, Ganesh has a corpulent human body. He is usually depicted with four arms, carrying three attributes – an elephant goad, a noose and a bowl of sweetmeats; his fourth arm is raised in a gesture of fearlessness. He is generally associated with knowledge and fortune.

INDRA

A god from Vedic times, and, thus, has several aspects to his character. In his early form, he was a warrior who had power over the heavens and all its elements such as rain and thunder. He hurled lightning and used the rainbow as his bow. In Hindu iconography, his importance was diminished to being guardian of the eastern quarter of the compass. He however remained popular in Cambodia. His mount is a magnificent three-head white elephant known as Airavata. He lives in a golden palace at the foot of Mount Meru.

KAMA

The god of love, concerned with creation and particularly sexual desire. His vehicle is a parrot and his attributes are a bow made with sugar cane, strung with a line of humming bees and arrows with floral tips. Kama likes to shoot his arrows to inspire passion in others, especially in spring.

SKANDA

A son of Shiva and Uma, has been depicted as a young god of war. More popularly in Khmer art he is seen as an adult still associated with battle and riding a peacock. His main attribute is a thunderbolt.

SURYA

God of the Sun – source of light and warmth. He is represented in a chariot drawn by four or seven horses or a single horse with seven heads, surrounded with rays. His symbol is a swatika and he sometimes holds a lotus in each hand.

YAMA

Yama presides over the gloomy realm of punishment located in the lower regios. All souls must pass by Yama’s throne of supreme judgement. As Lord of the Law he allts seats after death in accordance with an individual’s performance in the world. The deity rides a buffalo and, in his multiple arms, carries a heavy club to judge the dead and a noose to put around the necks of his victims.

VARUNA

An ancient deity who was guardian of the moral order, later became Lord of the Sea and most importantly dikpala (guardian) of the Western Quarter. His mount was sometimes Hamsa, a goose with a striped head.

GODDESSES

DEVI

The Great Goddess is a complex and powerful being. In ancient times she was the great mother goddess connected with fertility of the earth and female reproduction. She was also the consort of Shiva. She has several names, roles and characteristics. Some forms are fierce and others mild. Despite this some features are recurring; her mount is a lion or tiger and she often carries several weapons including a sword, a ‘sacrificial chopper’ and a trident.

LAKSHMI

She is the consort of Vishnu and the goddess of good fortune, abundance and prosperity. LaksHmi was born of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. She is often depicted on a lotus (her symbol) pedestal with two elephants sprinkling water over her with their trunks. The number of her arms and attributes vary, but she is usually always seen with a lotus and conch.

UMA

Parvati, ‘daughter of the mountain’, Durga (her fierce aspect), Shiva’s consort is the daughter of the god of the Himalayas. Uma often carries a trident of Shiva and is seen on a lotus pedestal. Her mount is a tiger.

MYTHICAL BEINGS

ANANTA

The serpent Vishnu sits on or reclines on when he is in a ‘cosmic sleep’. Also called Sesa.

DEVATAS AND APSARAS

Are celestial nymphs, dancers and courtesans of the sky. They have perfect beauty and invoke irresistible seduction. They decorate many of the temple walls in Angkor Wat, clothed in sumptuous costumes and adorned with elaborate jewels. The figures that dance or fly are apsaras, whereas the standing figures are devatas.

GARUDA

Garuda is the mount of Vishnu and the enemy of snakes and nagas. He is a gigantic bird with a human body covered in feathers and the claws of an eagle. He wears a diadem and jewelry.

KALA

A ‘mask’ faced creature found commonly in Hindu and Buddhist temples. A guardian found carved above doorways to scare away evil spirits. Javanese in origin, also known as makala .

NAGA

A ‘serpent-god’ of the waters, it is easily identified by its scaly body and multiple heads in the shape of a fan. In Khmer art the Naga always has an uneven amount of heads, usually seven or nine. The Nagas are ruled by Vasuki and are the enemy of Garuda. They control the rains and prosperity of the region where they reside. Nagas often marry humans and the Khmers claim they are descended from a union of a foreigner and the daughter of the Naga king. The Khmer’s obsession with the Naga is reflected in its omnipresence at the temples of Angkor, the largest being the balustrades that flank the causeways to Angkor Wat, Preah Khan, Angkor Wat and in from of the gates to Angkor Thom. The Naga can also famously be seen in carvings shielding Buddha from the rains so that he can continue meditating.

Vishnu reclines upon Vasuki during his ‘cosmic sleep’, and his body was used as a rope during the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.

NANDIN

A white bull and Shiva’s mount. He lives in the Himalaya as is as white as the snows upon its peaks.

Nandin statue at Bakheng