Sculptures from Angkor National Museum:
This exceptionally beautiful lintel contains a who’s who of Brahmanic gods and divinities and is one of the best lintels in the public collection of the Angkor National Museum. It was photographed in-situ at the temple of Prasat Prei Thnal North by Henri Marchal in 1935 but not delivered to the Angkor Conservation Depot until 1939. Actually, the temple, situated in Angkor Chum district, has two names, it’s better known as Prasat Kok Prasat, had three brick towers in its heyday but is now reduced to rubble. It’s a quirky fact that some of the best quality carved lintels can be found at some of the lesser temples. The stone carvers of this lintel certainly went for a powerful line-up with the Hindu triumvirate represented – namely Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma – who as a trio are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world.
Inside vegetal niches, the central pairing are the majestic Shiva and his wife Uma, sat on the regal bull Nandin – a pose with its own title of Umamahesvara. To their right (your left) you can see the four-headed and multi-armed Brahma stood on a pedestal of lotus flowers, and next to him, also on a bed of lotus, his wife Sarasvati. On the left of Shiva, we can see the four-armed Vishnu mounted on the shoulders of Garuda who is holding onto the tails of two three-headed Nagas. The female next to Vishnu is likely Lakshmi, holding a flower above her head. Three other unidentified secondary couples complete the composition of divinities. There is also an upper frieze of nine seated, rather plump wise Rishi, with a pair of flying figures holding onto an elephant trunk in the middle. It truly is a wonderful narrative sculpture from the 11th century, Baphuon period.
