![]() Vishnu then decapitated Rahu just as he started to swallow the nectar, leaving only his head immortal. Rahu, an asura, disguised himself as a deva and tried to drink some amrita himself, but Surya (the sun god) and Chandra (the moon god) alerted Vishnu to this deception. ![]() However, Vishnu, in the form of Mohini the Enchantress, managed to lure the asuras into handing over the amrita, which she then distributed to the devas. When the amrita finally emerged, along with several other treasures, the devas and asuras fought over it. That must be the longest session of tantric sex in the history of the world! This is defined as “the Nectar of Immortal Life,” which, curiously, is also the Sanskrit term for female ejaculate. At the suggestion of the god Vishnu, the devas and asuras, consummate enemies, worked together for a millennium to churn the ocean by pulling on the body of Vasuki, the king of the serpents, to release amrita. Have been accepted in detail, it does seem that astronomy was a significant consideration in planning the temple ( Coe, pp.120-121).According to Hindu mythology, the sculptures are a narrative depicting the Churning of the Sea of Milk. The south (realm of Yama, Heavens and Hells). Meru, Battle of Asuras and Devas), the autumn equinox in the west (end of things, Battle of Kurukshetra), and the winter solistice in Has found astronomical significance in thisĪrrangement: the spring equinox happens in the east and corresponds to the Churning (beginning of things), the summer solistice in the north (Mt. ![]() Subjects is also difficult to understand. Rather than the more usual clockwise circumambulation the order of For one thing, their placement suggests a counterclockwise The specific arrangement of the reliefs has been a matter of some debate. Symbolized actual historical battles in which Suryavarman took part. The Battle of Lanka and the Battle of Devas and Asuras may have Because SuryavarmanĬould be regarded symbolically as an avatar, or at least an earthly representative of Vishnu, such a scheme seems appropriate to celebrate Suryavarman's reign. His avatars, especially Krishna - over evil. Temple plan above, is the triumph of good - represented by Vishnu and The general theme of the bas-reliefs, as can be seen from the The reliefs may originally have been painted, but any color remaining today is from a later time. The reliefs on the northeast corner (Krishna defeats Bana,ĭate from a mid-16th century reoccupation of Angkor by king Ang Chan. Its sandstone walls - over a third of a mile in total length, and about six feet high - are carved with bas-reliefs that depict Cambodian mythology and history. The third (outer) enclosure of the temple is a cloister that faces outwards. In plan the temple's third level platform. So-called cruciform cloister, which replicates Bridging the third and second enclosures on the western axis is a unique structure, the Only the five central towers remain, the others (at the corners of each enclosure) having collapsed. The temple itself is approached by a long causeway which terminates in a cruciform platform ( naga bridge). 5mi) the temple's outer wall measures 332m x 258m (1100' x 850') ( Freeman and Jacques, p.47). The outer dimensions of the city, excluding the moat, are 1025m by 802m (.6mi x. Most likely theĮxplanation in this case is astronomical Angkor Wat's western gopura brackets the rising sun's position between the summer and winter solstices ( Mannikka, pp. This can't be the whole story, though, because most temples in Southeast Asia, with only a few exceptions, face east, regardless of their dedications. ![]() The temple is oriented to the west, an unusual direction that most authors ascribe to its dedication to Vishnu. Is a moated city (the city buildings have long since disappeared) that is centered on his State Temple. Built by Suryavarman II (1113-1150) as his capital, Angkor Wat ![]()
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