Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei (967)

Banteay Srei was built by Yajnavaraha, an advisor of King Rajendravarman II (reigned 944-968 A.D.) and was assisted by his brother Vishnukumara, Consecrated 967 A.D. to the Hindu god Shiva.

Banteay Srei is located north-east of Siem Reap province, about 35 kilometres and lie near the hill of Phnom Dei. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone.

Banteay Srei means the citadel of women and is a modern name possibly named by local residents, because of this temple got many carving of the ladies along the walls. The original name of the temple was Tribhuvana Mahesvara which means the great lord of the three worlds (Tri means three, Bhuvana means world and Mahesvara referring to lord Shiva). The three worlds are: hell, earth and heaven. The original name of this town called Isvarapura, the holy town of lord Shiva.

The site consists of three concentric rectangular enclosures constructed on an east–west axis. A causeway situated on the axis leads from an outer Gopura to outermost of the third enclosures. The inner enclosure contains the sanctuary, consisting of an entrance chamber and three towers, as well as two buildings conventionally referred to as libraries.

The Gopura's eastern pediment shows Indra, who was associated with that direction, mounted on his three-headed elephant Airavan.

The third enclosure is 95 meters by 110 meters; it is surrounded by a laterite wall breached by gopuras at the eastern and western ends. The west-facing pediment is now located in the Musée Guimet in Paris. It depicts a scene from the Mahabhārata in which the Asura brothers Sunda and Upasunda fight over the Apsara Tilottama. The east-facing pediment is lying on the ground. It depicts a scene from the Ramayaṇa in which a demon seizes Rama's wife Sita. Most of the area within the third enclosure is occupied by a moat divided into two parts by causeways to the east and west.

The second enclosure sits between an outer laterite wall measuring 38 meters by 42 meters, with gopuras at the eastern and western ends, and a brick inner enclosure wall, measuring 24 meters by 24 meter. The western gopura features an interesting bas relief depicting the duel of the monkey princes Vali and Sugriva, as well as Rama's intervention on Sugriva's behalf. The inner enclosure wall has collapsed, leaving a gopura at the eastern end and a brick shrine at the western. The eastern pediment of the gopura shows Shiva Nataraja; the west-facing pediment has an image of Karaikal Ammaiyar, one of the three women saints amongst the sixty three Nayanmars (poet-saints devoted to Shiva). Likewise, the laterite galleries which once filled the second enclosure (one each to north and south, two each to east and west) have partially collapsed. A pediment on one of the galleries shows the lion-man Narasiṃha clawing the demon Hiranyakashipu.

The first (inner) enclosure, between the gopuras on the collapsed inner wall is the buildings of the inner enclosure: a library in the south-east corner and another in the north-east corner, and in the centre the sanctuary​​ with three shrines.

The two libraries are of brick, laterite and sandstone. Each library has two pediments, one on the eastern side and one on the western.

The east-facing pediment on the southern library shows Shiva seated on the summit of Mount Kailasa, his mythological abode. His consort Uma sits on his lap and clings anxiously to his torso. Other beings are also present on the slopes of the mountain, arranged in a strict hierarchy of three tiers from top to bottom. In the top tier sit bearded wise men and ascetics, in the middle tier mythological figures with the heads of animals and the bodies of humans, and in the bottom tier large animals, including a number of lions. In the middle of the scene stands the ten-headed demon king Ravaṇa. He is shaking the mountain in its very foundations as the animals flee from his presence and as the wise men and mythological beings discuss the situation or pray. According to the legend, Shiva stopped Ravaṇa from shaking the mountain by using his toe to press down on the mountain and to trap Ravana underneath for 1000 years.

The west-facing pediment on southern library shows Shiva again seated on the summit of Mount Kailasa. He is looking to his left at the god of love Kama, who is aiming an arrow at him. Uma sits to Shiva's right; he is handing her a chain of beads. The slopes of the mountain are crowded with other beings, again arranged in a strict hierarchy from top to bottom. Just under Shiva sits a group of bearded wise men and ascetics, under whom the second tier is occupied by the mythological beings with the heads of animals and the bodies of humans; the lowest tier belongs the common people, who mingle sociably with tame deer and a large gentle bull. According to the legend, Kama fired an arrow at Shiva in order to cause Shiva to take an interest in Uma. Shiva, however, was greatly angered by this provocation, and punished Kama by gazing upon him with his third eye, frying Kama to cinders.

The east-facing pediment on the northern library shows the god of the sky Indra creating rain to put out a forest fire started by the god of fire Agni for purposes of killing the Naga king Takshaka who lived in Khandava Forest. The Mahabharatan heroes Kṛiṣṇa and Arjuna are shown helping Agni by firing a dense hail of arrows to block Indra's rain. Takṣaka's son Asvasena is depicted attempting to escape from the conflagration, while other animals stampede about in panic.

The west-facing pediment on the northern library depicts Kṛiṣṇa slaying his wicked uncle Kamsa.

The sanctuary is entered from the east by a doorway only 1.08 meters in height: inside is an entrance chamber with a corbelled brick roof, then a short corridor leading to three towers to the west: the central tower is the tallest, at 9.8 meter. The six stairways leading up to the platform were each guarded by two kneeling statues of human figures with animal heads; most of those now in place are replicas, the originals having been stolen or removed to museums.

 

Rajendravarman II - Return to Angkor (944-968)

Rajendravarman II succeeded Jayavarman IV's son and further strengthened the Angkorian Empire.

 

Rajendravarman II was a nephew of King Yasovarman I. He ascended the throne in 944 and relocated the capital from Koh Ker to Yasodharapura. He declared that he was related to the former relatives of the kingdom of Chenla. The king strengthened the Khmer rule: he fought to gather the autonomous city to submit to his rule, established the central administration in Angkor and sent civil servants to other provinces. Gradually, the nation came to know peace and prosperity. He also waged war on the Cham people who had received Indian civilization. The mighty Khmer army invaded the kingdom of Champa and brought a golden statue to be kept in Angkor. At the same time, he was always kind to Buddhists. During his reign, many temples were built, such as the East Mebon Temple, Pre Rup Temple, and some parts of the Phiman Akas temple and Srah Srang. A Brahmin named Yachnavarahak, a royal teacher, built the temple of Banteay Srei, north of Yasodharapura, in 967 AD, a year before his death.