Asura and Deva at Southern gate of Angkor Thom

By Say Sophearin / Editor: Ven Sophorn
ANM-Bulletin vol.1

Angkor Thom was a great city in the Angkor region, erected by King Jayavarman VII (late 12^th –early 13^th century), this city covers 9 square kilometers, surrounded by large moat and five gateways (to the north gate, the villagers called Tvea Dei chhnang, south gate: Tvea Tonle Oum, east gate from Bayon’s access: Tvea Khmoach and east gate from Royal palace’s access called Tvea Chey). This city stands in the north of Angkor Wat and 7.2 kilometers far from Siem reap town, Siem Reap province, Cambodia. By the way, we learnt from Prasat Chrung’s inscriptions, the moat of Angkor Thom and its enclosure walls so-called Jayasindhu and Jayagiri. Besides the great external feature of the city, the internal area of Angkor Thom was elaborated with an outstanding gridline, centered by Prasat Bayon dedicated to Mahayana Buddhism; it played an important role in his reign as the pivot of the sacred city, beliefs and religion. Furthermore, to the north of this temple, it consists of terrace of the elephants, leper king and Prasat Sour Proat, and other temples built before his reign, i.e. Prasat Baphuon, Phimean Akas and Prasat Khleang.

At each gates of Angkor Thom, it flanked by fascinated statue of Deva and Asura which narrated on the most famous Hindu mythology “the churning of the ocean of milk”. And also contained a deep meaning in Khmer context, in order to proclaim a recovery of the country and victory over Cham in 1181 AD. On the other hand, based on a new research, this well-known Hindu myth was depicted since the ancient time, but in Khmer arts, it depicted popularly in the period of Angkor, roughly appeared in the 10^th, 11^th , 12^th and early 13^thcentury and  the most depictions of this myth are on the lintels, pediments and pilasters (Prasat Inkosei, Snoeung, Wat Ek, Preah Vihear, Beng Melea, Chao Saydevada, Thomanon, Banteay Samre, Ta Prohm Tonle Bati, Ta Som, Ba Phuon, Angkor Wat and Bayon) and depicted on a huge panels of the galleries at Angkor Wat and Bayon temple.

Beyond the physical appearance of the churning of the ocean of milk seen at the temples mentioned above. Angkor Thom was exposed uniquely in a huge scale on earth by erecting such a grand city with an abstracted concept of immortal city resulted from the great Hindu mythology “the churning of the ocean of milk”. For instance, there are impressive elements from the myth: Asuras and Devas flanked at each gates of Angkor Thom, posed in pulling action used Vasuki Naga as a rope, Bayon temple centered of the great city as a pivot (Mandara Mountain) and other miracle objects emerged from the churning of the  ocean of milk, i.e. Airvata (the Indra’s vehicle, an elephant with three heads) at each gates of Angkor Thom, Uchhaishravas, the divine 5 headed horse at the terrace of the elephants, Apsaras and a vase of Amrita (nectar) depicted on the bas-relief of Bayon temple.

In 1953, referring to EFEO’s archives (École Française d’extrême-orient), one of the five gates of Angkor Thom, so-called Tvea Tonle Oum (the south gate) has been restored by collecting a different Asura and Deva statues from other four gateways, to be assembled  and fixed at this southern gateway. A total number of Asuras and Devas are 108 (54 Asuras and 54 Devas).