Date: 2nd half
of 10th century
(consecrated 22 April 967)
Reign: Rajendravarman built by priest named Yajnavaraha,
Jayavaraman V and his brother Vishnukoma.
Religion: Hinduism (dedicate to god shiva)
Clearance work by Mr Hinri Parmentier and Victor Goloubew
year (1924)
Restoration by Mr. Henri Marchal (1931-1936), Mr. Andre
Malrau (Frenchman) stole the pieces of carving on December 1923.
Banteay Srei means the citadel of the woman or perhaps the
citadel of beauty, it was built by a high priest named Yajnavaraha and his
younger brother Vishnukoma in April 967 to dedicated to god Shiva. This place
originally was a small city named Isarapura means the city of the god Shiva, we
known because of the Sangskrit was found in the year 1936, the inscription also
mentioned about Linga in the main tower name (Sri-Tribhuvanamahesvara) and the
other 2 towers kept Vishnu image (north), and a Linga at the south tower.
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| BANTEAY SREI TEMPLE |
Its pediment was depicted Indra the god of sky, rain, and
cloud was riding on an elephant with 3 heads, and on the top of this pediment
you could see the holes that originally was insert with the wooden beams and
covered by timber roof. After we walk through this entry gate we could see many
stone lanterns flanking the walkway with 67 meters long, and on the both sides
of this causeway there are 2 laterites-galleries the pillars made of sandstone
and the roof made of timber, but today nothing left. Behind the galleries to
the south there are 3 long parallel halls which were used as the hall for
medication, a pediment on the central hill depicted god Shiva and Uma was
riding on the Nadin and holding the trident. On the north side of the gallery
there is the single hall and in the pediment of this hill was depicted the god
Vishnu in his incarnation as the man-lion (Narashimha) that tearing the demon
king (Hiranyakshakashipu) who dared
to compare to the god. At the end of the causeway on the right hand side, we could see one
pediment lying on the ground in front of the east gate of the first wall was
depicted the story of Ramayana, when Sita the wife of Rama was kidnapped by
Ravana the demon king. This temple was surrounded with 3 enclosure walls made
of laterite and bricks. The first laterite wall is 95m wide by 110m long, the
second wall made of laterite too (38m wide 42m long) and the third wall made of
bricks 24square meters on each side. When we pass the moat you could see 2
beautiful pediments which framed by the large terminal scrolls, and on the
second pediment you could see Lakshmi wife of Vishnu was sitting on the lotus
flower between 2 elephants raised their trunks sprinkling the holy water on
her. In the second courtyard of the second wall you could see 6 laterite halls,
these long halls were originally covered by timber-roof and may have been used
as rest house and for medication too.
The east pediment of the east gate
It was depicted the god Shiva dancing under the name nataraja and on the side of god Shiva we can see a skinny woman named karikalamaya, the lintel below it also shows the incarnation of god Vishnu named KalKin: man –lion prostrated 2 demons.
The west pediment of the same gate
Was talking the goddess Durga with 8 arms aided by her lion who fights against a buffalo-monster Mahing-Asura-Madini, that is locked up by a snake and the lintel below depicted the man-lion named Narashimha who fight against the demons, in the courtyard of the bricks wall we can see 2 libraries (south and north) both facing west.
The east pediment of the south library
Was depicted Ravana the demon king with 10 heads and 20 arms try to shake the mountain Kailasa in order to disturb Shiva attention, so when he shake it cause the creature and hermits that lived on the mountain express their terror and flee in the jungle. On the first step the monkey raises his hand perhaps to warn Ravana one day the monkeys will destroy him; at the summit is Shiva prepares to bring the whole weight of the mountain up on Ravana with his toe, the mountain fells on Ravana and crushed him under the mass, Ravana acknowledges Shiva’s power and sings his praised for 1000 years as a reward, god Shiva sets him free and gives him a sacred sword, (Ramayana story).
The west pediment of the south library
Here you could see god Shiva was sitting on the pedestal holding the rosary with his wife Pavati tries to distracted Shiva, but she fails and disappointed that he doesn’t notice her. And on the right side you could see Kamadeva god of love, he holding the bow and arrow tries to shoots one of his flowery arrow into Shiva’s heart, later Shiva angry and shoots a fiery ray from his frontal eye to burned down Kamadeva to be ashes, just below Shiva: they are a group of ascetics and some guardians with human-bodies and animal-heads come to complete the scene.
The east pediment of the north library
This pediment you could see Indra god of sky rain and cloud was riding on the 3 headed elephant who caused the scattering celestial rain to put out the fire in the Kandava forest, (the fire was created by the god Agni in order to kill the Naga named Taksaka who lived in the forest, the god asks Krishna and his brother Balarama to helps and stop the animals from fleeing then they shoots their fire arrows to stop the rain of Indra.
The west pediment of the north library
Here was depicted Krishna the 8 reincarnations of Vishnu Kills his Cruek uncle king Kamsa, the reason that Krishna kill him because this king tries to kill him when he was a child, the carving was showed Krishna clutches king Kamsa’s hair and then throws him off his throne, this scene was takes place in the palace so that’s why you could see a lot of women palace in this scene.
The west entrance of the east pediment
Was depicted about Ramayana story, the scene was showing the 2 brother monkeys Valin and his younger brother Sogriva fight each other for the power, and on the right side of this pediment you could see Rama is holding the bow come to interfere and help the younger brother Sogriva as shooting an arrow to kill Valin.
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