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Devata at Angkor Wat Durga

Emergence of Durga, about 1800

Left: Durga fighting the bufalo monster, Banteay Samré. Right:
Durga from Sambor Prei Kuk, National Museum Phnom Penh

Goddesses in their palace, Sambor Prei Kuk

Devata - the beautiful Goddesses of Angkor

In brief

The late 8th century was a turning point in Cambodian history. Before there were autonomous goddesses and queens. After 802 kings were dominating. Goddesses became Devata; they have to embellish and sanctify temples which were constructed for male gods. In present times most of the male images have been lost, but in some temples, like Angkor Wat, Devata are dominating.

The origin of 'THE GODDESS'

When the buffalo monster Mahisha was threatening to destroy the world, the gods could not help, even Shiva or Vishnu were not able to fight against him. The gods assembled their fury and created Durga, 'THE GODDESS'. They rendered to her the symbols of their power. Durga first defeated and destroyed the army of the demons. Then she fought the monster; again and again he slipped from one shape into another; the goddess used all the powers and weapons she had received from the gods. At last she killed the demon.
Durga seems to have been popular in the pre-Angkorian era; the National Museum Phnom Penh shows a number of impressive statues of her, all from the 7th century, and all from the South of Cambodia.

Autonomous Goddesses and autonomous Queens

Sambor Prei Kuk: The outer walls of many towers show 'flying palaces' in brick reliefs, inhabited by gods. They are supported by flying geese, thus floating in the heavens. In a flying palace at the wall of the central tower, we can see a goddess in her own palace. This goddess is not just the consort of a god, she has an independent dignity.
In the pre-Angkorian era there were a number of autonomous queens. (Jacobsen, p. 22-28.)

Two legends of the origin of the Khmer people

By the legend of the origin of the Lunar dynasty, Soma was queen of the land near the Mekong. She was ‘celebrated for her virile force and her exploits'. Soma was the daughter of the Naga King, owner of the soil. Kaundiya, a Brahmin, came from India. The Naga King married them; he swallowed the water and so dried up the land for growing rice. Thus Kaundiya became King of Kambuja (Cambodia). (More at 'Naga, Garuda, & Kings)
By the legend of the origin of the Solar dynasty, the Apsara Mera was the 'most renowned of beautiful deities'. Shiva had given her as a step daughter to the Naga-king. To make the maharishi ('great sage') Kambu king of Cambodia, the Naga-king married him with his step daughter.
Soma has her own power, while Mera has power only by 'arousing desire' in men. (Jacobsen, p. 45.)

Devata

Devata ('Goddesses') have their great appearance in Angkor Wat. In the beauty of eternal youth and in stunning outfits, more than two thousand goddesses are guarding the temple. Their charm is an obvious representation of the divine. According to the customs of the period they are bare breasted.
Devata are standing in groups, or they are in their shrine, depicted as a niche. In the Bayon, some Devata are venerated by small kneeling figures.
Who are these Goddesses? Only a few of them can be identified: At Pre Rup (961) the four-faced Sarasvati, consort of Brahma, and 'the boar-faced female principle of Vahara, a Vishnu incarnation.' (Roveda 2005, p. 145.); and at the Bayon Preah Thorani, the Buddhist Goddess of the Earth. All the rest of them keep nameless.

Devata and Dvarapala

Dvarapala (male guardiens) are gods. At Lolei, for example, you can see that Shiva manifests himself in the guardians, he himself is guarding his temple.

When Devata are guarding the temple, it is not an inferior task at all!

Temples showing Devata

Prasat Trapeang Phong (first half of the 8th century)
Located south of the Roluos Group in south-east Angkor, this brick tower shows for the first time Devata in niches. On the walls of the second floor are small palaces with sitting Devata.
Prasat Bakong
The main temple of the Roluos Group was consecrated in 881. The central tower, built of sandstone, in the Angkor Wat era, shows Devata in the style of Preah Ko (Pointer by Christophe Pottier). The inner brick towers have Devata in brick reliefs, also in Preaah Ko style. At the ruin of a brick tower in the Northeast of the outer enclosure there is a female demon as a guardian.
Other Devata temples of this era: Preah Ko, 879; Lolei, 893; Phnom Bakheng, Phnom Bok, about 900; Prasat Thom, Koh Ker, first half of 10th century.
Angkor Wat.
More than 2,000 Devata are assembled in this temple.
In the first half of 12th century, we see the hairdos become more lavish; the celestial hairdresser of Angkor Wat had 36 different styles in her repertoire.
Other Devata temples of this era: Thommanon, early 12th century; Chau Say Tevoda; 1150; Beng Mealea; Wat Phu (Laos).
Preah Khan Angkor (1191)
In the Bayon era, from the late 12th to 13th century, Devata became more natural and relaxed. Some are shown with a bird in their open hand, with others holding long lotus stalks.
In Preah Khan some of the prettiest Devata, known as srei kroup leakkhana ('excellent women'), are hidden in the catacomb ruins of the inner galleries.
Other Devata temples and monuments of this era: Ta Prohm (1186), Bayon; Banteay Kdei, Hospital Temples; Terrace of the Elephants, Ta Som, Prasat Prei, Banteay Prei (northwest of Angkor Thom), Banteay Chhmar, in north-west Cambodia. Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, here reliefs have been victims of violent looting.

Triumph of the Devata

Visiting Trapeang Phong, Phnom Bok, Angkor Wat, or Preah Khan, you will hardly find images of the male gods to whom the temples were consecrated. From this angle they look like godforsaken.
But the goddesses will be present, battered but not dented. Take your chance to obtain their blessings by approaching them respectfully!

For References see the page Female & male power in Angkor.

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