If you are
traveling to Angkor complex or visiting Khmer temples probably you will notice
that in every temple you enter, you will easily witness some beautiful
carvings, ornaments, and many figures and figurines to decorate the temple
entrance, walls, passages, etc. The most noticeable probably those figure of
Apsara, the heavenly dancers or dancer of the God Kingdom in the heaven shown
on earth. In almost in every temple you will
find the Apsara, small size, medium or large size, flying Apsaras with many
details, styles, shown how it was the dance, with different costumes, hair
styles, accessories and beautiful faces. The process to build the temples and to
carve these figures probably takes such long period of times. The work is so
fine and very details in every carving displayed here.
Talking about the
Apsara; mostly in one temple, the style of Apsara perhaps has a bit similarity.
The only different probably the cluster display, group of apsara from one lower
level of the temple to higher ground like the apsara of the Bakan look prettier than other Apsaras in Angkor Wat.
Their faces are
also slightly different from one to the other or group of Apsaras to the other
group in the different corner of the temple’s wall; this is probably because of
the different individual worker or group of workers who carved these statues
that perhaps their faces were copies of the Apsara’s faces or at least applied
as self-portrait-carving kind of.
During the pose
or dance, the Apsaras dressed extremely beautiful with many accessories from
head to toe. As well as every Apsara will carry her own things for purpose or something
in her hands like lotus flowers, bouquet of jasmine flowers, flower arrangement
on sticks, mirror, combs, offerings, as well as carry animals or something else.
The Apsaras carried
animals in her hands, I presumed that those Apsaras has their very own preference
animal or their own pet/s. I found few of them carried bird/pigeon, rooster/chicken/bird, fishes, etc.
I am not a scholar
neither expert on Angkor but I love Angkor complex which I spent more than
eight years in Cambodia in both Siem Reap
(more than 6 years) and Phnom Penh (2
years). As I visited and explored the temple as many as 50-60 times, sometime I
managed myself to discover something that I never see before in the temple
complex. As soon as I start to detail evry corner of the complex as well as the
carvings, hidden graffiti, the more I luckily see by my own eyes something new
about this magnificent civilization in the ancient era, like this beautiful
carving of Apsaras carried their pets.
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| About the image above: An Apsara with something (probably animal) Nokor Bachey temple |
Why the Apsara carry animals?
As I found in
some temples I have visited, I have seen pigeon/bird, chicken/rooster/bird and fish
that attached to the Apsara’s hands. The Apsara like to carry animals probably
for some reasons as:
2. Probably their pet
3. Probably for the offerings
4. It might the Apsara would like to offer special dance related to the animal
5. Probably that particular animals were the sign of the area
6. Send a message as in particular form of the animal
7. Probably it was preference of the artist that carved the statue
8. Every animals has its meaning and represent something
Animal symbols related
to the Apsara appearance
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| About the image above: an Apsara with a bird/pigeon Nokor Bachey temple |
Apsara carries bird/ pigeon: pigeon is
amazing creature and probably the oldest domestic bird that recorded in almost
every era of civilization. It is show that pigeon is very smart, pure,
intelligent, and has very good navigation ability. If you release the pigeon;
it will be easily find its way back home. The pigeon has strong connection
between itself, the owner and its surroundings. The pigeon is a lovely bird,
strength, stubborn and the pigeon as symbol of accomplishments of some
important work or tasks. Bird flies high into the sky that show strength,
energy-fly away, view from above and bounce back! The dance to attract the
unknown spiritual source to bring the blessing back to earth for the people in
the Khmer Kingdom!
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| About the image above; An Apsara with rooster/chicken/female chicken Ta Phrom temple |
Apsara carries rooster/bird/chicken/female chicken: rooster
symbolize abundance blessings today’s life of providence, a thankful gesture to
be born, it is positive relation between human and creator. It is between mind
and super mind, intellectual and super intellectual, sexuality, fertility, grow
and future. It is after the equinox of chicken egg, it is dynamic, balancing
and popular as domestic animal very close to human as well as to create harmony.
The spirit of the rooster is that usually use instinct to detect the ground to
search food and keep it to her chicks. The beauty symbol of the roster is also
for motherhood power of keeping relationship harmonious, responsible and productive,
and protective. All vibration that Apsara show us when she carried rooster while
she socialize and appear in the public.
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| About the image above: An Apsara with fish on her left hand Ta Phrom temple |
Apsara carries fish: in this
topic of the Apsara carries fish probably more complex compare to few others
scenes that I saw in the temple. Fishes related to water, blue water, instinct,
depth (probably of knowledge), mysteries and consciousness. The fish is a
symbol of birth in the womb of water of deep lake of the Tonle Saap; which
probably live many spices of fish alive and nobody have any clue actuality how
deep it is and what living creature that live in it. Nobody can see the bottom
of the lake, the people of Angkor probably just guess with uncertain answer left
behind.
In the east, the fish is a symbol of good luck,
happiness, fertility, knowledge and abundance. The Apsara dance with fish in
her hand probably is to wish you good luck, give you abundance of energy,
knowledge as well as harmony as the fish swim in deep blue water that calm,
intelligent, happiness and eternity will merged together in the act of blessing
dance ceremony.
In Hinduism the fish is a form of avatar of Vishnu
as Matsya, a giant fish with human head skimmed to save the planet earth. While
in the Buddhism, fish is one of the eight auspicious symbols as follows: white
conch, precious umbrella, banner, golden fish, dhama wheel, drawing, lotus
flower and vase of treasure.
In the Khmer
philosophy (mostly based on Hinduism and Buddhism), bird, rooster, fish and
probably other few animals have their own meanings and symbols toward faith,
spiritual and daily life.
Recently I only
discovered 2 different Apsaras with their pets around the temple in Angkor
complex at Ta Phrom temple as well as 1 or 2 at the Nokor Bachey temple which
is 1 of them I am not sure if it is really animal or something else as the
figure has very bad condition, but I am pretty sure a lot more need to discover
in few other locations in the future. If you found new feature of this kind,
please update to get better information.
