Banteay Srei

"The citadel of women"

Banteay Srei sanctuary 

Name:Banteay Srei, Pink temple, The Ladies temple Date:967 King:Yajnavaraha, a Brahmin cleric of KingRajendravarman II Location:Along highway 67, around 20 kilometers North of the East Mebon

Found far from the primary landmarks is the Banteay Srei sanctuary, one of Angkor's features. This sanctuary contains the finest, most mind boggling carvings to be found in Angkor. 

Situated in a remote region the sanctuary was rediscovered in 1914 and cleared somewhere in the range of 10 years after the fact. It was recreated utilizing the strategy for anastylosis by French conservator Henri Marchal amid the 1930's. Today the Banteay Srei is an exceptionally very much saved landmark. Its impeccable ornamentations that cover a large portion of the sanctuary demonstrate awesome expertise and exactness. 

History of the sanctuary 

The sanctuary was work in 967 by Yajnavaraha, a Brahmin cleric and advisor of King Rajendravarman II and his sibling. Prior to the establishment stele was found in 1936 it was accepted that the sanctuary was from a considerably later date (just about 1300) on account of the refinement of its ornamentations. The stele acclaims King Jayavarman V, who was King when the Banteay Srei was manufacture and Yajnavaraha and his siblings, the developers of the sanctuary. 

The pink sandstone structure is little contrasted with other Angkor landmarks. This is most likely in light of the fact that the Banteay Srei was not work by a King, and it would be viewed as impolite to fabricate a landmark bigger and more stupendous than a Royal supported sanctuary. To avoid encourage weakening of this grand and much went by sanctuary, the inward asylum has been shut to guests. 

The external fenced in areas 

The Banteay Srei includes 4 walled in areas containing a channel and a few structures. Inside the fourth walled in area (the most external one) is a processional walkway prompting the primary Eastern passageway. The walkway was lined by displays on either side, of which the majority of the sandstone columns are as yet standing. The two pediments and lintels on the exhibitions contain finely cut ornamentations. Among them are a delineation of Viradha who kidnaps Sita, a scene from the Indian epic Ramayana. Others demonstrate Indra riding the three headed elephant Airavata, Varuna, the God of the seas, Vishnu, Shiva, Uma and Nandi, the hallowed bull. 

The third nook comprises of a divider, around 100 meters in length that encased a canal, which is currently dry. Over the channel is a highway prompting the Eastern and Western passageway gopuras, that are protected by lions. 

Carvings of Hindu gods 

The second walled in area 

The second fenced in area that measures 38 by 42 meters is delimited by a divider with a gopura entrance on the East and West side. Along the divider are laterite rest exhibitions. The Eastern passageway entryway is only 1.08 meter high. 

Inside the second walled in area are two library structures opening toward the West, one on each side of the East passage. The pediments of the two libraries contain carvings of fanciful stories. 

The consuming of the Khandava timberland carvings 

One of the pediments on the library to one side of the passage demonstrates a sublime delineation of the consuming of the Khandava woods, a story from the Mahabharata, one of the considerable Indian sagas. The story goes that the Pandava siblings needed the Khandava backwoods cleared, after which Arjuna and Krishna chose to torch it. The delineation indicates Indra riding his three headed elephant ensuring the backwoods by releasing gigantic precipitation on the timberland. Arjuna and Krishna be that as it may, make a shield of bolts hanging over the woodland to stop the water. 

Ravana lifting Mount Kailash carvings 

Another cutting demonstrates a scene of an Indian legend, Ravana lifting Mount Kailash. Ravana, the King of Lanka portrayed with ten heads and twenty arms lifts the Mount Kailash, over which experience the God Shiva. The story goes that when Ravana lifted the mountain, Shiva drove it down with a solitary toe, catching Ravana under it. After Ravana commended Shiva for a thousand years, he was at last set free. carvings demonstrate Ravana lifting the mountain and Shiva and Uma holding it down. 

The internal asylum 

The internal asylum contains three prasats set on a stage just about one meter high. A mandapa chamber goes before the focal pinnacle. The Banteay Srei is the main sanctuary where a mandapa chamber was added to the haven. The focal pinnacle measures very nearly 10 meters high, the others are marginally shorter. Every one of the three towers are embellished with dvarapala and devata pictures and contains little haven chambers. 

The lintels on the towers contain a few delineations like the snatching of Sita by Ravana and a battle amongst Vali and Sugrava from the monkey Kingdom, a story from the epic Ramayana. The establishment stele dated 968 notices that the most import linga named Sri Tribhuvanamahesvara was revered in the focal pinnacle. The other two towers were devoted to Shiva and Vishnu.