The Kneeling Guardian

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At Banteay Srei Temple in Siem Reap Province, in red sandstone, a half-kneeling Hindu guardian deity can be seen above a protective monster (known as a kala) in bas relief carving. The male guardian figure is posed like an auspicious spirit (known as a yaksa) who is often seen as a guardian of wealth. Swirling floral scroll designs surround both figures.

Banteay Srei is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Siva that was built during the tenth century A.D. It was constructed by Yajnyavaraha during the reign of two Khmer kings whom he served as councilor: Rajendravarman and Jayavarman V. The name Banteay Srei means “Citadel of Women.”

Classical Khmer kings promoted the idea (known as devaraja) that there was an intersection of the ruling king and a validating god, usually the Hindu god Siva. Their temples thus often portray the ruling king as the god, whose shrines are within a monument on earth that models the design of the cosmos and heavens.