The cultural sector of Cambodia is celebrating because, after years of effort, they have succeeded in repatriating fourteen Khmer art pieces from the Metropolitan Museum of NY. These pieces will finally be displayed at the National Museum of Cambodia starting today. Among the notable pieces are a 10th-century stone sculpture of the goddess Uma, as well as an 11th-century bronze figure of the Hindu deity known as Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
Uma, also known as Parvati, is one of the most important deities in Hinduism and represents female energy. Uma Devi is one of the many forms of the Hindu goddess Parvati and is revered for her wisdom, strength, and compassion. According to Hindu mythology, Uma Devi is the daughter of Himavat, the lord of the mountains, and it is believed that she was born to help the gods defeat the demon Tarakasura, who had become invincible due to a blessing received from Lord Brahma. On the other hand, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is one of the most widely revered bodhisattvas in the mainstream Mahayana Buddhism. He is known as the bodhisattva of compassion. Parvati y es venerada por su sabiduría, su fuerza y su compasión. De acuerdo a la mitología hindú Uma Devi es hija de Himavat, el señor de las montañas y según las creencias se dice que nació para ayudar a los dioses a derrotar al demonio Tarakasura, quien según se cree se había convertido, en virtud de una bendición recibida por parte de Lord Brahma, en alguien invencible. Por otro lado, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara es uno de los bodhisattvas más ampliamente venerados en la corriente principal del budismo mahāyāna. Se conoce como el bodhisattva de la compasión.
It is pleasing to know that art pieces considered national heritage are returning home for the enjoyment of locals and, of course, the world that wants to know their identity. But what is Khmer art?
Khmer art, pronounced "kamae" in Cambodian, is fundamentally linked to Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, though not exclusively, as it also recognizes some influence from Javanese and Chinese cultures. However, it is characterized by being closely tied to religious beliefs.
This art originates from the Khmer Empire, also known as the Angkor Empire, whose territories included areas now known as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and parts of Burma and Malaysia. Its peak, however, took place in Cambodia from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
Although this refers to the year 800 CE, the architecture of this civilization was hidden and lost under the jungle for about a millennium. It was not until 1860 that French naturalist Henri Mouhot along with artist Louis Delaporte , revealed to the world the splendor of Khmer art and its capital, Angkor, a word meaning "kingdom." Representative Khmer architecture includes temples like Angkor Wat, Preah Vihear, Sambor Prei Kuk, Samrong Sen, Anlong Phdao, Melou Prei, or Laang San.
