My research reveals a peculiar observation regarding a depiction at Angkor Wat, Cambodia, featuring a blend of Apsara and Murugan iconography. While the upper portion portrays an Apsara, closer scrutiny unveils that the lower half, characterized by a hand on the hip, symbolizes Murugan. Notably, adjacent to the hand on the hip, a peacock motif adds an intriguing element.
Could this be the reason behind the common depiction of Apsaras with a hand placed on the hip?
The peacock's vibrant eyes, distinctive beak, and Murugan’s elongated finger are striking features.
The majority of the original artifacts are primarily located at the National Museum in the capital city of Phnom Penh and at the Guimet Museum of Asian Arts in Paris, France.
The temple incorporates the 5 elements, as explained by the local tour guide, supporting my believe that the architecture aligns with Mamuni Mayan's Aintiram concept:
The North symbolizes the elephant and water
The South symbolizes the lion head and fire
The East symbolizes the human head and earth
The West symbolizes the horse and wind
Space is represented by the lotus flower and the universe
In a bas-relief depicting the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean as narrated in the Mahabharata, there are carvings of 92 asuras and 88 devas, totaling 180 which is then reduced to 9. According to my research and insights from Aintiram by Mayan, Lord Shiva is associated with 8 significant names and forms, and when they merge into one, the ninth represents Pranava, symbolizing the manifest divine AUM.
At one of the locations, when looking North towards the central tower, the compass shows 0 degrees. East is at 90 degrees, South at 180 degrees, and West at 270 degrees. All values can be simplified to either 9 or 0.
The majority of temple carvings feature the 8-petal lotus flower, with an additional one in the center, totaling 9. Referred to as the 8-pointed star in the West and as muladhara in the East, I personally see it as the Foundation.
