Ravana Shaking Mount Kailasa

Ravana Shaking Mount Kailasa

Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa is a very popular scene to be depicted on the fronton, lintel, and decoration walls of Angkorian Temples in Siem Reap. One who knows about the story of this scene would find the carvings to be more interested.

This Hindu mythology is starting after Asura Ravana has taken over Langka island from the God of Wealth, Kubera, to be his own, when he flow his chariot towards foot of Himalaya Mount. There was a beautiful garden and his chariot was stuck that he couldn’t go on his journey. At there he met a little monkey, Nandikesvara, who stopped him and not allow him to passed Mount Kailasa claiming that Mount Kailasa was home of Lord Shiva.

Ravana was very angry, he lifted up Mount Kailasa and start shaking. The whole mount was shaking, birds, monkeys, lions, elephants, tigers, and all the forest animals were frighten. Hermits, who were doing meditation, were also very fearful. Uma, Shiva’s consort, was shock as well and asked her husband to stop the shaking.

Lord Shiva knew about the situation and he put one of his leg fingers on the ground, immediately the shaking was stop and Ravana was under the mountain. By his anger, Lord Shiva stored Ravana under Kailasa Mountain for a thousand years.

After apologized to Lord Shiva, Ravana had been released and received a magic sword from Lord Shiva before returning to Langka.

The Khmer carvings about Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa is always depicted Ravana with multi-headed and multi-hand. The most beautiful pediments of this scene is at Banteay Srei Templein Siem Reap, which the carving is very outstanding. Uma, Shiva’s consort, was also frighten that she seated on her husband’s thigh and hold him tight. Shiva is showing no fear and ready to stop the problem.

A scene of Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa, the fronton of southern library.