Vishnu-Hindu Trinities member

Vishnu appeared in four hands

Vishnu is a member of Hindu trinities god. Vishnu also well known as Hari, Narayana. In Khmer ancient, many kings built the temple to dedicate to Vishnu and many Vishnu’s statues had found in Cambodia. In Khmer art, Vishnu always appeared with 4 hands or 8 hands. Garuda and Dragon named Anantasayin, also appear with Vishnu as his vehicles. Vishnu has two wives known as Leaksmey (born from churning of the ocean of milk) and Phumi.Vishnu has always appeared in legend stories as a hero who helped or protected human and the world from destruction. In Khmer temples, there were many scenes of legend stories of Vishnu. The popular and most shown in temples were Ramayana and Moha Parata.

Vishnu appeared to 9 legend stories with 9 avatars as:

1- A fish named Matasya who helped people from the flood created by Hayak Kriba giant.

2-A turtle named Komak, who appeared in churning of the ocean of milk. He lifted the Montora mountain for giants and angels to churn the ocean of milk for getting holy water. This legend story is the most popular epic appears in many temples, pagodas and main public buildings of the government, such as Ministry of National Defense, Royal Palace.

Vishnu as Komak in the churning of the ocean of milk

3- Human with piggy headed, who has a body as human and head as a pig named Voreahak. This hero helped Preah Neang Phumi (Princess Phumi) from Haranayaksa giant, who wanted to sink the world into the ocean. This legend story rarely show in Khmer temples.

4- Noraksingha, who has a body as human but his head was as a lion. This hero born to kill a wild giant named Haranaya Kaseipu who received a bless from Brahma.

Noraksingha – a vavatar of Vishu

5- Veamonak was a midget who cheated the giant Peali. This midget asked the giant for 3 steps of land for human to live.

6- Barasoram, who hold the Baraso axe which given by Shiva. Barasoram was a avatar of Vishnu, who born as a son of Brahman named Jumaktakni and killed the wild king named Kata Virayak.

7- Rama was a hero in Ramayana. He was born as King Tusaroth’s son. He killed many giants including Asorak Ravanak, King of Langka, to stop his bothering to hermits and angels and release his wife Seda. Langka city is an island of angel Kuberak (Angel of Property).

8- Preah Krisna was a man who had black skin and his energy is as an elephant. Krisna killed his uncle named King Kamsak who was a wild king. He also appear in a famous Khmer legend story Moha Parata. In Khmer art, he also appeared on base relief of many temples and many statues of Preah Krisna were built as well.

9- Kalaken who has a horse face. This avatar will  in the future.

Most of Khmer temples always show Vishnu and his avatars on base relief or walls. Ramayana and Moha Parata were the popular story about Vishnu that you could enjoy studying.

Vishnu was sleeping on dragon Anantasayin