Chitragupta checking the records of souls
The bas-relief depicts Chitragupta – a god in Hindu mythology whose job is to keep the records of good and bad deeds of human beings – assessing the records of souls. He assists Yama, the god of justice and death, to determine whether a soul goes to heaven or hell.
The section shown in the image is part of 200 ft long Heavens and Hells bas-relief carved on the eastern section of the south gallery located on the perimeter of the lower level of the Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Check the Angkor Wat Temple Layout for the exact location of the Heavens and Hells bas-relief.
Read more about this and other interesting bas-reliefs in the Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs page.
As the name suggests, the Heavens and Hells bas-relief is about the depiction of heavens and hells as described in ancient Hindu texts called Puranas. Besides the scene shown in the image, the bas-relief has scenes depicting Yama conducting the proceedings in his court, and 37 swargas (heavens) and 32 narakas (hells).
Heavens and Hells Related Images
- Yama’s Court
- Pushing Sinners to a Naraka
- Three Layers of the Heavens and Hells Bas-Relief
- Depiction of a Naraka – Crucifying
- Depiction of a Naraka – Burning
- Depiction of a Naraka – Beating by Yama’s Guards
- Depiction of a Naraka – Stomping by Yama’s Guards
Related Pages
– Angkor Wat, Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei
– Phnom Kulen, Tonle’ Sap, Cambodia
– Bali, Prambanan, Borobudur, Indonesia
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