The Battle of Kurukshetra in Angkor Wat
Copyright © Timothy Tye.
Angkor Wat Battle of Kurukshetra
Cambodia
The Battle of Kurukshetra is a bas-relief executed on the south section of the West Gallery of Angkor Wat. It is based on the Hindu epic, Mahabharata, and depicts the power struggle between rivalling clans of northern India, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The antagonism climaxed as the Battle of Kurukshetra.
The Battle of Kurukshetra occupies 49 meters of the West Gallery of Angkor Wat. It shows the army of Kauravas advancing from the left while the army of the Pandavas coming from the right. At the very edge of the panel, you see the two armies marching in orderly fashion. You see commanders riding horse-drawn chariots and elephants. You see musicians marching with them.
As we move towards the middle of the panel, the action began. We see Bhishma, the commander-in-chief of the Kauravas, lie dying of arrow wounds. 15 meters away, we see the brahmin Dronacharya, taking over command of the army following Bhishma's death. 2 meters away, we see Karna trying to free his stuck chariot, but while doing so, he was killed by Arjuna.
In the thick of the action, we see depictions of hand-to-hand combat. The fighting finally ends after 18 days, with all the combatants killed.
Visitors studying the panels depicting the advance of the army of Kauravas in the Battle of Kurukshetra
Copyright © Timothy Tye.
