Angkor Wat Churning the Ocean of Milk

The gallery of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, as seen from outside
Copyright © Timothy Tye.



Angkor Wat Churning the Ocean of Milk
Cambodia



Churning the Ocean of Milk is the name of the most famous and spectacular bas-relief in Angkor Wat. It is executed on the south section of the East Gallery of Angkor Wat. The theme is very popular in ancient Khmer, and was to be depicted again when Angkor Thom was constructed a century later.

Churning of the Ocean of Milk is a spectacular depiction of the Hindu story of creation. It tells of how the gods, dewas, and demons asuras for once put aside their differences to cooperate in churning the ocean of milk. To do that, they alternately pull on the body of the giant seven-headed serpent, or naga Vasuki, which is coiled around Mount Mandara. The immortals rotate the mountain for a thousand years, to produce amrita, the elixir of immortality. Unfortunately, as soon as the amrita was produced, so too ended the cooperation between the gods and demons, as the gods grabbed all the amrita, and went back on their promise to give half to the demons, who then tried to steal it from them.

The scene depicted on the gallery is that of the actual churning. On the left side are the asuras. Heading the asuras is the king of demons, Ravana. He holds on to the head of Vasuki, the naga. Beyond him stretches a line of 92 asuras pulling Vasuki's body. On the right side are the dewas. Heading the dewas is the monkey god Hanuman holding on to Vasuki's tail. Hanuman and Ravana - characters from Ramayana - are additions to the scene which do not appear in the actual Hindu legend, thus showing that some level of liberty was taken in the depiction.

In the middle of the scene is the pillar-like Mount Mandara. Above it is the god Vishnu, depicted with four arms, giving directions to the operations. He appears again below, in the form of his avatar Kurma, the turtle, supporting the rotating mountain from sinking into the sea. Flying above is Indra, helping to steady the top of the mountain. Close to Vishnu's discus are tiny images of the elephant Airavata and the horse Ucchaissravas, both the product of the churning. Also produced are apsaras, dancing nymphs.

Although considered the masterpiece of Khmer art, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk is actually incomplete. The area surrounding Vishnu was never fully carved. Like the rest of Angkor Wat, many of the bas relief were not completed at the time the temple was built.



The spectacularly carved reliefs of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk
Copyright © Timothy Tye.




Hanuman heads the team of dewas as he holds on to Vasuki's tail
Copyright © Timothy Tye.



The dewas pulling Vasuki's body
Copyright © Timothy Tye.



Vishnu, with Indra above him, directing the churning operations
Copyright © Timothy Tye.




Ravana holding on to Vasuki's many heads
Copyright © Timothy Tye.



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