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300km south of Da Nang, Binh Dinh Province is home to numerous Cham relicsof which the most significant is the system of Hindu temples built continuously from the 11th to 15th century when the power center of Champa kingdom was concentrated there. During the 1934 and 1935 archeological excavations conducted by J.Y. Clayes at Thap Mam hill and surrounding areas, many precious works including bas-reliefs and round statues of the holy bird Garuda, dragons, elephant-lions, dancers, gods and goddess…which are typical of the Thap Mam style were found. There are 67 works from  those excavations on display in the Thap Mam – Binh Dinh gallery of Cham Museum.

 

1. Brahma.                                              

Date : 13th - 14th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [19.8]
Location: Thap Mam
 
Brahma is the Creator, one of the three main Hindu gods. He is sometimes known as the god of Knowledge. There are many interesting legends about his birth. According to Puranas, Brahma was self-born in the lotus which grew from Vishnu’s navel at the beginning of the universe. Another legend says Brahma was born from a golden egg, Hiranyagarbha. Immediately after his birth, the remaining materials of this egg expanded into the universe.
 
Brahma is traditionally portrayed with four heads, as shown in the bas-relief, and sometimes with four hands holding four attributes. It is thought that with each head he continuously recites one of the four Vedas. His vehicle is the swan Hamsa, also called the goose in some texts. In spite of being a major god, few Hindus worship Brahma, which is reflected by the few temples in India dedicated to him as opposed to the thousands dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu.
 
 
2. Gajasimha.
Date: 13th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [38.7]
Location: Thap Mam
 
Gajasimha, or Elephant - Lion, is a mythical animal of Indian origin favored by Cham sculptors. In the culture of Champa, it is generally believed that elephant head and the elephant body represent the Gods’ intelligence and king’s power.
 
This round sculpture radiates a kind of joyful strength due to the raised trunk and the overall proportion. In Cham art, Elephant – Lions were probably guardian figures, placed in front of temples to protect them from disturbance.
 
 
3. Shiva.                                           
Date: 13th - 14th century                                  
Material: Sandstone                                 
ID No: [3.17]
Location: Thap Mam
 
Among the Hindu gods, Shiva is the most complicated with much power and many functions. Popularly, he is known as the destroyer or transformer, one of the Trimurti. Besides, he is also moon god of mountain, the god of dance, the god of death or the god of creation. Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of a linga, a phallic stone.
 
In Cham art, Shiva is depicted with many appearances mainly due to his multifunction and great power. As a custom, some Cham kings were deified as this supreme god after their death, therefore worshipping Shiva is also worshipping the kings.
  
This sculpture has been identified as Siva by the naga-shaped cord. The head, the rear arms, the front right hand and part of the attribute in the front left hand have been lost. The beaded motif  on the upper chest-belt recalls the My Son A1 style, a good example of the Cham tendency to retain elements from previous periods and combine them with those of a new style.
 
 
4. Makara.
Date : 13th century     
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [42.49]
Location: Thap Mam
 
According to Indian mythology, Makara is a mythical sea monster serving Varuna, the god of the Ocean, as his mount.
  
Makara is lying on its flank, with its front paws raised in combat posture. This makes it look both aggressive and amasing. It was formerly located at a temple entrance beneath a small edifice, usually in a symetrical pair.  
 
 
5.Dragon.
 Date: 13th century                  
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [42.48]
Location: Thap Mam
 
This is also a type of Makara in Cham sculpture. The dragon is squatting on its front paws folded beneath the body while the rear paws form a kind of column rising to support an entablature, with a slim tail falling down behind them. It is completely overwhelmed with decorative details. The head is enormous in proportion to the body. The necklace gives a feeling of amusement and the ball inside the maw, representing a pearl, may be a borrowing from Sino-Vietnamese art.
 
 
6. Garuda
Date: 13th century                       
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [41.29]
Location: Binh Dinh
 
Holy bird Garuda is the mount of Vishnu and his wife, the goddess Laksmi. Legends say Garuda is the great enemy of  serpents.
 
Garuda appears abundantly in Cham sculpture. He has the head, wings, talons and beak of an eagle and the body and limbs of a man.
 
 
7. Pedestal
Date: 12th century
Material: Sandstone
ID No: [22.56]
Location: Binh Dinh
 
The pedestal is composed of twenty-three female breasts, each 11 centimeters in diameter. Above and below the row of breasts are evenly -carved row of splice – shaped elements. This type of decoration was popular on most Cham sculptures from the 12th to 14th century, forming the distinctive feature of the Thap Mam style.
(01/10/2008)
 

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