2-728-165 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Enthroned planetary deity, 850-875. This powerful figure is a personification of a celestial body installed by the entrance to a Buddhist temple. He is seated in the posture associated with royalty; his crown, massive earrings, and throne also identify him as a king of the heavens. The mark on his forehead refers to his association with enlightened beings. The short dagger in his left hand along with the mustache and furrowed brow are attributes of a protector. Personifications of the sun, moon, and planets functioned as guardians of a sacred site, indicating that correct astrological calculations were made to determine the moment of consecration, thereby ensuring the potency of worship and protection of the site. This sculpture is one of the rare surviving examples from the Cham culture of central and southern Vietnam.