Sheath for ritual conch shell

1100s

Cambodia, Khmer, Angkor period

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Medium

shell and bronze

Measurements

Overall: 35 cm (13 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

John L. Severance Fund 1977.176.d

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Location

Not on view

Description

A royal temple like Banteay Chhmar was built for performing rituals and to honor images of gods, Buddhas, and other sacred or enlightened beings for the sake of the kingdom’s protection and ongoing prosperity. Conch shells were blown at the start of rituals to make the sound corresponding to the syllable om.

The dancing figure of Hevajra, a Buddhist being of enlightenment with eight heads, sixteen arms, and four legs, has been worked into the bronze embellishment of the shell. Hevajra was elevated to a prominent position in Khmer Buddhism of the Angkorian period as the standard figure denoting the practice of rituals prescribed in a text called the Hevajra-tantra. The tripod stand with three serpents is probably not original to the shell.