Early Xth century, Khu'o'ng My style. Stone.H. 128.3 cm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Gi ft of R.H. Ellsworth, Ldt., in honor of Douglas Dillon, 1987.

The stance of this male figure is that of a guardian. He holds Shiva's trident in the right hand, and the rosary is over his left wrist. A greatly weather-worn third eye also seems to have once been shown on his forehead. The drapery of the costume and the shape of the headgear place this statue in the early Xth century Khu'o'ng My style. But the personage is not as intimidating and menacing as a dvârapâla or gate guardian who would be brandishing a weapon, have fangs, and stand with spread out and bent legs, ready to assault. We believe that this image could represent Nandikeshvara, the guardian of the kailâsa, Shiva abode, who was metamorphosed to « the exact likeness of Shiva », and placed at the head of the gana.
But when Shiva was incorporated into Buddhism, he became the guar­dian of the Law, and this image is also likely to represent Shiva as dharmapâla, or guardian of the Law. N.B. We wish to thank Professor Madeleine Giteau for her kindness in sending us the excerpt of a lecture given by J. Boisselier.

"Some remarkable Cham sculptures in American Museums" Natasha Eilenberg, Robert L. Brown

Article de "La Lettre de la SACHA" n°6, décember 1999, page 6.