Buddhist chaitya

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This sculpture is a Khmer Buddhist shrine, a miniature tower dedicated to the goddess Prajnaparamita.\r\nA chaitya hall or sanctuary refers to a sacred building in Indian religions where devotees gather for prayer and worship. The term originated in Buddhism, often incorporating a stupa at one end of the structure. While technically the chaitya itself is the stupa, this distinction is frequently overlooked. In other Buddhist countries such as Nepal, Cambodia, and Indonesia, local styles of small monuments resembling stupas are also referred to as chaityas. The historical texts of Jainism and Hinduism sometimes use the term chaitya to describe a temple or any sacred structure. In ancient times, this monolithic shrine marked the boundary of a Buddhist temple complex and served as a symbol of devotion. Its main deity is Prajnaparamita, goddess of transcendent knowledge. With her rosary and book in hand, she embodies wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. Two female deities and Lokeshvara are also depicted in the sculpture.