Skanda

myminifactory

Venerated across India as a deity of war, Skanda is typically accompanied by a majestic peacock, a bird synonymous with vibrant fertility and lightning-fast aggression on the battlefield. Here he sits proudly astride his divine vehicle, the peacock's vibrant tail feathers forming a stunning nimbus behind him. Skanda's origins are shrouded in mystery, and it is likely that he represents a blending of various Shiva myths. Inscriptions reveal that Skanda served as the directional guardian (dikpalaka) of the south in Cambodia, indicating that his chapel would have been oriented accordingly, unlike those found in India. The figure is skillfully sculpted in high relief, with no intricate openwork detailing – a clear sign of an early date.