Lintels

The rectangle above the door frame is called a Lintel. Both the lintels and the arch above it have decorative carvings of scenes from Hindu mythology at Phnom Rung and Muang Tam and a mixture of Buddhist and Hindu scenes at Phimai.

This doorway at Phnom Rung shows the Lord Siva with many arms, dancing (up above). Shiva is the god of destruction, but also life since the old has to die to welcome the new. (For example, sometimes you burn a field to make way for new crops.)

This lintel (on the same doorway at Phnom Rung) depicts Vishnu sleeping on a snake, dreaming the world into existence. This particular lintel was stolen in the 1960s and one of the Thai Princes saw it in the Art Institute of Chicago (it was on loan from an art foundation) when he was visiting. The lintel was returned in 1988.

This lintel at Muang Tam shows Shiva and his consort, Uma, riding his bull, Nandin. In the center bottom is a Kala.

In the bottom center of this lintel (also Muang Tam) there is a kala. A kala is a demon who was commanded to devour himself and he could only get as far as his lower jaw. The head remains and guards the temple. Notice the row of rishi at the top.