Parasurama:

One of lesser-known sculptures within the collection of the National Museum is that of Parasurama. Definitely not a name that crops up in conversation, though the museum has a collection of six bronzes credited to the Hindu god, who happens to be the sixth avatar or incarnation of the supreme god Vishnu, just in front of Rama as the seventh avatar and Balarama the eighth. I thought they were brothers, they are not. The museum has a much more famous trio of statues in sandstone, collected from Phnon Da near Angkor Borei many years ago, and that triumvirate of Parasurama, Rama and Balarama are permanent fixtures. As for the Parasurama bronzes, they pop out on display from time to time. This example of a rare standing Parasurma, which quite literally means ‘Rama with an axe,’ has a mixed reputation. Best known for decapitating his own mother and the extermination of the Ksatriya warrior caste, he was given the axe by Shiva from whom he learned the methods of warfare and lists his strength and morality as his good points. Dated by the museum to the 11th – 12th century, the bronze is 15.5 centimeters tall and has a distinctive flourish for the front overhanging decoration from his sampot, and a large axe which he’s holding in the air in his right hand. His short pleated sampot also has an oversized flowery knot at the rear. His face is squished with slit-eyes and a large mouth, pendant earrings and a pectoral necklace, upper-arm bangles and a slim diadem with a conical chignon. It’s original location is recorded as found in Sla commune, Samrong, Takeo province and it’s been in the museum collection for many decades.Credit By :Andy Brouwer