To date, there have been six recognized national treasures originating from the My Son Temple Complex. These treasures are all part of the system of worship statues in the temples.
In particular, in the main temple E1, group E, there are 3 recognized treasures, including: My Son E1 altar, Mukhalinga and the door frame of the Birth of Brahma. These treasures are very unique and typical of the sculpture and symbolism of early Brahmanism in Champa.
Temple of treasures
My Son E1 is the only temple that still preserves the earliest architectural and sculptural elements of Champa art.
Built around the 7th-8th century, the temple's construction materials are a combination of bricks, wood, stone and terracotta tiles. The base is high, has a square plan, the tower walls are made of bricks and have no false doors.
At the four corners of the inner shrine, there are still four stone bases - traces of a wooden structure, in the middle of the inner shrine is the altar. The decorative base of this altar has been moved to display at the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, now only the Linga and the body of the altar remain.
Also here was discovered a door frame depicting the Birth of Brahma.
This temple is not only a place to learn about the architectural development in the early period of My Son and Champa relics, but also traces the influences of art from India, China or Dvaravati Thailand through the sculptures of this work.
However, the temple has now completely collapsed.
New discovery about My Son E1 Altar
French experts excavated E1 temple from 1903 to 1904 and discovered a linga and many stone blocks in E1 temple. At this time, My Son E1 altar was disturbed by treasure hunts that took place before French experts excavated it in the early 20th century.
Therefore, when French archaeologists came to excavate, the altar was no longer in its original form. Henri Parmentier's drawing of the My Son E1 altar is just an assumption.
The My Son E1 Altar was recognized as a national treasure in 2012. Currently on display at the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture is only the decorated base of the My Son E1 Altar. The body and statues are still in the E1 temple area.
In 2018, we rearranged the altar based on the drawings of French experts. However, this hypothetical drawing had arranged the stone layers in the wrong position.
The second interesting discovery, also in the same year, was the previously unknown inscription on the altar. Specifically, there were two Sanskrit inscriptions on two identical stone layers.
During the 2022 survey, Salomé Pichon (EFEO) read it as mukha. Furthermore, on the round part of the Linga, looking at the break on the edge, there is a sign of a human face. Based on the mukha character and the break, it can be assumed that the current My Son E1 altar is a mukhalinga (also known as ekamukhalinga - a linga with a divine face).
This discovery is related to a national treasure discovered behind the E1 temple in 2012 - also a Mukhalinga. This national treasure Mukhalinga also has a face visible in the round part of the linga. When comparing the size, the Mukhalinga in the E1 temple and the one behind the E1 temple are the same size and can both be placed on the My Son E1 altar.
This data allows the researcher to rearrange the My Son E1 altar, repositioning the Mukhalinga. This also shows that the My Son E1 altar was built and changed, so all the components of the altar may not be of the same date.
The value of 3 national treasures
The three national treasures from E1 temple are considered very unique and typical in the art of sculpture as well as Hindu worship images of Champa civilization.
Mukhalinga is a 3-part Linga, from the round part protrudes the face of the god Shiva. The artifact is considered by researchers to be a masterpiece, fully demonstrating the standards of shape and symbolic meaning of a Mukhalinga in the ancient My Son E1 style of the 7th - 8th century.
According to the assessment of Associate Professor, Dr. Ngo Van Doanh: "Mukhalinga is the most beautiful and unique not only of Champa, but also of the entire ancient Southeast Asia region".
Meanwhile, My Son E1 Altar is the base of the only altar in Champa with carved scenes of mountains, forests, and caves where Brahmin monks lived in seclusion, practiced and practiced their religion.
The front part of the altar is decorated with architectural motifs, arches, musicians, dancers and artistic details influenced by Chinese and Indian cultures.
The third treasure, the Birth of Brahma, is a door panel of the E1 temple, a carving depicting the creation of the universe in Indian mythology. This is the only work found in My Son depicting the god Vishnu meditating on the vast, dark sea of the universe, supported by the seven-headed serpent Shesha.
The two heads of the relief are two Garuda birds with human bodies and bird feet, reminiscent of statues with the same theme in Mon-Dvaravati art in Thailand in the 7th - 8th centuries. The work is considered rare in Champa culture and art, and is also important evidence of the early introduction of Hinduism into Champa.
E1 Temple and three national treasures have special value in terms of architecture and sculpture. Although only the base of the architecture remains, this is evidence of the early stage of Champa architecture...
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/nhung-bao-vat-tu-mot-ngoi-den-3147246.html
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