A sacred site of Angkor, a sprawling archaeological treasure trove covering 250 square miles of jungle in the center of Cambodia. The sculptural decoration of Angkor Wat, is if anything, even more astonishing than the architecture. That the main temple alone should constitute the largest religious building in all history, covering an area as great as that of the largest pyramids, is astounding enough; that every square inch of such a structure should be carved and decorated, passes imagination. Yet so it has been, and with a loving care and skill which have infused the cold stone with pulsating life. Angkor Wat, in its beauty and state of preservation, is unrivaled. Its mightiness and magnificence bespeak a pomp and a luxury surpassing that of a Pharaoh or a Shah Jahan, an impressiveness greater than that of the Pyramids, an artistic distinctiveness as fine as that of the Taj Mahal. Angkor Wat, the largest monument of the Angkor group and the best preserved, is an architectural masterpiece. Its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, relief's and sculpture make it one of the finest monuments in the world. The general appearance of the wonder of the temple is beautiful and romantic as well as impressive and grand it must be seen to be understood and appreciated. One can never look upon the ensemble of the vat without a thrill, a pause, a feeling of being caught up onto the heavens. Perhaps it is the most impressive sight in the world of edifices. One stands dumbfounded at the mere thought of the labor involved in the six miles of exquisitely carved moldings on the steps which line the great moat; or at the ten thousand stone pinnacles of lace-like intricacy assembled to crown each of the five towers; or the two thousand life-size reliefs of apsaras, ranged like some celestial corps de ballet, clothed in the most gorgeous stuffs and sporting unbelievable head-dresses, no two alike; or at the acres of background ornament, carved to represent the floral patterns. One of the supreme masterpieces of world sculpture in terms of quality alone, this bas-relief is some six feet high and over a mile in length. The themes of the continuous reliefs are taken from Hindu epics. Particularly noteworthy are the battle scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. At Angkor Wat the great battle between the forces of the demon-king and the cohorts of the monkey general is depicted with enormous verve in a monumental composition. In this temple, Vishnu's heaven, he was depicted as merciful and compassionate, despite his mighty power. Deep in cosmic sleep, he creates a new world. His great deeds of chivalry were described in the Mahabharata and handed down from generation to generation. They provided the sculptors of Angkor Wat with subject matter as well as inspiration for their sandstone canvases. The most monumental relief and possibly the most magnificent, is the depicting of Samudra Manthan - 'the Churning of the Sea of Milk'. The Gods and Titans (asuras) though in eternal conflict, formed a temporary alliance to procure the drink of immortality, amrita or ambrosia. The body of the Cosmic Serpent, Vasuki, an avatar of Vishnu, was twined around the 'World Mountain' Mount Madara placed in the primal void of the 'Sea of Milk' and teams of ninety-two demons and eight-eight gods ranged on either side, grasped the head and tail of the serpent and enacted a celestial tug-of-war under the direction of Vishnu. They pulled the serpent back and forth and the mountain, pivoted on the back of the Cosmic Tortoise, Kurma -- yet another manifestation of Vishnu -- rotated, acting as a churning stick. As the Milky Ocean turned to butter, various symbols of power and delight emerged: apasaras, jewels, a milk-white charger and elephant, and Dhanvantari, the physicians of gods, bearing a bowl of brimming with amrita.

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