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Can anyone identify the symbol on the stylized hair (jatamukata)? I believe the female deity may be Uma in the Prei Kmeng style but have not seen the symbol before. I�ve heard that it may be a stylized flame symbolizing enlightenment but that is only a guess.

The photo is the first photo on this website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chet411

Any info would be appreciated.
Tks,
Chet

Dear Chet

That head is a reproduction, may be a cast terracotta and then carved, not sandstone.
The carver did it without any knowledge of Cambodia art and the world. I have never seen Hindu deity has "unalom" oh his/her hair bun.

The squiggle or unalom MUST mark the forehead above the eyebrows, according to ancient texts written in Pali (a dead language) describe 32 physical characteristics of a great man. One of those is a wisp of hair between the eyebrows. The Guatama Buddha was said to have all the other 31 characteristics as well.

It should also be noted that other sources relate the mark on Buddha's forehead to the "third eye" or a "chakra" which is located there. That spot is also where Hindus place a "bindu" or mark of vermillion during worship practices.

Unalom have never been in the hair bun above the fore head because it does not match with historical fact as well as art of Cambodia.

Sad but true.

Have fun
Anita

Attached is Thai painting of one of Thai artist of Nation award, Chakaphan Posayakrit.

Oil painting on wood board, picture of girl disguised as a Brahmin (Hindu priest) in Thai literature Chuichai.

Have fun
Anita

Dear Chet

I noticed that unalom on your female deity is a mirror image of unalom, did you flip the image?

I think that the carver use flipped unalom as a symbol of parasol or a chattra, an umbrella for the king, an umbrella symbolizing dignity. And it is on top of thick rectangular line which symbolized the throne chair.

The Chattra on top of throne is a symbol of Buddha. You may see this symbol on top of Atop a stupa, composed of a stone horizontally oriented disk on a vertical pole.

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IMO, to identify your female deity who she really is, she has symbol of Buddha in her hair bun.

There she is! "Prajnaparamita"....

Your piece is a newly creation of Prajnaparamita.

Have fun
Anita

Thank you Anita for all the information. The image is not flipped.

Dear Chet

I talked to my father, he said Unalom can be flipped, it is up to the artist to make it, but it is still be Unalom.

And somehow in modern time Unalom is misinterpreted/misused to flame on top of Buddha head. It is a �flame of invisible light� sat upon the head of the Buddha or Buddhist holy man indicating divine intelligence.

The flame on top of rectangular line is symbolized Buddha also.

Have fun
Anita

Anita,
I was aware of the "unalom" between the eyes on Buddha images like the one attached which is housed in the Guimet. I just never saw the symbol in the position where a Buddha image would be on a Lokesvara sculpture like the Prei Kmeng image also in the Guimet.
Thank you for all your information.
Chet

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