Patuxai (literally Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph, formerly the Anousavary or
Anosavari Monument, known by the French as Monument Aux Morts) is a war
monument in Downtown Vientiane, Laos, built between 1957 and 1968.
The Patuxai was dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence
from France.
It is also called Patuxai Arch or the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane as it
resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. However, it is typically Laotian in
design, decorated with mythological creatures such as the
kinnari (half-female, half-bird).
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Silhouette of the Patuxai Arch seen from the east.
CPatuxai is a compound word, 'Patuu' or 'patu' meaning a "door" or
"gateway" and 'Xai', derivative of the Sanskrit 'Jaya', which means
"victory". Thus it means “Victory Gate”.
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Patuxai Arch seen from the south.
The monument has five towers that represent the five principles of
coexistence among nations of the world.
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They are also representative of the five Buddhist principles of
thoughtful amiability, flexibility, honesty, honor and prosperity.
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Pediment over the west gateway.
The monument has gateways on four sides oriented towards the four
cardinal directions.
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The east–west gateways open to the Lane Xang Avenue, which is used
during ceremonial national parades.
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Patuxai Arch seen from the west.
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Kinnara (half-female, half-bird).
A kinnara is a creature from Hindu and Buddhist mythology. They are
described as part human and part bird, and have a strong association
with music and love.
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Believed to come from the Himalayas, they often watch over the
well-being of humans in times of trouble or danger.
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Central cloister vault.
The central cloister vault at the ground level is divided into four
parts.
- At the top is Indra riding the three-headed elephant Airavata.
- On the right is Vishnu.
- Below is Laksmi, the goddess of luck and wealth.
- On the left is the monkey general, Hanuman.
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Indra.
At the top, Indra riding the three-headed elephant Airavata, stands
amidst followers on both sides scattering flowers.
- Indra is the king of the devas and Svarga in Hinduism.
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He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms,
rains, river flows, and war.
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See more at
Indra - Wikipedia.
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Vishnu.
On the right, Vishnu is shown in his basic posture holding a wheel, a
conch, a ball, and a club in his eight arms, and on either side,
followers are praising the god while holding bouquets of flowers.
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Vishnu (lit. 'The Pervader'), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one
of the principal deities of Hinduism.
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He is the Supreme Absolute Being (Para Brahman) and Absolute Self
(Paramatman) within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within
contemporary Hinduism.
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See more at
Vishnu - Wikipedia.
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Lakshmi.
Below, Lakshmi, Vishnu's wife and goddess of "luck and wealth," holds
Shiva's trident and Vishnu's conch and disk. This means that she is a
goddess with the ability to transcend the duality of Shiva and Vishnu.
Behind the goddess is a seven-headed naga protecting her, with followers
on either side scattering flowers.
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Lakshmi (lit. 'she who leads to one's goal') also known as Shri
(lit. 'Noble'), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism.
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She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and
prosperity, and associated with Maya ("Illusion").
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See more at
Lakshmi - Wikipedia.
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Hanuman.
The monkey general is attacking towards the demon king Ravana from the
Ramayana, depicted in a round circle in the center, the head is
identical to that of the monkey general Hanuman, but has a different
helmet, as if Rama has transformed into the monkey general.
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Hanuman, also known as Maruti, Bajrangabali, and Anjaneya, is a deity
in Hinduism, revered as a divine vanara, and a devoted
companion of the deity Rama.
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Central to the Ramayana, Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering
devotion to Rama and is considered a chiranjivi.
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Ravana is a multi-headed rakshasa king of the island of Lanka,
and the chief antagonist in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
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In the Laotian Buddhist text Phra Lak Phra Lam, Rama is a Bodhisattva
and the embodiment of virtues, while Ravana is a Brahmin
("mahabrahma") son of Virulaha who is highly materialistic.
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See more at
Hanuman - Wikipedia
and
Ravana - Wikipedia.
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Rama and Sita.
Surrounding the central motif of the ceiling fresco are figures from the
Ramayana, including Rama and Sita.
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The Ramayana epic narrates the life of Rama, a prince of Ayodhya in
the kingdom of Kosala.
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The epic follows his fourteen-year exile to the forest urged by his
father King Dasharatha, on the request of Rama's stepmother Kaikeyi;
his travels across forests in the Indian subcontinent with his wife
Sita and brother Lakshmana; the kidnapping of Sita by Ravana, the king
of Lanka, that resulted in war; and Rama's eventual return to Ayodhya
along with Sita to be crowned king amidst jubilation and celebration.
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See more at
Ramayana - Wikipedia.
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See also
Source
Location
