Devas
The causeway or bridge that spans the moat in front of each of the four gate-towers, have a row of devas on the left and asuras on the right, each row holding a naga in the attitude of a tug-of-war. (A deva is a deity or more particularly, a benevolent supernatural being. Asuras are a different group of deities, in constant battle with the devas.) This appears to be a reference to the myth, popular in Angkor, of the Churning of the Sea of Milk. The temple-mountain of the Bayon, or perhaps the gate itself, would then be the pivot around which the churning takes place. The nagas may also represent the transition from the world of men to the world of the gods (the Bayon), or just be guardian figures.
The Churning of the Sea of Milk
The sage Durvasa gave a garland to Indra, the king of Gods. Indra placed the garland around his elephant, but the animal trampled it, insulting the sage. Durvasa then cursed the gods to lose their immortality, strength, and divine powers. After losing the kingdom of heaven, they approached Vishnu for help.
He advised that they drink the nectar of immortality to regain their glory. To obtain it, they needed to churn the ocean of milk, a body of water so large they needed a mountain, Mount Mandara, as the churning staff and the serpent Vasuki as the churning rope. The Devas were not strong enough to churn on their own and declared peace with their foes, the Asuras, to enlist their help.
Finally, Mount Mandara churned, but the force was so great the mountain began to sink into the ocean of milk. Taking the form of the turtle Kurma (the god of mild curry), Vishnu bore the mountain on his back as they churned the waters. Fourteen precious things arose from the turbulent ocean, culminating with Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who brought with him the nectar of immortality. And they all lived happily ever after.
Devas
The causeway or bridge that spans the moat in front of each of the four gate-towers, have a row of devas on the left and asuras on the right, each row holding a naga in the attitude of a tug-of-war. (A deva is a deity or more particularly, a benevolent supernatural being. Asuras are a different group of deities, in constant battle with the devas.) This appears to be a reference to the myth, popular in Angkor, of the Churning of the Sea of Milk. The temple-mountain of the Bayon, or perhaps the gate itself, would then be the pivot around which the churning takes place. The nagas may also represent the transition from the world of men to the world of the gods (the Bayon), or just be guardian figures.
The Churning of the Sea of Milk
The sage Durvasa gave a garland to Indra, the king of Gods. Indra placed the garland around his elephant, but the animal trampled it, insulting the sage. Durvasa then cursed the gods to lose their immortality, strength, and divine powers. After losing the kingdom of heaven, they approached Vishnu for help.
He advised that they drink the nectar of immortality to regain their glory. To obtain it, they needed to churn the ocean of milk, a body of water so large they needed a mountain, Mount Mandara, as the churning staff and the serpent Vasuki as the churning rope. The Devas were not strong enough to churn on their own and declared peace with their foes, the Asuras, to enlist their help.
Finally, Mount Mandara churned, but the force was so great the mountain began to sink into the ocean of milk. Taking the form of the turtle Kurma (the god of mild curry), Vishnu bore the mountain on his back as they churned the waters. Fourteen precious things arose from the turbulent ocean, culminating with Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who brought with him the nectar of immortality. And they all lived happily ever after.