A Kala relief, which is a unique stone sculpture carved by the ancient Champa people discovered in Phu Yen Province, has been recognized as a Vietnamese national treasure under a prime ministerial decision, the provincial cultural authorities reported this week.

The relief is among the 33 artifacts recognized as national treasures in PM Pham Minh Chinh's recent decision, Nguyen Le Vu, deputy director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said on Friday morning. 

This stone sculpture, which dates back to the 14th century, was found in a relic excavation site at Ba Mountain in the south-central province’s Tay Hoa District in 1993, Vu said. 

Located on the right bank of the Da Rang River, Ba Mountain, 60 meters high, is home to a square foundation of Champa architecture, with each side measuring 9.5 meters.

The Kala relief is imbued with cultural and architectural values of the ancient Champa culture in Vietnam.

Crafted from tuff, rhyolite, and dacite rock, the relief weighs 105.5 kilograms, measuring 60 centimeters in height, 44 centimeters in width at its base, and 17 centimeters in thickness.

Researchers note that this is the only Kala relief ever discovered in Phu Yen, showcasing the Thap Mam sculpture style, also referred to as Binh Dinh sculpture.

After being discovered, the Kala relief was brought to the Phu Yen Museum for preservation and display.

In Champa culture, Kala is a manifestation of Shiva, one of the most revered gods in Hinduism, embodying creation, destruction, and transformation.

According to legend, Kala is the head of a ferocious monster that was subdued by Shiva and became one of the god’s symbols. 

The Kala image combines some features in the appearance of unicorns, dragons, lions, and others, forming a unique creation in Champa sculpture art.

The relief is made on a stone block with a flat base and a pointed top.

The front of the relief shows Kala's face looking straight ahead, according to Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper.

Kala has a wide mouth, with eight large, long embossed teeth, including two canines and six incisors.

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