This is a pediment made of sandstone. It belonged to the Palelai monument within the Angkor Thom complex, Siem Reap province. From where, it was taken 1952 for preservation and added in to the collection of the National Museum.
Khmer art experts determine that it is in the Bayon style of the late 12th or early 13th century, Angkorian period, during the reign of King Jayawardman VII, from 1181 to 1218 CE.
The bas-relief on this pediment depicts a journey that Buddha took to bless his mother in the Tavatong world, or the paradise of the 33 divinities. The story relates that after achieving enlightenment, Buddha recited pray to bless five Brahmas and then went on to reciting prayers to bless his mother, who passed away seven days after he was born.
This pediment belonged to the front door of the North Tower at Palelai Temple. Buddha is sited on a pedestal in the center of the panel. On both sides, you can see two female figures with their palms joined together and worshiping gesture and their head wearing difference diadems.
It is the assumed that the female divinity on the left, wearing the three-towered diadem, is his mother Preah Neang Srei Mohameayea, and the female divinity on his right, wearing the multi-towered diadem, is a queen.
The tradition to attach oneself to the period of Buddha remain until to the present to time as witnessed by paintings and pagoda. Higher on the pediment you can recognize the images of six divinities sprinkling flowers on Buddha. At the bottom you can also notice, a lotus flower flanked on each side by three human heads wearing pointed diadems, which is one of the characteristics of the Bayon style.