Khmer History, Mythology, Gods, Deities and Information

Temples and Monuments of the Khmer Empire

ANGKOR WAT

Angkor Wat is the most important monument f the Khmer civilisation and the largest temple in the world. Built by Suryavarman II (1113-1150), it is widely regarded as one of the most magnificent buildings ever created. It was constructed as a shrine to Vishnu, a royal mausoleum and a physical representation of the Hindus cosmos.

The galleries of bas-reliefs are among the largest friezes in the world, two thousand feet (610m) long and six and a half feet (2m) high. They are divided into eight major subjects – the most famous ‘The Churning of The Ocean of Milk’ – two on each side, with individual scenes in the southwest and northwest corner pavilions. The largest central tower rises 55m above the ground, and is the summit of the pyramid, an earthly representation of mythical Mount Meru (the centre of the world and axis of the universe). The temple is dedicated to Vishnu ( above right , in the Hall of Echoes), the source and creator of all existence, who, with Shiva, ruled over the gods and universe. By identifying himself with the deity king Suryavarman II shared in Vishnu’s glory and all-encompassing power.

PHNOM BAKHENG

Phnom Bakheng was at the centre of the first capital of Angkor, Yasodharapura, circa 907. the huge sandstone and laterite temple was carved into the bedrock at the top of one of the most strategic promontories in the area. The architectural plan is a precursor to Angkor Wat and incorporates astronomical measurements and symbolic numbers, creating a sacred mandala, a building that represents Mount Meru as well as functioning as a ritual calendar.

BAKSEI CHAMKRONG

This miniature temple is located at the foot of Phnom Bakheng. The pyramid is made of laterite, topped by a single brick tower on a sandstone base. Originally Baksei Chamkrong contained a golden image of Shiva.

ANGKOR THOM

South Gopura – the main entrance to Angkor Thom was the southern causeway, lined by colossal statues of mythical gods and demons, 54 on each side. The causeway symbolises a ‘rainbow bridge’, a link between the mundane world of humans and the sacred world of gods.

North Gopura – the entry towers are similar in design to the South Gopura, each is 75 feet high with four faces at the top facing north, south, east and west.

Terrace of Elephants – the 1000 feet long terrace extends from the enclosure wall near the Baphuon to the Royal Terrace. Lavish wooden buildings probably stood on it, from which the king could view processions and ritual celebrations. Three large and two smaller stairways project east into the large Royal Square. As well as the numerous reliefs and carvings depicting elephants, the two levels of the terrace are also decorated with naga balustrades, garudas (the mount of Vishnu) and lions.

BAPHUON – the 11 th century Baphuon was once a massive five-tiered pyramid, raised atop an earthen mound. The beauty and monumental size of Udayadityavarman II’s ‘Golden Mountain’ was legendary. Chou Ta-Kuan, the Chinese envoy, reported that its great tower was made of bronze and was ‘’truly marvellous to behold'’. Most of the bas-reliefs were carved in panels and refer to the Hindu epics, in particular stories of Krishna and Rama. Baphuon is not well preserved because it was constructed on an artificial mound, but since 1908 the French have been restoring the site.

PHIMEANAKAS– Phimeanakas, meaning Celestial or Flying Palace in Sanskrit, is the only temple within the Royal Enclosure. Today it is a mere shell of the three-tiered pyramid built first as a state temple in the late 10 th century, which then became the royal chapel of Jayavarman V.

PREAH PALILAY –in the northwest corner of Angkor Thom amongst silk-cotton trees, sits this 12 th century Buddhist shrine, a single sandstone tower with porches set upon a steep terrace.

TEP PRANAM – north of the Royal Terrace lies this 9 th century Buddhist cruciform terrace, with two large Buddha, destroyed in the civil war, repaired and reinstalled.

PREAH PITHU GROUP – the five similar temples of this group each had a single sanctuary tower set high upon a terraced base. Four temples were Brahmanic, with lingas inside (phallic representation of Shiva).

PRASAT SUOR PRAT – they are twelve laterite-blocked (red or yellow ferruginous air-dried or fried clay) towers that stand in a line facing the terraces on either side of the Gate of Victory. Probably used for viewing pageants and ceremonies.

NORTH KLEANG AND SOUTH KLEANG -

– since the Kleangs are without sanctuaries or towers, the may have been used for receptions of dignitaries. The North Kleang is older, built by Jayavarman V in the late 10 th century.

BAYON

In the late 12 th century, 100 years after the construction of Angkor Wat, Jayavarman VII built his state temple in the heart of the royal city of Angkor Thom. This extraordinary structure was modified over the years, resulting in a complex assembly of towers, galleries and stairways.

Of the original forty-nine towers, more than 35 still stand, carved with over 200 colossal faces representing Jayavarman VII as a Bodhisattava. They represent the Bodhisattava of compassion, Lokeshvara (also known as Avalokitesvara), who projects Buddha consciousness to the cardinal directions. By also being modelled on Jayavarman VII, the king becomes the god thereby expanding his universal power. The striking facial features and full lips, curling upwards at the corners, are known as ‘the smile of Angkor’. Unlike other Khmer monuments the Bayon has no protective wall immediately enclosing it, however the central tower at the intersection of the city walls of Angkor Thom, indicates they were built at the same time. The Bayon also shares Angkor Thom’s moat.

The structure represents a microcosm of the mythological cosmos, similar to Borobudur in Java. It is an architectural hybrid of a Mount Meru shrine and a stupa , in which the pilgrim circles and ascends the monument simultaneously, to end on a top platform, open to the sky, in the presence of the deities. The central is surrounded by a circular paved walkway, a pradakshina , for walking round the symbolic mountain.

The Bayon was dedicated as a Mahayana Buddhist shrine with a large Buddha in the central sanctuary, however inscriptions on doorjambs indicate some of the face towers were also used as shrines to earlier Brahmanic deities such as Shiva and Vishnu.

THE TEMPLES SURROUNDING ANGKOR THOM

CHAU SAY TEVODA – east of the Gate of Victory stands two similar shrines, Chau Say Tevoda to the south and Thommanon to the north. They were built during the reign of Suryavarman II in the mid-12 th century, the classic period of Khmer art. Chau Say Tevoda was built after Thommanon and is more elaborate. The ornamentation with devatas, apsaras, floral patterns and inscribed doors is very beautiful, especially on the sanctuary. It has one of the first naga balustrades at Angkor.

THOMMANON – it is surrounded by remains of a laterite enclosure wall with two gopuras. It is believed to be dedicated to Vishnu (as Angkor Wat, of the same period), although a linga (a phallic representation of Shiva) was discovered inside. There are numerous near life-size elaborately dressed devatas and apsaras, with exquisitely detailed faces and headdresses.

TA KEO – the first temple built entirely of massive blocks of sandstone, it was begun during the reign of Jayavarman V and left unfinished. The pyramid rises over 50 meters and has openings on all four sides (previous temple sanctuaries only had openings on the east side). It was originally surrounded by a moat.

TA NEI – situated in a beautiful forest, it has an air of tranquillity and mystery, built as a Buddhist shrine by Jayavarman VII in the late 12 th century. Restoration by the Angkor Conservancy commencing.

TA PROHM

Built in the late 12 th century by Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm was the centre of the royal city of Rajavihara. It was one of the largest monuments of the Khmer civilisation and was built as both a Buddhist temple and monastery, and to house the divine image of the Queen Mother. Within the 148 acre grounds, the temple complex is built on a single level covering 2 and one half acres. An inscription discovered reveals detailed imformation on the complex. It contained 39 sanctuaries (or prasats ), 566 stone dwellings and 288 brick dwellings and was home to 18 abbots and 2,740 monks. By the 12 th century temples were no longer exclusively places of worship – they also had to accommodate monks, so roofed halls were increasingly built within the complexes. The inscription details an

ample treasury of gold, silk, diamonds and other gems, and 260 statues of the gods.

Ta Prohm contains 39 towers, many freestanding, with carvings of dvarapalas (guardians) guarding the doors. The inner enclosure walls are intricately decorated with scrolls, foliage patterns, devotees in prayer and devatas and apsaras. Carved above the doorways are key scenes from the life of Siddhartha Gautama (including one of the most famous pediments at Angkor – The Great Departure) and the twenty-four Buddhas preceding him, known as the Buddhavamsa Jatakas.

Ta Prohm is the classic ‘Indiana Jones’ lost temple, only minimally cleared of its undergrowth and entwined with silk cotton trees ( Ceiba pentandra) , overlaid by strangler figs ( Ficus religiosa ). The French writer Elie Laure wrote ‘with its millions of knotted limbs, the forest embraces the ruins with a violent love’.

BANTEAY KDEI – this Mahayana Buddhist temple was constructed in the late 12 th century, over the ruins of a 10 th century temple, by the great Jayavarman VII. It is a crowded collection of towers and connecting galleries on a flat plain. The temple has a moat paved with sandstone, surrounding the second enclosure.

The artificial lake next to Banteay Kdei is Sra Srang ; the royal bathing pool, lined with sandstone blocks, that has retained water for more than 10 centuries. A cruciform terrace of sandstone upon laterite block faces east to the rising sun. It is adorned with garudas mounting 3-headed nagas, and lions guard the steps leading down to the water. An inscription forbids the washing of elephants here, which would damage the delicate sandstone lining.

PRASAT KRAVAN – was build in 921 and means ‘Cardamom Sanctuary’, and is unusual in that it is built of brick rather than laterite, which by that time it had been replaced by, and sandstone. Five temples sit upon a common base, facing east. The centre and north towers contain sculpted brick bas-reliefs bearing traces of stucco, and are found nowhere else at Angkor. In the central sanctuary is a bas-relief homage to Vishnu and on the inner wall of the north tower his consort Lakshmi.

PREAH KHAN – late 12 th century, Preah Khan housed a Buddhist Shrine and the first capital city of Jayavarman VII, Nagarajayacri (meaning ‘Fortunate City of Victory’) Within its walls was also a monastery, a university, shrines to Shiva, Vishnu and the ancestors. It is similar in ground plan to Ta Prohm (built 5 years earlier), a single level spread out over 140 acres, but great attention was paid to the approaches: its east and west avenues leading to ornamental causeways are lined with carved boundary posts. Seventy –two giant garudas, holding nagas in their claws, protect the two-mile outer wall.

Uniquely in Khmer architecture is the two-story pavilion with round pillars. The preah khan, or sacred sword, symbol of the power and sovereignty of the devaraja (god-king) was believed to have been kept inside.

In the middle of the baray of Preah Khan is Neak Pean , an island that has a fountain and a tower in the centre. Dedicated to Lokeshvara, it represents Anavatapta, the mythical Himalayan lake reputed to cure all illness.

In the late 12 th and early 13 th centuries Jayavarman VII constructed several small Buddhist shrines northeast of Angkor Thom and Preah Khan and these were: BANTEAY PREI , PRASAT BANTEAY THOM , PRASAT PREI and KROL KO .

TA SOM – built in late 12 th centur by Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist shrine, has similarities to Preah Khan but is much smaller.

EAST MEBON – built in 953 and dedicated to Shiva and Uma. The water of the East Baray would have surrounded the temple. The three-tiered pyramid is surrounded by eight subsidiary brick towers. The Central Santuary held the royal linga, Rajendrasvara. The inscription is unusual in that it mentions the royal architect, Kavindrarimathana, by name.

WEST BARAY AND WEST MEBON – Udayadityavarman I built Angkor’s largest artificial lake, which has continued to hold water for almost a thousand years. Only a vestige remains of the temple, situated on an island in the centre of the lake.

PRE RUP – Rajendravarman II constructed Pre Rup in the second half of the tenth century as his state temple and centre of his royal city. The classic three-tiered pyramid is surrounded by two enclosure walls. The summit pyramid has 12 small towers (prasat) on the lower level and on the top platform the four corner towers contained images of Shiva and Vishnu and their consorts Uma and Lakshmi.