Angkor Wat - A west view from the external moat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat, the state temple of King Suryavarman II (reigned 1113-1145/50) was situated near the older city of Indian name, Yashodharapura. On his death, Suryavarman II was given a posthumous name, 'Paramavishnuloka' (He who has entered the paradise of supreme Vishnu) There is a theory that the ashes of the king are interned in the Angkor Wat temple. The Cambodian kings, strongly influenced by Indianisation, Sanskrit language, Hindu religion etc. named themselves accordingly. The name Surya or Aditya denote the 'Sun God' in Hindu mythology. The word 'Jaya' means 'Victory'. The word 'Varman' means 'one who is shielded or protected'. Hence Suryavarman means 'one who is protected by Surya', Jayavarman means 'one who is protected by victory' etc. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, one of the Trinity of the Hindu pantheon of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The western orientation of the temple is in consonance with the building treatises of the South Indian Vishnu temples, whose influence in Cambodia of that time was deeply ingrained and practised. The temple including the moat encompasses an area of 200 hectares, a rectangle of 1.5 km by 1.3 km. Angkor was the capital during the reign of Suryavarman II.
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All my photographs are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved.
Angkor Wat - A west view from the external moat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat, the state temple of King Suryavarman II (reigned 1113-1145/50) was situated near the older city of Indian name, Yashodharapura. On his death, Suryavarman II was given a posthumous name, 'Paramavishnuloka' (He who has entered the paradise of supreme Vishnu) There is a theory that the ashes of the king are interned in the Angkor Wat temple. The Cambodian kings, strongly influenced by Indianisation, Sanskrit language, Hindu religion etc. named themselves accordingly. The name Surya or Aditya denote the 'Sun God' in Hindu mythology. The word 'Jaya' means 'Victory'. The word 'Varman' means 'one who is shielded or protected'. Hence Suryavarman means 'one who is protected by Surya', Jayavarman means 'one who is protected by victory' etc. The temple is dedicated to Vishnu, one of the Trinity of the Hindu pantheon of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The western orientation of the temple is in consonance with the building treatises of the South Indian Vishnu temples, whose influence in Cambodia of that time was deeply ingrained and practised. The temple including the moat encompasses an area of 200 hectares, a rectangle of 1.5 km by 1.3 km. Angkor was the capital during the reign of Suryavarman II.
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All my photographs are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved.