'Angor Wat' is seen as one of the great wonders of the world possessing walls one and half miles long on either side and as a temple which was constructed 1000 years ago its name is formed the language of Sanskrit whose meaning is the city ( nagara ) of temples ( vat ).

 

'Angkor Wat' was originally known as 'Visnuloka' constructed in honour of 'Visnu' by a great Vedic King named 'Suryavarman' a name from the language of Sanskrit whose meaning is one who is protected ( varman ) by the god of the sun ( surya ).

 

'Angkor Wat' has been described as the Vedic universe written within stone as its cosmology and astronomy are embedded within this monumental edifice whose central towers represent 'Mount Meru' the cosmic axial mountain and home of the gods.

 

 

Within the lands of Cambodia and the province of 'Preah Vihear' there exists an amazing temple ( pictured above ) whose name is the 'Prasat Preah Vihear' and this resides upon a cliff which serves as the border between the countries of Cambodia and Thailand.

 

Over one thousand years ago this temple was constructed by the Vedic dynasty known as the 'Khmers' and just as the temple of Angkor Wat is a glorification of the cosmic axial mountain known as 'Meru' so this temple represents Meru and the home of the gods.

 

Sitting some 2000 feet above sea level this temple has a name formed from the language of Sanskrit as in 'prasad' whose meaning is 'temple' as in 'priya' whose meaning is 'beloved' as in 'vihara' whose meaning is 'abode' as in the temple ( prasad ) of the beloved ( priya ) abode ( vihara ).

 

 

Within the lands of Cambodia we find the temple of 'Pre Rup' a temple which was constructed within the year of 961 by 'Rajendravarman' a king from the Vedic dynasty of the 'Khmers' whose Sanskrit name means one protected ( varman ) by the king ( raja ) of kings ( indra ).

 

'Pre Rup' which is pictured above possesses a name which is quite vague although we know it belongs to the language of Sanskrit and as the temple was dedicated to 'Visnu' it has been said to be a corruption of 'Visvarupa' a name for Visnu which describes his universal ( visva ) form ( rupa ).

'Pre Rup' was also dedicated to Siva and we find that the southwest tower once possessed a statue of 'Lakshmi' while the northwest tower possessed a statue of 'Uma' the southeast tower possessed a statue of 'Visnu' and the northeast tower possessed a statue of 'Siva'.

 

 

'Yasovarman' is a king from the Vedic dynasty of the 'Khmers' whose name is from the language of Sanskrit meaning one who takes shelter ( varman ) of glory ( yasas ) and as the first duty of a king is to please the gods he built a beautiful temple which is pictured above.

 

Yasovarman designed his temple in the shape of a pyramid where seven layers represent seven heavens, the small towers number 108 and the central tower at the top represents 'Mount Meru' the cosmic axial mountain and home of the gods.

All of this took place over 1100 years ago and today the temple is known as 'Bhakeng' and though it has undergone much weathering and its ornate decorations have long been removed it is still a beautiful temple perched upon a hill and looking down upon the world like the great cosmic mountain 'Meru'.

 

 

Cambodia was once a highly spiritual and devoted country as can be seen within the 'Preah Khan' a temple which was built around 1000 years ago by the great Vedic dynasty known as the 'Khmers' and within this spiritual complex there were around 100,000 attendants and servants.

 

100,000 servants and attendants all catering for the needs of some 430 deities, each possessing their own shrine, each receiving their allotment of food, clothing, perfume and even mosquito nets and within such a spiritual atmosphere of devotion and learning there were 1000 dancers and 1000 teachers.

 

Outer walls bearing over 70 statues of Garuda holding Nagas, the hall of dancers decorated with heavenly Apsaras, temples dedicated to Siva and Visnu and Brahma and within one temple we find Sri Krsna who is lifting 'Goverdhana' and the origin of 'Preah Khan' is from the language of Sanskrit meaning the sacred ( priya ) sword ( khanga ).

 

 

Cambodia also possesses the 'Preah Phimeanakas' a temple built by the Vedic dynasty known as the 'Khmers' where over 1000 years ago they built this three tiered pyramid ( pictured ) which was constructed in the form of a yantra and as it was crowned by a pinnacle of gold it was referred to as the tower of gold.

It is said a celestial nagini lived within this golden tower and assumed the form of a beautiful woman and each night the King was required to lay with her and if he failed to appear it was the end of his kingdom and if the Nagini failed to appear it was the end of the King.

 

'Preah Phimeanakas' is a name which has been formed from the language of Sanskrit and includes the words 'priya' meaning 'beloved' and 'vimana' meaning 'palace' and 'akasha' meaning 'sky' as in the beloved ( priya ) palace ( vimana ) in the sky ( akasha ).

 

 

'Preah Ko' is a temple within the lands of Cambodia whose name is formed from Sanskrit meaning the sacred ( priya ) bull ( go ) its original name was 'Paramesvara' a word from the language of Sanskrit whose meaning is the supreme ( param ) lord ( isvara ).

'Preah Ko' was constructed within the ancient city of 'Hariharalaya' which was once the capital city of the Khmer dynasty and whose name has been formed from the language of Sanskrit meaning 'the abode ( alaya ) of the deity named Harihara.'

 

'Preah Ko' which is pictured above was built around the time of 879 by King Indravarman whose Sanskrit name means 'one who is protected ( varman ) by Indra' and throughout the temple are to be found images and sculptures of Visnu and Siva and Garuda as well as the Devatas and celestial Nagas.

 

 

'Bayon' is a temple which was built around the 12th century and its name is said to be formed from 'bayant' a corruption of the Pali 'bejayant' which is a corruption of 'vaijayanta' a name for the celestial palace of lord Indra the Vedic king of heaven.

 

'Bayon' is a temple which is said to be have been dedicated to Buddha yet others including the locals insist that the temple was dedicated to Lord Brahma and point out the four faces of catur mukha which are prominent throughout the temple.

 

All of these faces have jewelled earrings and jewelled necklaces and jewelled crowns and also possess a third eye, none of which belong to Buddha and throughout this temple are images of Visnu and Siva and Garuda as well as the heavenly dancing girls known as the 'Apsaras'.

 

 

Above we see the beautiful temple of 'Bakong' which is said to be the first temple of the 'Khmers' and built by 'Indravarman' a name from the language of Sanskrit whose meaning is 'one who is protected ( varman ) by Indra' and a temple which was dedicated to Siva.

 

'Indresvara' was the original name for this temple and a name for Siva to whom Indravarman is humbly addressing as 'the lord ( isvara ) of Indravarman' and within the central tower was installed a linga which was given the name of 'Sri Indresvara'.

 

'Indresvara' which is now known as 'Bakong' was constructed within the capital of the dynasty of the Khmers which was known as 'Hariharalaya' a name from the language of Sanskrit whose meaning is the 'abode ( alaya ) of the deity named Harihara'.

 

 

"As I walked along the huge, ancient stone of the causeway leading to Angkor Wat, I was forced to look inward and question my own significance within this universe. Everything here, from the huge moat protecting the complex to the giant nagas which flank my path, is designed to make one shrink before the majesty of Vishnu." Jon Ortner - Sacred Places of Asia.

 

"When we refer to 2000 year old ties which unite us with India, it is not at all a hyperbole. In fact, it was about 2000 years ago that the first navigators, Indian merchants, and Brahmins brought to our ancestors their gods, their techniques, their organization." Prince Norodom Sihanouk King of Cambodia 1941-55.

 

"Indian art had accompanied Indian religion across straits and frontiers into Sri Lanka, Java, Cambodia, Siam, Burma, Tibet, Khotan, Turkestan, Mongolia, China, Korea and Japan. In Asia all roads lead from India.” Will Durant (1885-1981) American historian.