![Picture](/uploads/4/4/8/9/44896197/710008586.jpg?250)
ANGKOR WAT
Angkor Wat was built by Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. It was built as his state temple and capital city, and was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.
Today, it not only serves as a national symbol of Cambodia, but also as physical evidence of how Indianisation influenced the Khmer empire in the past.
Angkor Wat was built by Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. It was built as his state temple and capital city, and was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.
Today, it not only serves as a national symbol of Cambodia, but also as physical evidence of how Indianisation influenced the Khmer empire in the past.
![Picture](/uploads/4/4/8/9/44896197/443284853.jpg?316)
POLITICS
Angkor Wat was built in order to celebrate the king, king Suryavarman II's divine rule. This shows that the Khmer empire borrowed the Indian concept of divine kingship, where the king is thought of as a living god on earth or the incarnation of the supreme god, usually Shiva or Vishnu. Politically, it was used as the divine justification of a king's rule.
Thus, this is proof of how Indianisation shaped the Khmer empire.
In Angkor Wat, there are many bas-reliefs depicting narrative scenes about mythology and history. From these, we can tell what the lives of the Khmer people were like.
In one such bas-relief, it shows people heading towards the afterlife, in three different ways. On the top, people are going straight to the heavens. Those on the middle way are presented to Yama, the god of death and judgement to be judged. At the bottom, the poor are being forced straight to the hells.
From this bas-relief, one can learn a lot about the social hierarchy of the Khmer people in the past. In the Khmer Empire, society was arranged in a hierarchy similar to that of the Hindu caste system. As can be seen in the bas-relief, no one is born equal, and everyone has their respective place and role in society. Due to the similarities this hierarchical system and the Hindu caste system share, it can be assumed that the hierarchical system was adapted from the Hindu caste system.
Thus, the hierarchical system of the Khmer people is an example of how Indianisation has shaped the politics of the Khmer empire.
Angkor Wat was built in order to celebrate the king, king Suryavarman II's divine rule. This shows that the Khmer empire borrowed the Indian concept of divine kingship, where the king is thought of as a living god on earth or the incarnation of the supreme god, usually Shiva or Vishnu. Politically, it was used as the divine justification of a king's rule.
Thus, this is proof of how Indianisation shaped the Khmer empire.
In Angkor Wat, there are many bas-reliefs depicting narrative scenes about mythology and history. From these, we can tell what the lives of the Khmer people were like.
In one such bas-relief, it shows people heading towards the afterlife, in three different ways. On the top, people are going straight to the heavens. Those on the middle way are presented to Yama, the god of death and judgement to be judged. At the bottom, the poor are being forced straight to the hells.
From this bas-relief, one can learn a lot about the social hierarchy of the Khmer people in the past. In the Khmer Empire, society was arranged in a hierarchy similar to that of the Hindu caste system. As can be seen in the bas-relief, no one is born equal, and everyone has their respective place and role in society. Due to the similarities this hierarchical system and the Hindu caste system share, it can be assumed that the hierarchical system was adapted from the Hindu caste system.
Thus, the hierarchical system of the Khmer people is an example of how Indianisation has shaped the politics of the Khmer empire.
![Picture](/uploads/4/4/8/9/44896197/1588938.jpg?250)
RELIGION AND BELIEFS
Another bas-relief depicts Apsaras (celestial nymphs) from Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Apsaras are female spirits of clouds and water who serve in the court of Indra in the Hindu heavens. They are the wives of celestial court musicians and several represent aspects of the performing arts.
The prominence of apsaras, originating from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, in Angkor Wat also reflects the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism in the aspect of religion and culture.
The pagodas of the Angkor Wat are a physical depiction of the Mandala, as well as the gates of the temple, which resemble the gates of the Mandala.
‘Mandala’ is a Sanskrit word, which means ‘sacred circle’. It is a ritual and spiritual symbol in both Buddhism and Hinduism, and represents the universe. The basic form of a mandala is a square with 4 gates, with a circle in the centre point. Power is believed to radiate from this centre point.
The pagodas follow the form of the Mandala - they have a center, consisting of three levels, each of which is enclosed by a square. This shows that the Khmer people had borrowed the concept of the Mandala from Indian culture, and thus proves the influence of Indian culture on the religion and culture of the Khmer empire.
Another bas-relief depicts Apsaras (celestial nymphs) from Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Apsaras are female spirits of clouds and water who serve in the court of Indra in the Hindu heavens. They are the wives of celestial court musicians and several represent aspects of the performing arts.
The prominence of apsaras, originating from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, in Angkor Wat also reflects the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism in the aspect of religion and culture.
The pagodas of the Angkor Wat are a physical depiction of the Mandala, as well as the gates of the temple, which resemble the gates of the Mandala.
‘Mandala’ is a Sanskrit word, which means ‘sacred circle’. It is a ritual and spiritual symbol in both Buddhism and Hinduism, and represents the universe. The basic form of a mandala is a square with 4 gates, with a circle in the centre point. Power is believed to radiate from this centre point.
The pagodas follow the form of the Mandala - they have a center, consisting of three levels, each of which is enclosed by a square. This shows that the Khmer people had borrowed the concept of the Mandala from Indian culture, and thus proves the influence of Indian culture on the religion and culture of the Khmer empire.