Angkor Wat
Topic: Southern Dynasties: Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 4 "Turning Tides: The 11th and 12th Centuries"
Meaning
Angkor Wat is a huge temple complex in Cambodia. The Khmer king Suryavarman II built it in the 12th century. It was first dedicated to Vishnu and was later used for Buddhist worship. It is the largest religious monument in the world. It is also the best example of how Indian religion and art spread to Southeast Asia.
Example
Its five towers, called shikharas, stand for Mount Meru, the sacred mountain at the centre of the universe in Hindu belief. Its walls carry long carvings of Ramayana and Mahabharata scenes and inscriptions in Old Khmer and Sanskrit. Its design shares many features with south Indian temples.
Don't confuse with
- Borobudur: a Buddhist monument in Java, Indonesia. Angkor Wat is in Cambodia and was built as a Vishnu temple.
Related concepts
- Chola bronzes
- Nataraja
- Swamimalai bronze icons
- Airavatesvara temple, Darasuram
- Great Living Chola Temples
- Chidambaram temple
- Gommateshwara statue