Angkor Wat was
originally served as a Hindu temple, which dedicated to honor of Vishnu (The
Protector). It is only temple in the Angkorarea, which built facing to the
west. Normally, all the religious temples built facing to the east.
The reason that Angkor
Wat facing west, because due to this monument constructed to honor of God
Vishnu, rather than the reason that this monument served as a funeral temple.
However, we can notice that, most of the monumental temples built in stone at
the Angkor period that remained today, those always served as funeral temples
either facing east or facing west.
For example it served
as temple when the king who built still alive, and became ashis tomb when the
king died. Thus, the Angkor Wat was a tomb of Suryavarman II to embody with his
god Vishnu when he just passed away from earth. This reason, because Vishnu
associated to the west side of the universe,
SuryavarmanII took Lord
Vishnu as his God, and when he died they cremated his body and then collected
some his ashes to keep in a golden urn to burry underneath of a golden Vishnu
statue riding on Garuda, that originally installed in a central chamber of the
main tower of the Angkor Wat. This concept was the same concept to all the
Khmer kings in the Angkor period. Because kings as gods, if he was a god he
must has his posthumous name due to the name of god whom he believed, liked
Suryavaman II had his posthumous name as Parama Vishnu Loka.
Angkor Wat took time to
build approximately between 30 to 35 years, and saying that they used 4000
elephants including people suggested one person each family in around the
kingdom, come to carry the sandstone from a quarry of Phnom (mountain ) Kulen
which its distend about 55 km to northeast from Angkor.
Angkor Wat means City
of Monastery, which came from the Sanskrit word of Nagara. Angkor Wat became as
Buddhist temple in 16th to 19th century. When the capital of Angkor abandoned
by the royal court after Thais sacked and destroyed.
Angkor Wat temple has a
moat, which measured of 1300m by 1500m, and about 5.5 km surrounding its
compound. The moat also has 190m cross and has water all yearround. As the same
as any temple, Angkor Wat has a wall built of laterite. This wall is still very
good condition and has a measure of 800m by 1000m.
Surrounding the wall of
Angkor Wat, there are four entrances, but the three located on the north (Ta
Leuk), on the east (Ta Ku) and on the south (Ta Pich) designed smaller and
simpler with only one door way. While the western entrance (Ta Reach) built so
elaborate with 200m long and designed with five doorways. These five
doorways at the main entrance of Angkor Wat, we know that, one is in the middle
for the king, royalty and his Brahmins using, while two other were people and
king entourages using and the two more entrances located at the end of the
gateway structure were used for transportation due to these gates have no
stair, and they are just flat.
To cross the moat for
going to the main entrance, there is a stone causeway, measured of 250m long,
From the east side its causeway just built of dirt and very simple one. The
causeway is symbolic of Rainbow Bridge,for making a connection from one world
to another. While the moat surrounding the temple is symbolic of the ocean, and
enclosing laterite wall is symbolic of mountains range at the edge of the
universe, which represented to protect Mt. Meru. It was a mythical mountain to
serve as a home for the Hindu Gods, and locatedin the center of the universe.
Thus, Angkor Wat and all the Khmer temples in the Angkor period symbolized of
Mt Meru a home for Hindu Gods living.
From that reason, Khmer
temple has so fancy decorated detail carving every where from the bottom to the
top of its structure. Because for the gods, they must live so fancy and
sophisticated decoration. Besides, the temples are so beautiful ornamentation,
its measurement, its scale and its proportion so on, built in a good harmonious
symmetry with connected to sophisticated astrological concept as well.
The reason for this,
that is why Angkor Wat constructed so perfect angle of the four directions,
which facing in perfect condition to the east, west, north and south.
Especially, when the time of equinox sunrise and sunset are perfect in the
middle of its door frames and on the top of its towers.
When you visit to the
Khmer temples, you may see a lion statues at the first sight. According to the
Hindu myths, Brahma God of Creator took lion as his palace's doorway guardian.
When Khmers build temples, and as their temples were symbolized of Mt Meru,
(Home of the Hindu Gods), that is why they put the lion statues for
guarding at the front of their temples in order to follow a concept of a lion
was guarding to the home of the Gods.
The lion statue of
Angkor Wat made with a single piece of sandstone, its tail believed to have as
metal material. It had been already destroyed by Siamese in the 14th to 15th
century, but took to restore by the French in 1920 to1970.
Behind the lion
statues, they put the naga statues to serve as the balustrade always along the
causeway on the both sides. The naga is a mythical snake and according to the
Hindu myth, the naga was a god of the underworld. A Naga balustrade had been
destroyed by the Siamese at the same time as lion statues as well, but has been
restored by the French again in 1960. To hold the naga balustrades at the first
causeway section, they put 108 magnificent stone round pillars from its
foundation of the moat. Those unique stone pillars remained just a few.
We notice that the Naga
of Angkor Wat designed liked a fan form and appearing with seven heads. This
only head of Naga in the first causeway is still good intact. The seven headed
naga is symbolic of the seven days of week, and seven colors of rainbow. By the
way, to have number seven is standing on the theory with the odd number,
because the odd number is lucky number.
About the causeway
pavement, has restored in 1960 at the south side. At that time,French had an
idea to restore only one side while they keep another side to the north in its
natural fates.
In this section, also
we can notice to the three towers of the main entrancestructure as well. These
three towers originally were not flat condition liked we are seeing, but they
were taller and had a conical shape as the same as themain towers with seven
tiers. But those towers were destroyed as a part to attempt of reduce the Khmer
power by enemy during they occupied Cambodia between 1352 to 1432.
On the walls (niches)
of the entry tower decorated with very beautiful motifs. Among of those
intricate carving in this section, the Apsaras are the most highlight and
interesting motifs, they carved it all over temple complex there are
approximately 1800, The artisan carved in to many different designed like headdresses
belts and others , By the way, the Apsaras style in Angkor Wat are so easily to
tell, since they are slim with sexy big breasts, their diadem with a tall
pointed shape towers, some headdresses are intricate civilized design and
wearing very thin skirt till we see the shape of their long legs, and an
addition their feet putting to the side rather than putting in a natural
position.
The causeway is leading
to the main temple sanctuary is known as the second causeway for Angkor Wat
temple, it is measuring of 350m long from the entrance to the main temple
building. The naga balustrades are flanking on the both side are still good
condition. That is why we can see them always long. These balustrades had been
already knocked over one time when Siamese occupied Angkor in the 14th -15th century,
but French in the Angkor Conservation fixed back.
By the way, you can
view only three towers appearing from the main temple sanctuary, while they
designed in total with five towers. The reason for that, since two more towers
are at the back row hidden behind with the two at the front row. The three towers
that we are viewing the one in the middle is not appearing inrow, it’s actually
stands at the back further about at least 30m from the two on the side. As you
know the Angkor Wat is an architectural masterpiece built so perfect in a good
harmonious proportion and balance, that is why it is so gorgeous.
Angkor Wat occupies
with 80 hectares land area, which about 250 acre. In 250 acre of the Angkor Wat
compound, originally was a beautiful garden; never had any resident for the
people liked Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan at all.
Two buildings located
along the causeway between entrance and main structure, were libraries. It must
appear in pair. Because when the people came to worship, they had to pray and
learn the theory of the temple before they inter to the shrines. The function
of two libraries is one the right for using during the full moon time, while
another one on the left for using during the new moon time.
As the same as all
Khmer temple-mountain, Angkor Wat temple designed with three levels with its
65m height. The first level of Angkor Wat known as the gallery of teaching or
the gallery of the bas-reliefs. This level has its structure measure of 180m by
250m. Also represented to the underworld of the universe. The second level
known as the gallery of meditation. In addition, represent to the world. While
the third level is represent to paradises and to serve as a place for the king
and royalty and high priests came to worship to god Vishnu. Not allow the
public came to this level. The public had their own spot for their religious
activities at the second level.
About the bas-reliefs
in this part of the temple are mostly depictions the Hindu myths. As this
section of the Angkor Wat temple served as the gallery of teaching, that is why
they carved the story-relief about 2000sqm. This 2000sqm story-relief carved so
fine and so complicated one. When temple itself open to the pilgrims for twice
a month (based on full moon, and new moon time), the Hindu followers must walk
after the Brahmins in order to learn the religious myths at these galleries
before they move to the second level for their meditation or for their
religious activities. Otherwise, all the doors would close. Originally, in
each doorway of the Angkor Wat temple used to have a wooden door to close and
open, and used to have wooden ceiling on the roof as well. Some original wooden
door beams remained, as a part to prove its wooden doors.
(W-N) its
bas-reliefs depicting a popular Hindu myth under the subject of Ramayana.
Ramayana was an epic of Hinduism which promoted Rama as its hero, and who was a
number seven of Vishnu's incarnation. His role was to preserve the Hindu
teachings from the demon king Ravana. Because Ravana was jealous the teachings
of Hindu. According to the myth, Ravana a demon king who ruled in Lanka
and who wanted to kidnap Sita the Rama's wife. Since negotiation to release
Sita from Lanka, Rama sent monkey troops to invade Lanka for liberation his
wife, and as a part to remove Ravana from the destruction of Hindu teachings as
well.
(W-S) its
relief depicting another Hindu epic under the subject of Mahabaratta.
Mahabaratta was an old myth, written by Indian Brahmins for about 4000 years
before Christ. This mythology is a very long and very complicated one like
Ramayana as well. But Mahabaratta took Krisna as a hero of its mythology.
According to the myth, Krisna was the eighth Vishnu's reincarnation. He came to
the earth at an area located near New Dehli known as Kurushatra for removing
the tyrants away from this area. Therefore, the role of Krisna promoted the
good virtues and fight against the tyrants, restore the peace and the mercy for
the innocence people on earth.
(S-W) gallery
of Angkor Wat has its bas-reliefs depicting the real history of king
Suryavarman II, his wives, his Brahmins, his astrologists, his courts, his
army, his attendants and his concubines so on. The purpose of making these
carvings because the king wished to tell people in the next generation to know
and to understand how advanced progress of the country at that time and how
energy powers of his army under his leadership as the king himself embodying
divine powers of the god (Lord Visnu) in his period.
There are group of
Brahmins processing along side with the soldiers as well. In the relief, we see
a Brahmin’s chief who also served as the king’s spiritual Guru and the king’s
astrologer is being carried in a hammock and whom also carrying a holy text
book in his hands, while at the front of him there is an another group of
Brahmins being carried the Agni’s secred shrine. To have this kind of shrine is
for arranging a holy ceremony for making the soldiers got good luck in the
battle field, because the sacred flame ritual ceremony were believed as a holy
spiritual at that time.
The damage scars on the
wall of this panel, happening by the artillery shrapnel fired by Lon Nol
soldiers in 1972. There were three artillery shells hit Angkor Wat compound at
that time. Because Angkor Wat was taken to control by Viet Kong and Khmer Rouge
as their heavens during the war 1970-1975, when Pol Pot struggled to get power
from General Lon Nol.
At the front row of the
army matching, there is a group of Siamese, the mercenary soldiers. We can tell
them by their uniform are much different from the Khmers, an addition their behavior
are a little bit disorganized, not as good discipline. While the Khmer soldiers
who walking behind the Siamese are so organized and good discipline troops.
Siamese was living within the territory of the Khmer Empire.
In the relief of this
panel, we see there are excellent carving of trees at the background as well.
Those tree images are so beautiful carved. To have trees in the relief at the
background is meaning the soldiers are matching across the jungle to
Diet Viet border, which located near Hanoi today.
(S-E) has
its relief depicting the life in the 36 heavens and the life of 32 hells. In
the reliefs saying that, the life in the heavens are so happy and
people who living there were so dedicated of the Dharma. They are living in the
floating castles in the sky, their castles also are holding, supporting, and
guarding by Garudas and Kalahas (flying lion). They do not worry
about suffering and illness at all, because they have received fortunes and
merits from their good Dharma of their dedication in their previous life or
their incarnations, as they had never been doing any bad Kharma against the
religion, or did a crime, or made any violence to anyone. Their life are so
gorgeous, even they do not concern how to find foods to fill up their stomachs.
When they feel hungry, they just smell adivine flower, and they do know the
time to die. Heavens are not liked the Nirvana or Mt. Meru, they are still
died, but they know the time to go.
But at the below tiers,
the relief are showing us with completely different life. We can
see, the men and women are so skinny and suffering. Those people are the
prisoners and getting a punish in the hells. That is why the relief depicting
so terrific and so scare on us.They are the sinners by doing very bad things in
their life when they had born on earth. They were the kind of persons doing a
bad Kharma and when they died, Yama God of Judge sent them to
the hells, for punishment, for making torture and for treat them badly
back due to their sin commitments as they did when they reincarnated in the
earth before they came to hells.
The bas-reliefs
depicted the 36 different ways of tortures to the sinners in the hells scenes ,
the demands punish them depending on their sins or their fates from their
previous life. Those include people who deal with abortion, commitadultery,
commit suicide, cheating money from someone, treating animals badly, abusing
parents, insulting monks, priests, nun and elders, the stingy men, the murder,
raping woman, temples vandalism, gossiping people and do a toilet to the
religious monuments so on.
In the middle of this
panel, we can see Yama Lord of Judge riding on Water Buffalo and appearing with
18 arms. In each arm of Lord Yama carrying justice stick. A justice stick is
using for an order to his assistants to act a punishment to a new sinner who
just had arrived in his palace. That is why at down below of Yama's vehicle
water buffalo we see there are many his assistants sitting quietly for waiting
the orders from Lord Yama.
If you move further
east from Yama, then you will see many prisoners or sinners are being through
down to the hells after Yama and his assistants find out their sins and their
flaws, after that they get no mercy and terrible tortures by Yama’s assistants.
The half of this panel
structure to the east had collapsed in 1930. That is the reason to see the
relief are not good condition, causing them broken apart and getting the scar
of cement binding between the pieces of each stone block. But the French
experts and the local workers did an excellent jobs for the restoration works.
it completed by the Angkor Conservatory Department in 1940, The reason for
causing this structure collapsed because the wall of this panel was leaning not
standing up straight.
After the restoration,
they decided to build a concrete ceiling on the roof. This ceiling had copied
from its original one which made by mahogany woods. To have the concrete
ceiling is very good idea, because it helps to reinforce the structure of this
gallery stronger, and also to show how its original ceiling liked.
We continue to see the
relief at the eastern corner of this panel further on. The relief is showing us
to the terrible tortures over the four men, each man is getting nailing all
over their bodies, and hanging very heavy weight of pieces of the rock at the
legs, these tortures looks so painful, because those men had been cheating
money from someone. Next to these men there are group of midwives and pregnant
women who deal with the abortion, then the punishment is burning them alive.
When we visited these scenes in the hells, sometimes, made some people imagined
to the prisons in the Pol Pot regime, especially in Toul Sleng or S-21, that in
this prison the Khmer Rouge soldiers did crime violence to the
innocent people looked like the relief in the hells scene as well.
( E S ) The
gallery bas-relief of Angkor Wat is depicting the very famous Hindu’s mythology
. This myth is known as of the Churning of the Sea of the Milk.
This story is to promote Vishnu's reincarnation"Kurma Turtle". Kurma
or Turtle was the second reincarnation of Vishnu ,the gods and demon were
joining together for churning the ocean the sea of milk the main purpose to get
the elixir of immortality, Devas and Asuras were churning the sea of milk for
thousands and thousands years , now both teams were enjoyed to obtain the
treasures include precious stones, Apsaras, Aravata the horses with many heads,
the sacred elephant and most important treasure of elixir of immortality .
( E-N ) This
gallery which depicting the war scene of the Hindu epic. The subject of this
story is "The Victory of Vishnu over Demons". In the relief, we can
see Lord Vishnu is leading his army from the north to south. While his enemy
Demon soldiers are marching south to north. Both teams are confronted to each
other in the middle scene of the panel.
We can tell Lord Vishnu
who is always riding on the Garuda, and he was so often appearing with four
arms, which in each arm holds Conch Shell, Ball, Disc and a Sword or Club or
Lotus. In Khmer art, Lord Vishnu mentioned as a young and good-looking man. He
was very strong, and he likes to teach his enemy with abad lesson, but he is so
gentle with the innocence people because he promoted the virtue into the
universe.
We notice that the
relief in this panel is so attractive, not so fine sculptures, because the
relief of the E-N gallery was carved in the 16th century by king Ang Chan. King
Suryavarman II did not have time to complete the relief in this gallery. The
reason for that, it was probably king Suryavarman II himself had died or
otherwise his master of architect died.
In this paragraph I am
very please to add some history of the king who was completed the E-N gallery ,
King Ang Chan was considering as great king of Cambodian in the middle era for
Cambodia history. He liberated Cambodia from Sdach Kanand found a powerful
capital city of Lovek. He made a series war to fight against Siamese, and Laos.
The victory over Laos under his reign that is why there are Laotians now living
in Cambodia at Monkol Borei.
He saw Angkor Wat
temple by an accident when he came to hunt wild elephants for training them
into the domestic one. He was a king who so skillful with elephant hunter.
Since he saw the temples in Angkor, he decided to stay at Angkor for a while in
order to help for restoration the temple structures.
During his stay in
Angkor, the king took some restoration works at Angkor Wat temple, he cleared
the forest away from the temple structures, he installed many Buddha statues at
the ancient Hindu temples, especially he installed hundreds of Buddha statues
in Angkor Wat where has known today as "Thousands Buddha Hall". Then
King Ang Chan ordered the artisans to carve the story relief in Hindu beliefs
for the two galleries in Angkor Wat temple, however king himself was a very Buddhist
one.
Ang Chan was a
brilliant monarch of the Khmer in the middle era for Cambodian history, after
he died his two sons took Cambodian throne, but Cambodia went down into a civil
war and getting bad decline.
The gallery of ( N-E ) has
its relief which still depicting the Hindu myth. Despite, this relief carved
under the reign of King Ang Chan in the 16th century. The relief of this panel
is the same styleas the relief in the panel of E-N as well. Because done by
King Ang Chan while King Suryavarman II did not complete the relief in gallery.
The subject of this
myth is "Victory of Lord Vishnu over Demon King Bana". The story
starts from the east corner of the panel, where at the beginning (eastern
corner side) you see a garuda is putting off the fire, because he had got this
order from his boss Lord Vishnu.
Then you see Agni God
of Fire riding on a rhino that is manifesting to create fire in order to stop
Lord Vishnu and his army from being chased Bana king of demon and his men. Agni
was doing this action because Lord Shiva ordered him to do. Since Lord Shiva
promised to protect Bana and his men from Lord Vishnu.
Finally, Garuda was
able to convince Agni. That is why we see Lord Vishnu riding on Garuda who
appearing with many arms in an action of chasing Bana and his men. Lord Vishnu
is appearing several times in an action of a ride on the shoulders of Garuda
and appearing with many arms as well
At the middle part of
the panel, we see Bana king of demon is confronting with Lord Vishnu. Bana who
is appearing on a chariot which pulling by tigers and whom is appearing so many
arms and facing east. While Lord Vishnu himself is riding on his Garuda and
appearing just with four arms and who is facing to the west.
The end (to the west
corner ) of the scene, we see Lord Shiva who has a long beard and who is
sitting in his palace in Kalasa with his two sons Kanesa and Skanda and also
Agni who carrying an axe in his hand. Then you see Bana who has many faces and
many arms and who is praying to Shiva and behind Bana is Lord Vishnu and his
Garuda also appeared in this scene as well.
Shiva said to Lord
Visnu that "Oh! Your Gracious Lord, I am so happy and so encouraged from
you that you forgiven to Bana. Now Bana is not our enemy any more, but he is
the one of our side and he will retire and will go to meditate in Himalaya to
subject himself into apath of a right virtue. We cannot claim his life while
someone has been confessed and trying hard to build up himself in a good Dharma
to the future."
Vishnu gave wishes to
Bana for his life as an ascetic successfully and then he moved away to his
realm with his garuda. Then Lord Shiva granted a holy trident to Bana as the
gift. At down below of the scene, there are ascetics meditating incaves.
The war end and Lord
Vishnu moved to relax "Cosmic Sleep" on a Naga in the
ocean of milk with his consort Laksmei doing massage at his legs for him. But
the Lord will return for his mission again when the worlds facing a problems
from the evil spirits.
The N-W gallery has
its relief, which depicted the Hindu mythology as well. This relief is the
original relief, which carved in the 12th century since the temple built. As it
was the relief carved in the original period that is why we can see its relief
are so fine and very completed one.
This relief story has
its subject of " The Battle between 21 Gods to Demons". According to
the myth, it was almost the time that Lord Brahma the Creator almost woke up
from his sleep for about 14 million years of human. Also to make the universe
before Lord Shiva destroyed are enjoyed with the good virtues and also to make
sure all of the life dedicated to Dharma, in order to allow Lord Brahma created
the worlds full of joys to the new creature being who supposed to control their
new worlds without evil combination in their fates.
That is why, Mt Meru
sent 21 Hindu Gods who we can tell some depending on their animals which they
riding on to declare a war against Asuras. Because Asuras were so evil spirits
which could be so dangerous to a new creation of Lord Brahma.
Those Gods can tell
liked Vishnu on Garuda, Brahma on Sacred goose, Shiva on Bull Nandin, Indra on
three headed elephant Aratawata, Surya on a chariot pulling by the horses,
Kobura riding on the Ghost, Viruna riding on Naga so on.
The Hindu Gods and
their army marching from east to west, and they are wearing aconical shape
headdress, while their enemy Asura marching from west to the eastand their army
wearing a flat shape headdress.
There are colored on
the relief of this panel as well. This color was painting mostly by the
Buddhist monks who living in Angkor Wat as their monastery. Since
the capital city of Angkor abandoned to Phnom Penh after the Thais sacked. We
have learned that they painted in golden color or put gold leaves on the most
important images, otherwise they just pained with red color. Red color made
from the tree bark fixed with the red soil clay so on.
So called "One
Thousand Buddha Hall" is a building located between the first level
gallery to the second level gallery building. The One Thousand Buddha
Hall is also located in
the middle point of whole Angkor Wat compound . Buddha statues are in this
hall, had installed in the 15th to the 19th century. Then Angkor Wat became as
Buddhist temple from Hindu temple. The reason for that, when the royal court
abandoned the Angkor city to some areas near to Phnom Penh today in the 15th
century. Then the Buddhist monks came to live in the Angkor Wat until the
French suggested them to move in 1910.
An addition, the word
"Wat" was coming behind the word "Angkor" since the time
that Angkor Wat became the Buddhist temple, because "Wat" is meaning
the Buddhist monastery. In Khmer Rouge Regime, about 60% of the
Buddha statues had been removed away, and the rest about 40% in 1985 government
moved to preserve in the national Museum in Phnom Penh. Otherwise, there were
full of five rows of Buddha statues in these halls. That is why the reason
people called this place of Angkor Wat as "One Thousand Buddha Hall".
Inscriptions carved on
the pillars in these halls, are mentioned about the group of pilgrims brought
their statues to install in these halls during the 15th to 19th century only,
not come from the 12th century.
In this place, also
have four pools. One of these pools located in each side between the cruciform
gallery buildings. When you are standing in the middle point of the cruciform
galleries, you will be so surprised to see its perfect lines running up to four
direction of the temple. In addition, this point considered as the center point
of the universe as well. It is good to concentrate in this center point for
seconds in order to absorb the energy power, which will come from the four
direction of the universe. Sometimes, you can feel the energy power.
Those four pools of One
Thousand Buddha Hall had been used for cleansing and for purification with the
holy water for the pilgrims before they moved up themselves to meditate at the
second level galleries. The pilgrims had to know their element sign first, so
that they could use those pools for washing their sin, because in each pool
represented to different element, which include the earth, water, air and fire
element.
if we keep moving
straight , In this section also has an "Echo Chamber". Local people
believed that when you go in this chamber and lean your back against the wall,
then use your right hand beats to heart for seven times then they believed the
"worries or tensions will be gone".
The third level
structure of Angkor Wat was represented of Heavens, and where at that time was
served as a place for only king, royalty and high Brahmins use for their ritual
ceremony. Not for the common people, common people had their own spot at the
second level. The third level structure of Angkor Wat designed with square
shape and there are twelve stairways for going to the top.
The twelve stairways at
the third level of Angkor Wat are represented the twelve year of the animal
zodiac. When the royalty and high Brahmins claimed to the top, they had to know
which stairway was good march with their astrology of the animal zodiac. To
know which stairway to go up, they had to count from the king animal zodiac
year at the central stairway and move to the stairway on their right hand side
until the stair which standing for their year was, then they climbed to meet
the Gods. You cannot just climb without to follow the rule of the temple or the
astrological concept. Otherwise, it would not have any meaning in your life.
To reach up there, you
will have the four pools as the same as the Hall of the Thousand Buddha as
well. These pools are located surrounding the central tower, and had used as
the sane purpose as the pools at the down stair too. At the central tower used
to install a golden statue of Vishnu in an action of riding on Garuda's
shoulders. But so far this holy statue had stolen for a long time ago. Today,
where the golden statue of Vishnu was now has a deep hole about four meters.
The hole was digging by French in 1935. To dig the hole in the central tower,
because French wanted to research the treasure and wanted to study the temple's
foundation as well.
French dug the central
tower's foundation for about 25 to 27 mm deep till reaching to the ground
level. At ground level French saw two pieces of big sandstone comes in a cross
shape. An addition, in the middle of cross shape sandstone, they found an
artifact of gold leave. This gold leave has a decoration with eight petals of
the lotus flower. French took this artifact to preserve in Paris.
Also at the doors of
the central tower had closed by Buddhist monks at between the15th to 16th
centuries. Then they engraved Buddha statue on these doors. Thereas on they
closed these doors because at the central most chamber where was the place for
golden Vishnu comprising so many bats living and dropping theurine and dang,
that causing not good for them to worship. That is why they to close and made
Buddha statues so that they just prayed from outside. The third level section
of the Angkor Wat is getting damage more than any parts of Angkor Wat.
Especially its stones are getting worn away, since in this area used to have
millions bats living and their dropping are so bad acidic.
For those who have
plenty of time, suggested to come to the third level of Angkor Wat, is a very
nice one. To have a sit at a quiet doorway and facing to ever green densely
jungle, then imagine to an excellent inspiration of the Khmers who created such
a fabulous architecture on earth. In addition, imagine how powerful to the
Khmers who could carry stones from dozens kilometers away in order to build
such a wonderful temple on planet. One more thing, to make us feel so
mysterious and so magic to the Khmer Kings who left for us such a considerable
value legacy which now here on earth can compare. Then when the sunset
time, this masterpiece building turns to a gold color, then
making our heart bloom of proud for being as a Khmer.
Reference www.kimsoryar.com