Phnom Ba Kheng7 temple was built on a national hill. Commonly referred to as temple-mountain because it is an earthly facsimile of Mount Meru, it is located on the left side of the road from with Angkor Wat to Angkor Thom and attracts scores of tourists who come to watch the sunset or sunrise. The temple was cut from the rock that formed the natural centuries, during the reign of King Yasovarman I8 (AD 889-910), dedicating to Shiva Brahmanism. Phnom Ba Kheng is 65 meters high and temple has 109 towers. Phnom Ba Kheng temple was a replica of Moun Meru and the number of towers suggests a cosmic symbolism. The seven levels––ground , five tiers, upper terrace––of the monument represent the seven heavens of Indra in Brahmanism mythology.
The temple must have been a spectacular site in its entirety because originally 108 towers were evenly spaced around the tiers with yet another one, the central sanctuary, at the apex of them all. Today, however, most of these towers have collapsed . besides the central sanctuary, there were 4 towers on the upper terrace, 12 on each of the five levels of the platform, another 44 towers around the 12-years cycle of the animals zodiac. It is also possible that the numerology of the 108 towers symbolizes the 4 lunar phase with the 24 days in each phase. The arrangement allows for only 33 of the tower to be seen from each side, a figure that corresponds with the number of Brahmanism deities.
At the top of the hill, Phnom Ba Kheng is set on a tiered platform of five levels. There are stairways of a very steep gradient on all four sides. Seated lions flank the step at each of the five levels. The complex is surrounded by a laterite rampart with gopura. beyond there is a small two lingams. A modern footprint of the Buddha is in the west on either side of the part.
At the top most platform of 76 meters square and 13 meters high, five tower are arranged in quincunx. The central tower once contained the lingam to which the temple was dedicated. It opens to all our cardinal points. The remaining our sanctuaries also sheltered lingams on pedestals and open on two sides. The central sanctuaries is decorate with female divinities set in inches at the corner of the temple which have delicately carved bands of foliage above, the pilasters are finely worked and have raised interlacing of figurines. The makaras on the tympanums are lively and strongly executed. The decoration above the door is well-preserved showing a panel of foliated cusp with side of the north door of the central sanctuary.
According to an inscription on the temple, Phnom Ba Kheng was the center of the city of Yasodharapura. This fact was verified in the late 9th century with the discovery of and old rampart. This temple is originally called yasodharakiri9. later it was known as Phnom Kandal10. It might have been called Phnom Kandal because it was built in the center of the city Yasodharapura or because it is between Phnom Bok and Phnom Krom. Today, visitors refer to the temple as Phnom Ba Kheng. This name was found on an inscription in the temple in 16th century.
According to an inscription on the temple, Phnom Ba Kheng was the center of the city of Yasodharapura. This fact was verified in the late 9th century with the discovery of and old rampart. This temple is originally called yasodharakiri9. later it was known as Phnom Kandal10. It might have been called Phnom Kandal because it was built in the center of the city Yasodharapura or because it is between Phnom Bok and Phnom Krom. Today, visitors refer to the temple as Phnom Ba Kheng. This name was found on an inscription in the temple in 16th century.
Comments
Post a Comment