Ta Prohm Temple & Dinosaur

Known today as Ta Prohm or "Old Brahma", this monument was initially named "Rajavihara" meaning "royal monastery". In 1186 AD, Jayavarman VII consecrated several statues here, the most important of which was that of Prajnaparamita, the personification of the Perfection of Wisdom, a figure whom the King identified with his mother. Reflecting without doubt a religious ideology, it is only some years later that the King dedicated another temple, Preah Khan, to his father whom he identified with Lokesvara. On an official level, this is clearly in the religious context of Buddhism of the Great Vehicle and, more specifically, in the context of a Khmer Buddhist atmosphere characteristic to Jayavarman VII's reign. One must be wary of too quick understanding. The word vihara in its original use, for example, should not be understood with the Theravadin eye of the modern era. On the other hand, all things considered, the one kilometer by seven hundred meters area delimited by the exterior enclosing wall can perhaps be regarded somewhat as a Vat (the modern Buddhist monastery). Within the walls, many people of diverse capacities made up as cult. 

Ordinarily, the visitor approaches the monument from the west, that is, they approach the heart of the complex. However, one must not forget that the ritual entrance was to the east.

Dinosaur 

Another Dinosaur was found recently at Ta Prohm temple.

Vat Phou, in Laos

The religious complex of Vat Phou, a combination of Khmer architecture and Hindu religion, is located at the foot of a hill. 

The summit, the Phou Kao, immediately attracts one's attention because of its shape, identified in ancient times as the linga, the phallic symbol of Shiva, from which its ancient name, Lingaparvata, originated, and its reputation as a sacred hill. 

The permanent spring, at the foot of the cliffs, is probably one of the main reasons that prompted the ancient rulers of the area to establish a Shivaist sanctuary there. 

Some inscriptions belonging to the fifth and sixth century AD do mention a sanctuary built on the hill, together with the foundation of the city, but this building has disappeared and was replaced by the religious complex that we see today. This complex was built during the first part of the 11th century, with some additions and reconstructions in the 12th and 13th centuries. The complex, built along and east-west axis, extends 1.4 km up the slope, starting from the plain and ending about 100m above it. Coming east from the plain, two large barays are seen, artificial lakes of religious and practical use (they represent the ocean surrounding the earth and also serve as a reservoir).

 

The Terrace of The Leper King

The Terrace of the Leper King was built in the late 12th Century under the reign of King Jayavarman VII. This construction was to serve as a cremation for the funeral ceremony of the only royal family, the high Brahmins the dignitary family so on, not for the ordinary people. The location of this terrace is next to the north of the Elephant Terrace. In 1960, the French took to restore this structure. During the restoration they excavated into its foundation, and then the French found another wall (second inner wall) with beautiful caving in the ground that they had never expected. 

Besides, the inner wall, the French also found human bones, charcoal, and fragment pieces of wooden pole (pole to hold the flags) during their works as well. However, the name of the Leper King came after a statue on the top of its building. According to the local people, they referred to this statue as a person had leprosy. Because this statue is naked position, has long hair and mustard, and even his fingers, his toes, and his earlobe have been broken off, then making the local people think these problems caused by the leprosy suffer him. However, the French did not believe this statue was a person who suffered from leprosy, they believed this statue should be the god Yama who took care of Death, due to this structure serving as a crematorium. On the other hand, the original statue of the Leper King was moved to be kept in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. Thus, the statue we are seeing just a reproduction only. 

To have two walls (outer and inner) in the Terrace of the Leper King symbolize two worlds, the world of Deva (good man) and the world of Asura (bad man). Because the concept of Khmer architecture adopted the idea that the universe comprises a lot of worlds, that means this terrace complex represents the universe complex. As it's represented to the universe contains many worlds, that's why in the reliefs of this terrace, there is the ocean's life like fish, crocodiles, turtles, snakes, and craps so on, including the human caving depicted in the outer wall are represented to the happy life in the seven havens of Deva (Gods), while in the inner wall has its caving depicting the life of the Demon' worlds combination with the Naga's worlds at the bottom as well.

 

Ta Som Temple

Ta Som: the "Ancestor Som"

Location: east of Neak Pean temple 

Date: Early 13th century 

King: Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181-1220) 

Religion: Buddhist (dedicated to the father of the king) 

Art style: Bayon 

Ta Som Temple is located east of Neak Pean Temple. It was built in the early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII, and dedicated to his father. A significant feature of Ta Som is the growth of a huge ficus tree on the east gopura, which provides a dramatic example of nature and art entwined. 

Ta Som is a single shrine on one level surrounded by three laterite enclosure walls. There are gopuras on the east and west sides, which are cruciform in shape with a small room on each side and windows with balusters. The superstructures are carved with four faces.