The amazing Ta Prohm Cambodian Wat (vat) or temple in all it’s ancient glory is set to “La Mar”, world music and Latin jazz composed by Michael Pluznick and Joel Lindheimer. From the world jazz CD entitled, “Miles Dean”, available as a download on CD Baby.
Unlike most of the temples of Angkor, Ta Prom has been largely left to the clutches of the living jungle. With its dynamic interaction between nature and man-made art, this atmospheric temple is a favorite for many – who can’t help but feel a little like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft (which was filmed here) as they pick through the rubble.
Construction on Ta Prohm began in 1186 AD. Originally known as Rajavihara (Monastery of the King), Ta Prohm was dedicated to the mother of King Jayavarman VII.
A rare inscription at Ta Prohm provides statistics on the temple’s workers. Allowing for some exaggeration to honor the king, the inscription’s report of around 80,000 workersincluding 2700 officials and 615 dancers, is still astounding.
Sadly, Ta Prohm was looted quite heavily in recent years due to its relative isolation, and many of its ancient stone reliquaries have been lost.
Dating from the 12th century, Bayon Temple is the spectacular central temple of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. The complex is located just to the north of the famous Angkor WatBuilt around 1190 AD by King Jayavarman VII, Bayon is a Buddhist temple but it incorporates elements of Hindu cosmology. Angkor Thom was built as a square, the sides of which run exactly north to south and east to west. Standing in the exact center of the walled city, Bayon Temple represents the intersection of heaven and earth. Bayon is known for its huge stone faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, with one facing outward and keeping watch at each compass point. The curious smiling image, thought by many to be a portrait of Jayavarman himself, has been dubbed by some the “Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia.” There are 51 smaller towers surrounding Bayon, each with four faces of its own.
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angor Cambodia, built for the king Suryavaraman ll in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city.
A photo of the famous Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia
As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation—first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia appearing on its national flag and it is the country’s prime attraction for visitors.
A photo of the famous Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia
Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensivebas releifs and for the numerous guardian spirits adorning its walls.
The modern name, Angkor Wat, means “City Temple”; Angkor is a vernacular form of the word nokor which comes from the Urdu word nagara meaning capital.
Angkor Wat temple (wat or vat) in Cambodia
About Michael
Michael Pluznick is a studio musician and recording arts specialist. Read more about Michael.
