Tourist Attractions Temple in Siem Reap (Part 14) East Mebon Temple! (Part 1)
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We will lead you to enjoy the top places to visit in Cambodia, the nice view of Angkor Wat, and Tonle
Sap Lake, relaxing on the beautiful white sand at the beach of Sihanouk province, and other natural
waterfalls, and everywhere in Cambodia, then connect your tour to different Countries.
East Mebon how to
go: Location: Description: Also built in the 10th Century by Rajendravarman,
this temple was situated on a small island in the middle of the Oriental, or
Eastern, Baray. It has all the characteristics of the mountain temple but was
accessible by boat only. From the inscriptions found close to it, we know that
Rajendravarman dedicated it to his parents.
East Mebon is a
large temple-mountain-like ruin, rising three levels and crowned by five
towers. Jayavarman IV, a usurper to the throne, moved the capital from Angkor
to Koh Ker in 928 A.D. Sixteen years later Rajendravarman II returned the
capital to Angkor and shortly thereafter constructed East Mebon on an island in
the middle of the now dry Eastern Baray. The temple is dedicated to Shiva
in honor of the King’s parents. Inscriptions indicate that it was also built to
help reestablish the continuity of Kingship at Angkor in light of the
interruption that occurred when the seat of power had been moved to Koh Ker.
There seems to be some scholarly debate as to whether East
Mebon should be categorized as a temple-mountain. Inscriptions record
activity at the temple as early as 947 A.D, but East Mebon was not
consecrated until 952 A.D.
You need to use quite a
bit of imagination when visiting the East Mebon temple. It's not that
the temple is badly ruined. The imagination is needed to think of the temple as
it originally existed, as an island in the middle of a large artificial lake,
the Eastern Baray.
When it was built, around
952, the East Mebon must have been quite impressive. The pyramidal
structure consists of three concentric tiers crowned by five towers. It is a
typical motif of many Angkor temples, which seek to
represent Mount Meru, the location of the Hindu "heaven".
It must have been highly symbolic, rowing a boat across the lake to one of the
temple's four landings, then climbing up the tiers to pray at the shrines.
On arriving at the
temple, one of the first things you'll notice is the large elephants standing
at each corner of the lowest tier. The elephants are carved from a single block
of stone. Gateways in the center of each side lead up to the second and third
platforms.
It was realized during
the reign of Yasovarman towards the end of the 9th century and supplied by
waters from the Siem Reap River. This vast reservoir served to
regulate the flow of the river and to irrigate the surrounding plain, which is
today given over to rice fields. To judge by the laterite steps that surround
the small island of the Mebon, the original depth of water contained was
approximately three meters and its volume must have been some 40 million cubic
meters.
The Mebon has all the characteristics
of a “temple-mountain” symbolizing Mount Meru - here there is a
three-metre high central platform carrying the quincunx of towers. Originally
the Mebon temple stood on an island surrounded entirely by the waters of
the Eastern Baray - accessible only by boat. The centre of the Baray
was marked by this small island of 120 metres across on which the temple
stands. The main entry pavilion of the Royal Palace and the
Victory Gate of Angkor Thom were subsequently aligned along this axis.
Several inscriptions
found in the vicinity as well as the foundation stele - dated 952 (only nine
years before Pre Rup temple) describe the placing in the various sanctuaries of
the linga Sri Rajendresvara, of several gods - notably Shiva and Parvati
"in the likeness of the mother and the father" of King Rajendravarman
in addition to Vishnu with Brahma. Eight linga of the god in eight forms were
also placed in the eight small towers of the surrounding court. The Mebon
belongs to a group of temples consecrated to the memory of deified parents.
According
to an inscription, the walls were originally covered externally with a
lime-based plaster coating (as evident at Pre Rup temple) with the pitted
hammer marks in the brickwork to adhere the stucco onto the towers, the only
remaining evidence. Most lintels remain in place on this monument and are of
excellent craftsmanship. On the central tower to the east, Indra on a
three-headed elephant with flights of figures disgorged by makara, under a
small frieze of figures in meditation; to the west, Skanda the god of war on
his peacock with a line of figures holding lotus flowers; and to the south,
Shiva on the sacred bull Nandin.
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