Angkor wat - "The largest religious structure in the World"

Angkor WatThe largest religious structure in the World, a Hindu temple revered by Buddhists!

Angkor Wat, is a Hindu temple in Cambodia

that spreads over 400 hectares, and rises up to

700 feet,

in height; its incredibly huge scale makes it the

world's largest religious structure.

Picture Credits: http://www.pragueangkor.com/

A UNESCO world heritage site,

interestingly, it is sacred to both,

Hindus and Theravada Buddhists alike...

surprising?

Read on to know HOW and WHY?

Established by King Suryavarman II as a Hindu

temple, Angkor Wat, after him,

underwent a series of metamorphosis—changes

that impacted the architecture as much

as the spiritual character of the temple.

Shiva, Vishnu, Devas & Asuras, Avalokiteswara,

Theravada Buddhism, all come together here,

inextricably and organically, to give this temple

its rare religious character, that has no parallel

elsewhere.

Picture Credits: vivevivir.files.wordpress.com

The seamless intertwining that took

place for centuries, between Hinduism and

Buddhism, spiritually and architecturally, make

this temple sacred to both Hindus and

Theravada Buddhists. More earthly reasons for

the temple's fame -- The engineering marvel

that Angkor Wat is...

Picture Credits: travelingCanucks.com

Find out! Why it is so

special?

The five towers of Angkor Wat represent the

five peaks of Mount Meru, the home of God

Vishnu,

and like many other elements within the whole

temple complex, are distinctly Hindu in

character.

Yet all over the complex there are also ample

examples of Khmer influence, making this

temple a very rare, and perhaps the only one of

its kind---a brilliant example of Kalinga-Khmer

architectural synthesis.

Picture Credits: http://indochinaleisure.com/

It is customary for Hindu temples to be built

facing the east, the auspicious direction for the

Hindus,

Angkor Wat, however breaks away from the

tradition and faces west, the direction of the

setting sun.

Picture Credits: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/

Have you seen the famous

Angkor Wat ground plan?

The ground plan of the Angkor complex mirrors

the stars in the constellation of Draco at the

time of the spring equinox in 10,500 BC.

It presents a striking aerial view and is a

beautiful layout that brings in every element of

the temple complex, into its clear geometrical

framework---

it is also one of the most readily and widely

recognized temple layouts in the world.

Picture Credits: http://bopha.files.wordpress.com/

The largest religious structure in the world,

Angkor Wat, was estimated to have taken about

300,000 million tonnes of sandstone and

laterite and over 35 years to be built.

Picture Credits: Wikipedia

The temple's appeal though, stems from more

than just this brick and mortar fact— it is an

awe inspiring religious edifice and a great

spiritual experience... and there is actually much

more to the temple, than what can be put

down in a presentation...

Picture Credits:

http://static8.therichestimages.com/

Planning a visit...?

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