Visiting the Bayon Temple with its giant omnipresent faces, gently gazing down on us, was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of our trip to Cambodia. There are still well over 100 remaining faces. Originally, there used be around 216. Just the sheer scale of these multi-faced towers is humbling, providing a larger perspective of life, history, the universe, and the tiny specks of dust that we are, in all of this infinite…timeline.
Though the temple has gone back and forth between being a sacred place dedicated to Buddhism (Mahayana to Theravada), or to Hinduism (Vishnu and/or Shiva), it has been concluded and generally accepted that the towers represent the face of Lokesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. This gender-ambiguous bodhisattva is portrayed in different cultures as either female (as Kuan Yin) or male, pushing us again, to expand our minds and concepts. Whether the temple is Hindu or Buddhist it does not really matter, the ultimate message of both paths is to develop love and compassion for self, our planet, and all people.
In The Heart Center
Architecturally, the temple is late 12th century Khmer. However, unlike most classic Khmer style temples of the time, like Angkor Wat, Bayon is neither surrounded by a moat or a wall. Built 100 years after Ankor Wat, by Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, Bayon Temple is at the heart center of Angkor Thom—The Great City. It is thought that since the temple is in the middle of the city, it is already protected by the great moat and wall that encloses Angkor Thom.
Portion of a Cambodian Tourism map showing layout of temples
Roaming The Ruins
Walking around these spectacular ruins, being able to actually clamber around and check things out up close and personal is kinda mind-blowing really. But, in being able to actually interact with something so monumental, from an ancient civilization, literally puts you in touch with the history and culture of this fantastical place. I’m sure I’m not the only one who walked around wondering what it would have been like to stumble upon this magical place when it was all covered up by jungle. That fantasy would land me somewhere in time after 1218, when King Jayavarman VII died, leaving Ankor Thom in a state of decline and disrepair. The first major restoration happened around 1866 by a French Expedition following up on French explorer and memoirist, Henri Mouhot ‘s amazing “discovery” of Ankor!
Enough history and background, let’s take a walk around and see for ourselves what it’s like now!
Slideshow – Swipe and take a look around with us
Slideshow – Swipe and take a look at Bas Relief & Carvings
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