Religion

The Religious History of Angkor

Angkor Wat, initially constructed under King Suryavarman II (circa 1113-1150 AD) as a Hindu temple, reflects significant religious transformations over the centuries, mirroring shifts in the Khmer Empire's theological landscape. It began as a Vaishnav temple venerating Vishnu, known for his role as the protector and preserver of the universe, emphasizing qualities of mercy and goodness. Eventually, Angkor Wat transitioned into a Mahayana Buddhist site, where the focus expanded to universal salvation and the compassionate deeds of Bodhisattvas, contrasting with the more individualistic salvation goals in earlier Hindu practices. This progression illustrates the dynamic and syncretic nature of religious practice in ancient Southeast Asia. This part of the website takes you through Angkor Wat's religious development from a Hindu sanctuary to a Mahayana Buddhist shrine.

The Hindu Practices

Angkor Wat, when initially built, was designed to represent Mount Meru, the mythical and consecrated home of the Hindu gods, and to serve as the cosmic axis of the universe. Hindu influence engulfed the temple, with elaborate carvings and bas-reliefs that depicted Hindu myths and legends, such as the Battle of the Gods and Demons and the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Within Angkor Wat, Hindu practices and rituals took on various forms of religious worship. Primarily, Hindu devotees honored Vishnu by offering flowers, incense, fruits, animals, and prayers. Furthermore, individuals engaged in bathing rituals, taking ceremonial baths in the temple’s sacred pools such as the surrounding moats, which symbolize the ocean engulfing Mount Meru. Within the temple, Hindu priests and practitioners polished the temple’s deity of Vishnu with substances like milk, honey, and ghee, and then dressed the statue with embroidered jewels and diamonds. Finally, the intricate carvings and architectural details within the temple represent educational tools that allowed Hindu teachings to be passed down for generations.

The Transition

However, in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, Angkor Wat underwent a religious transformation from Hinduism to Buddhism under King Jayarvarman VII, who converted from Vaishnavism to Mahayana Buddhism. After his victory in protecting the temple from Cham invaders, Jayarvarman VII assumed the role as king of the Khmer Empire. Within his new role as king, Jayarvarman VII became a bodhisattva, an enlightened being who postpones his nirvana to instead help others in their own paths of enlightenment. Early on in his reign, he promoted Mahyana Buddhism as the new and profound state religion and built many Buddhist temples and sculptures, including the Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, and the Bayon.

The Impact of the Transition

This religious transformation had an unprecedented impact on the Khmer Empire and the daily life within Angkor Wat itself. The temple became modified to accommodate Buddhist worship and iconography, such as the addition of statues like the Buddha seated on the naga, elucidating the protection of the deity by the serpent. Moreover, the temple lost its status as the designated state temple and center of religious life within the kingdom, as King Jayavarman VII relocated the capital to Angkor Thom and the state temple to Bayon. Moreover, Angkor Wat began to face competition from other Buddhist monasteries built in a close proximity, such as Ta Prohm and Preah Khan, in which both were endowed by Jayavarman VII to serve religious and educational functions to the community of the Khmer people.

This religious development also had significant implications on the social and political classes of the Khmer people. The Hindu caste system, for instance, which divided society into a hierarchical manner based on occupation and birth, was replaced by a universal Buddhist system that emphasized moral righteousness and spiritual attainment. Meanwhile, the king’s authority, which originally was derived from his divine right as a manifestation of Vishnu, was promptly challenged by his claim to be a bodhisattva, which implied anyone could achieve enlightenment and reach the level of spiritual attainment of Jayarvarman VII.

The Buddhist Practices

Regarding Buddhist ritual practice within Angkor Wat, various statues and depictions of the Buddha were central to religious veneration. Similar to the offerings towards the Hindu god of Vishnu, Buddhist practitioners would also bring offerings of flowers and incense to the Buddha. Additionally, Buddhist traditions place a heightened emphasis on meditative practices, with individuals targeting the temple’s tranquil sites for spiritual insight and to seek inner peace. Furthermore, Buddhist scriptures would often be recited and chanted by devotees in the inner sanctuaries of the temple in order to honor and invoke the blessings of the three jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Finally, occurring throughout history and into the modern day, Angkor Wat represents a significant source of Buddhist pilgrimage.

Prevailing Buddhism

Despite the lingering Hindu influences at Angkor Wat, the site remains predominantly under Buddhist control, a fact vividly illustrated during Visakha Bucha Day. Celebrated this year on May 23rd, this day marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha, all of which are believed to have occurred on the same day. It is a profound occasion in Cambodia, where both locals and visitors can witness various Buddhist ceremonies that underscore the significant Buddhist presence at Angkor Wat. Throughout the day, participants, including children and elders, engage in activities such as ordination of new monks and nuns, meditation sessions, and teachings of Buddhist precepts.

The rituals begin with the symbolic shaving of hair and include a procession of novices carrying gifts and robes, which culminates with their ordination and blessing by senior monks. Meditation, restricted meal times, and almsgiving on the last day all reflect Buddhism's emphasis on a disciplined, spiritual life. Such rituals demonstrate not just the family prestige involved with embracing monastic life, but also the long-standing contemporary Buddhist domination. The exposure of Buddhist rituals at Angkor Wat during such an important religious festival exemplifies the temple's current spiritual alignment.

Religious Syncretism
In The Modern Day

Despite its transition to Buddhism in the 12th and 13th centuries, several areas within Angkor Wat are still dedicated to Hindu ritual offerings. These spaces contain material objects such as bas-reliefs that idolize the walls, depicting scenes like Vishnu and the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Remaining Hindu spaces within Angkor Wat coexist with prevailing Buddhist structures and ritual spaces. Additionally, Angkor Wat remains a popular pilgrimage destination for both Buddhist practitioners and Hindu monks.

Today, the religious syncretism of Hinduism and Buddhism is still evident in the temple's remains, reflecting a blend of both traditions at Angkor Wat. One ritual which has encompassed both Hindu and Buddhist origins is the practice of circumambulation. Circumambulation is the process whereby practitioners move in a clockwise direction surrounding a sacred object or ritual site. While many practices are different amongst Hindu and Buddhist traditions, circumambulation, among others, represents the ongoing religious syncretism existing within Angkor Wat into the modern day.