The Brahmanical Sky at the Angkor Wat Part II (original) (raw)
Related papers
The Role of Astronomy at Angkor Wat
Indo Nordic Author's Collective, 2021
The Role of Astronomy at Angkor Wat Angkor is surrounded by a 200-m.-wide moat, crossed by a bridge on the west. At the end of the bridge is a 200-m. long entrance structure: three central towers flanked on the north and south by a long, pillared corridors that end in entrance gateways opening flat on the ground. An enclosing wall stretches from these gateways around the temple compound. How was it built with aid of astrology and astrology?
Brahmanical Skies over the Angkor Kingdoms
Indo Nordic Author's Collective, 2021
Khemer Kings called themselves DEVARAJA- God King. In that sense they took upon themselves the functions of both the Brahmins and Ksatriyas. Both terms connected to the Indus valley Civilizations and hinduism - fat away from Cambodia or Kambujdesh as it was called. Why and how this happened. fascinating study.
We use Varanasi, the paradigmatic holy city of India, as an illustration of the incorporation of visual astronomy into Hindu culture. In the city the Sun is honored in three ways: at morning worship, during pilgrimage, and as an icon in temples. Specific attributes of the Sun are symbolized by the Adityas, represented by fourteen temples which were destroyed during the years of Mughal occupation of the city after C.E./A.D. 1192. According to local tradition the locations of these temples remained in the communal memory of the city and are marked today by Sun disks, lotus-form stones or images of Surya that are set into the walls of houses or installed in shrines or temples. Many of the sites are included in pilgrimage routes of the city. With the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) we have mapped the positions of the Adityas and find that most lie along the sides of a triangle which surrounded the original center of the city. The major text that deals with Varanasi and its spiritual traditions, the Kashi Khanda, gives the myths, stories and rituals associated with each of the former Sun temples and reveal the significance of the Sun for inhabitants and pilgrims. The Sun is understood to be a caring and protective deity, providing relief from life’s ordinary problems such as skin disease, infertility, hunger and the problems of old age and death. The Kashi Khanda also includes references to probable observations of naked-eye sunspots, meteor showers, and the total solar eclipse of C.E./A.D. 1054.
Book Sacred Hindu Architecture and the TOPOLOGY of Angkor
CHAPTER I-Sacred Hindu Architecture- and the TOPOLOGY of Angkor p 4 CHAPTER II-Angkor Wat: A bridge to the past p 21 CHAPTER III-Fractals in Angkor p 43 CHAPTER IV- Shape of worship: The architectural philosophy behind the CHAPTER VI-Why is the ANGKOR Hindu temple of aerodynamic shape? P. 80 CHAPTER VII-THE GEOMETRY OF HINDU TEMPLE p 85 CHAPTER VIII Temple Construction p 110 CHAPTER IX-Agama Shastra and The Role in Temple Construction in India Today p 130 ANNEXURE-Temples in and near NAGPUR. Detailed Original Photographs by the author Dr Uday Dokras as a supplement the theme of the book page 151
Neither being (sat) nor non-being was as yet. What was concealed? And where? And in whose protection?…Who really knows? Who can declare it? Whence was it born, and whence came this creation? The devas (gods) were born later than this world's creation, so who knows from where it came into existence? None can know from where creation has arisen, and whether he has or has not produced it. He who surveys it in the highest heavens, He alone knows or perhaps He does not know."-Rig Veda 10. 129 Connecting the universal with the physical, Angkor Wat, as a moon temple, is a surrealist impression of the link between the individual and universal worlds. It is an artistic embodiment of the patterns of destiny; and the geometric and mathematical knowledge employed are a product of Vedic Astrology and Hindu Cosmology. The cultural significance of the monument cannot be understated. Angkor Wat is a prime example of traditional Khmer 12th century building techniques. It is the world's largest temple, a world heritage site and the best preserved Khmer temple in the Angkor complex. Arising from the dense jungle in Northwest Cambodia to touch the setting sun over a vast expanse, it is an awe-inspiring vision that captivates the viewer and prepares the mind for a transcendent experience. The complex layout was designed to mark the passing of time, as a place of pilgrimage, a path to purification, and a place to contemplate the meaning of life. It is an expression of grandeur which helped solidify Khmer cultural dominance over the area. Using the elements and natural order of life to mirror cosmic and societal ideologies, Angkor Wat`s design speaks to the original questions of our creation and place in the cosmos. From its very inception Angkor Wat was legendary. It was built in an estimated 37 years. Builders today estimate that by current standards, it would take almost 300 years to complete a project of this scale. The world heritage site was commissioned sometime between 1100 and 1150 CE, by King Suryavarman II (Shield of the Sun) of the Khmer Empire, after military victories that united neighboring areas. The immense 5 million tons of sandstone used, was quarried from one spot 25 miles away. Angkor Wat was built as the Khmer capital and lies 5.5 kilometres north Siem Reap. It was dedicated to the Hindu protector god Vishnu. Workers were brought in from the surrounding areas, and, as well combination of elephants, coir ropes, pulleys and bamboo scaffolding were used to ensure the temple would be completed in record time. The monument and surrounding landscaping are dramatic enough to make a footprint visible from space. Few written records survive of the people who built it. We aren't even sure about its original name. The information available from the temple reliefs at Angkor Wat offer the best available insight into the culture and time period, almost like an art and engineering time capsule for the 12th century Khmer civilization.
ANGKOR WAT: LOTUS TEMPLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF CELESTIAL AZIMUTHS
Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious structures in the world. Built in the 12th century the structure stands as the symbol of an empire that in its day, dominated most of Southeast Asia. Much is known about Angkor Wat. To date what has not been explained, however, is why the structure was located where it is. The question is of some interest because the answer may help provide insight into the thinking behind one of the worlds’ most impressive temples ever built. In this paper a possible explanation is offered for the location of Angkor Wat. It is proposed that the site was situated at the intersection of two astronomically-related lines of position—one to the summer solstice sunrise over the Rong Chen temple on Phnom Kulen; and a second to the cardinal direction of east in alignment with a site known as Preah Khan of Kompong Svay. Political and cosmological implications of these findings are discussed. And supportive data are provided showing how the Rong Chen temple is likewise situated at intersecting lines of position creating what was essentially a landscape yantra. Importantly, the Rong Chen temple is where Jayavarman II—founder of the Khmer empire was made a god-king.
Celestial Significance of Angkor Wat With rare paintings of the Temple
Indo Nordic Author's Collective, 2020
Legend behind Angkor: Angkor the most mysterious of temple mountains, has intrigued humanity from the day it was "discovered". We have been trying to understand how it was constructed and how such a detailed design could me made as a drawing to start with and then brought into fruition by completing the construction within 40 years. I have written 3 books on the Angkor DEVRAJA in which I have described in detail the construction design elements together with my co-autor Srishti Dokfras who happens to be and Architect and also my daughter. We have worked together on 7 books and 167 research papers and articles. We recommend you go to academia.edu and researchgate.net for some delightful readings of this book. You will also find a tome on the Borobudur temple there.
FROM MEGALITHS TO TEMPLES: ASTRONOMY IN THE LITHIC RECORD OF SOUTH INDIA
Orchiston, W., Sule, A., and Vahia, M.N. (eds.), 2018. Growth and Development of Astronomy and Astrophysics in India and the Asia-Pacific Region. Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Oriental Astronomy. Mumbai, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research., 2018
India has a long history of monuments built in stone—from prehistoric megaliths to later religious monuments like stupas, temples etc. covering a period of nearly four millennia. In this paper we discuss the influence of astronomy on the design and layout of some of these monuments, as well as depiction and incorporation of astronomical objects and phenomena in several of these or their components. In several instances, prehistoric rock art features Sun and Moon motifs, which are also seen in later sculptural art in temples, hero stones, etc. Megaliths, which are mostly the sepulchral and commemorative monuments of the Iron Age, have a variety of forms, ranging from the simple upright stone to relatively complex constructions like dolmens etc. We demonstrate that at least some megaliths have sightlines to astronomical phenomena on the local horizon deliberately incorporated into their layout. It is quite possible that these early monuments evolved into later monumental structures like stupas and temples. Temple architecture in southern India followed two main evolutionary trajectories that spanned roughly 800 years. Temples often feature sculptural panels of deities, myths and legends on their outer walls. We examine some of the legends, such as the Tripurantaka legend of Shiva, commonly depicted on temple walls, for astronomical symbolism. Heavenly bodies, such as the Sun, Moon and planets, are deified in traditions of the Indic religions, and we examine some of these deities depicted in temple sculptures. We also discuss the Dikpalas—guardians of the directions—often depicted to safeguard temple precincts. The phenomena of Sun Temples, depictions of eclipses, zodiacal stones and navagraha worship are also dealt with. Finally, we examine Sun-facing structures, such as rock-cut temples and structural temples, which are designed to interact with the rising or setting Sun on given days of the year.