Bayon Temple of Cambodia

Hinduism and Buddhism both are reflected in the mysterious Bayon Temple of Cambodia which is a famous Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia.

This enigmatic temple was constructed around 1190 AD by the King Jayavarman VII as a worshipping location for Buddhist community but it has also some of the functions of Hindu cosmology.

Bayon Temple. Photo : Deddeeda

Bayon Temple represents the intersection of heaven and earth. It is believed that the Bayon Temple was created to serve as the primary locus of the royal cult and to serve as Jayavarman’s personal mausoleum. At that time, Angkor Thom was established as the new capital of Jayavarman’s state.

Bayon faces at the Bayon temple of Cambodia. Photo : Jonathan Lewis.

The most appealing part of the building of the Bayon Temple is the multitude of serene and huge stone faces on the several towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The mythological research is still going on amongst the historians to search for the exact resemblances of the 216 mystical faces. Most of them think it is the face of King Jayavarman VII or Avalokiteshvara.

Buddha Statue at the Temple of Bayon. Image : Dedeeda

Bayon Temple of Cambodia  is surrounded by two lengthy walls on which there are far more than 11,000 carved figures more than 1.2km of wall. Despite the fact that now most of the carvings have grow to be faded with the passage of time but they have been painted and gilded beautifully. The central sanctuary of the Bayon Temple is surrounded by a narrow corridor in the middle of which a massive statue of Buddha is erected.

 

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Japanese Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is situated in Kyoto, Japan which has remained 1 of the most well-known pilgrimage websites for worshippers since the Heian period in Japan. Kiyomizu literally means ‘pure water’ and it was named as Kiyomizu due to a waterfall within the complicated, which flows from the nearby hills. This magnificent temple consists of 15 buildings that are now preserved as Japanese cultural heritage and this area exactly where Kiyomizu temple is situated is identified as the Eastern Hills (Higashiyama).

Kiyomizu-dera Japanese Temple, Image from jnto.org.au

According to the most believed theory about its founder, the temple of Kiyomizu-dera was established in the year 798 by Enchin, a Buddhist priest dedicated to the Kannon Bosatsu (Bodhisattva of Mercy and Compassion). The bodhisattva is regarded as as one particular who keeps enlightenment but he remains on earth as a guide of reaching nirvana. Till 1629 it remained as it was built but then it was destroyed due to a fire. In 1633 the structure was restored and new buildings were constructed by Lemitsu Tokugawa, the 3rd shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Hondo is the name of its major hall which is constructed in ‘stage’ style and it is specifically recognized for the tremendous scenic background. Facing the magnificent hills it has a large veranda which is standing on enormous pillars. ‘Kiyomizu Stage’ is also a massive hall which is constructed on its leading and offers splendid view below of the Kyoto city. These massive halls and their massive verandas had been built in order to accommodate the day by day enhance in the numbers of pilgrims.

Kiyomizu Dera Temple, Kyoto-Japan. Image: Natt Muangsiri

Right beneath Hondo is a sacred waterfall which has 3 channels and the water is being fallen in a huge pond. The pilgrims believe that drinking this water grants them energy and their wishes come correct. There are many shrines as nicely in the complex .The Jishu Shrine is the most prominent which has been linked with Ōkuninushi or Shinto Deity (god of love) that has two massive stones and affixed  collectively but with a gap so it has produced a pass through. Walking in among these two stones and reaching the other stone with closed eyes implies that the pilgrim will find the companion and really like.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple is specially identified for the festivals which are held in the starting of the New Year and in the course of obon in the summer time. Kiyomizu-dera Temple has also been talked about in the ancient Japanese literature and it is considered as one particular of the wonders of the planet due to its exclusive architecture.

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The temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka

The temple of the Tooth is a UNESCO world heritage web site situated in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The monument is really a Buddhist worship spot which is also renowned as the temple of the sacred tooth. The legend connected with the temple is the holy tooth of Buddha that was secretly brought to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father’s kingdom in India.

Temple of the sacred tooth – Image: Buddhika Ranchagoda

The visitors come to attend the rituals that are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. The temple is decorated with richly carved and embellished with inlaid woods, ivory, and lacquer. The relic of the tooth is kept in a two-story inner shrine fronted by two big elephant tusks. The tooth is preserved on a solid gold lotus flower, encased in jeweled caskets that sit on a throne.

Buddha Statue placed at the temple of the Tooth ( Image: LeszekZadlo )

The temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka is surrounded by an artificial lake which is identified as Kiri Muhuda and its holy water is believed to include healing powers and is distributed amongst these present.

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The ancient temple of Ambh Sharif

The valley of Quickly Skeaser is popular for its lush green meadows, pleasant climate, water bodies and historical areas. This fantastic valley is situated in the central component of the province of Punjab, Pakistan. A single of the distinguished architecture of the Soon valley is the ancient temple of “Ambh Sharif” which is located in the district Khoshab.

The ancient temple of Ambh Sharif

Ambh Sharif is in fact the remains of a Hindu temple, the exact historical details of which are unknown. Most portion of this Hindu sacred spot has been destroyed and there are only two buildings current. There is some myth associated with this temple as the individuals used to donate their ornaments and other valuable things to this temple. And with the passage of time the men and women have stolen most of the gold and silver stuff. There are also some stairs which lead towards the temple and the larger creating is also supported by two large pillars. The creating was constructed wth ancient blocks and bricks of stones and some walls are also remaining in some pieces. The structure was also decorated with great craftsmanship. According to the historian Alexander Cunningham, this was in fact an ancient town which is well-known as “Ambh” and it was positioned in the south of the Skeaser Peak.

The remains of the ancient walls of Ambh Sharif

The ancient temple of Ambh Sharif is though a mysterious building of the Soon Skeaser Valley, which is one particular of the fantastic hidden historical assets of Pakistan. Not only, the temple of Ambh Sharif but a lot of other ancient temples existing in this valley want to be explored. These all websites require appropriate interest and suitable research.

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The Ancient Sharda Peeth Temple of Neelam Valley,Pakistan

Nobody can envision soon after going to the ancient Sharda Peeth temple of Neelam Valley, Pakistan that it was when a center of the educational excellence. The Hindu Pundits and the scholars of Sanskrit employed to spend their pay a visit to at the Sharda Peeth temple or Sharda University from the far and away areas of the Indian Subcontinent.

The ancient Sharda Peeth temple of Neelam Valley, Pakistan – Image: Asif Saeed

The Sharda Peeth temple of Neelam Valley is situated in the Pakistani administered Kashmir and this temple is located at a height of 11000 from the sea level and it is about 70 miles from Srinagar. The length of the Sharda Peeth temple of Neelam Valley is 142 feet and width is 94.6 feet. The outer walls of the temple are 6 ft. wide and 11 ft long along with the arches possessing the height of eight ft. Kashmir was sometimes called Sharada Desh because of this temple and Sharada was named Kashmira Puravasini. The village, where the ancient Sharda Peeth temple of Neelam Valley, Pakistan is located is also named following this temple and is known as Sharda Village.

Sharda Peeth Temple or Sharda University , Pakistani administered Kashmir – Image: Fawad Awan

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