East Mebon

East Mebon (953)

East Mebon temple was built during the reign of King Rajendravarman in a 10^th century, dedicated to Lord Shiva in memory of the King’s parent.

Est Mebon temple stands on an artificial island at the centre of the large reservoir Yasodharatatak which its size was 7,200 meters by 1,700 meters with a storage capacity of 36 million cubic meters. The temple was built on a north–south axis with Rajendravarman's state temple, Pre Rup, located about 1,200 meters to the south just outside the reservoir.

Built in the general style of Pre Rup temple, the East Mebon temple was dedicated to a Shiva Linga Rajendresvara in 953 AD. It has two enclosing walls and three tiers. it includes the full array of durable Khmer construction materials: sandstone, brick, laterite and stucco.

At the corners of the first and second tiers are stone elephant sculptures of two-metre height, it may represent the power of Indra, god of sky and rain.

At the top is a central tower on a square platform; dedicated  a Shiva Linga named Rajendresvara, surrounded by four smaller towers at the platform’s corners in which were probably placed statues of the gods Shiva, Uma, Vishnu and Brahma. Decorative stucco was attached using the holes along the brick tower.

The top central tower has decorative lintels of guardians on the cardinal points which are the god Indra on atop his three headed elephant Airavata​is the god of rain and the eastern guardian, Varun on a swan is the god of sea and a west guardian, Kubera on a throne is the god of wealth and a northern guardian, and Yama on a buffalo is the god of justice and a southern guardian. The carving on the lintels is particularly elegant.

On the lintel of the west doorway of the main shrines’ basement is an image taking the form of half man with a lion’s head. He is Narasinha, an avatar of Vishnu and appears tearing the demon Hirayakyashipu apart.

The lintel of a doorway at the eastern of the main shrines’ basement is an image of Krisna, another avatar of Vishnu and is portrayed killing the poisonous serpent Kalya.

Rajendravarman II - Return to Angkor (944-968)

Rajendravarman II succeeded Jayavarman IV's son and further strengthened the Angkorian Empire.

 

Rajendravarman II was a nephew of King Yasovarman I. He ascended the throne in 944 and relocated the capital from Koh Ker to Yasodharapura. He declared that he was related to the former relatives of the kingdom of Chenla. The king strengthened the Khmer rule: he fought to gather the autonomous city to submit to his rule, established the central administration in Angkor and sent civil servants to other provinces. Gradually, the nation came to know peace and prosperity. He also waged war on the Cham people who had received Indian civilization. The mighty Khmer army invaded the kingdom of Champa and brought a golden statue to be kept in Angkor. At the same time, he was always kind to Buddhists. During his reign, many temples were built, such as the East Mebon Temple, Pre Rup Temple, and some parts of the Phiman Akas temple and Srah Srang. A Brahmin named Yachnavarahak, a royal teacher, built the temple of Banteay Srei, north of Yasodharapura, in 967 AD, a year before his death.