Is BOROBUDUR The finest devotional constructions in the world ?

Dr Uday Dokras PhD Stockholm

krishn & Balaram his brother in Bantei Serai,Cambodia

What is the exact meaning of divinity?

The word is a noun, plural di·vin·i·ties means the quality of being divine; divine nature. ... a
being having divine attributes, ranking below God but above humans: minor divinities. the study
or science of divine things; theology. Godlike character; supreme excellence.
Divinity is defined as a divine being, or the quality of being divine, or a course of religious
study. The behaviors, attitudes and actions of Hindu Gods are an example of divinity.

A Divine Person is the supreme pattern of man's unselfish generosity. See Also: trinity, holy,
articles on; person (in theology); nature; incommunicability; paternity, divine. India is a land of
religions.India’s religioms travelled to Cambodia 1000 years ago or more and took a dominant
shape and hold on all from Royalty to commoners. Some scholars believed that the Dravidian
religion was a belief system unique to the Neolithic people of South Asia before the origin of
Indo-Aryan languages. Dr. Pope believes that in the pre-historic period the Dravidian religion
was a precursor to Shaivism and ShaktismTheravada Buddhism has been the Cambodian state
religion since the 13th century AD (excepting the Khmer Rouge period), and is currently
estimated to be the religion of 97.9% of the total population. The earliest forms of Buddhism,
along with Hindu influences, entered the Funan kingdom with Hindu merchants. Cambodia's
Hinduism can be traced back to the Funan Kingdom which ruled between 100BC and 500AD.
During this period, kings worshiped Vishnu and Shiva. When the Khmer Empire came to power,
Hinduism remained the dominating religion until Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181-1218). A
country that is today covered with different religions, Hinduism was one of the most popular
among them. Modern Cambodia too is made up of about 95 percent Theravada Buddhists, with
Cham Muslims, Christians and tribal animists making up most of the remainder. However, it
hasn’t always been this way, with Cambodia’s roots steeped deep in Hinduism.

The Hindu temples in India have always been special for the belief they have in the followers
of this religion. South India is known for its temples all around the world. The temple cities of

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India, as they are fondly called, are known for its marvelous architecture and high religious
beliefs.

On the plans and model of these South Indian Hindu temples and built by buikders and artisans
brough from India itself, these Cambodian temple cities have a mythological significance
reflecting the roles that holy hindu scriptures played especially in Mahabharata and Ramayana.
1000,s of sculptures and carvings adoen the more than 1000 km of walls ( consolidated) that are
all the Khemer and pre- khemer temples with 1,000 is of Shivalingas and Murtis of idols of Gods
such as Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, Ram, Hanumana, Garuda and so on an endless list that will
cirv=cumnavigate the entire Hinduism.

After an extraordinary confluence of religion and art, these famous temples in South East
Asia have become a shining example of the cultural heritage and diversity of India. Of all the
existing ones, take a look at some of the finest architectural creations made over a period of
thousands of years by historic dynasties for the creators and preservers of this beautiful planet.
In Cambodia, believe it or not, for hundreds of years, the only form of tourism that existed was purely
religious and devotional.Buddhists and earlier Hindus visited these Hindu and later Buddhist temples
coming from far and wide. Why even to this day, millions of devotees flock to these incredible famous
temples every year in a quest for moksha and inner peace. Many of the famous temples built by the
Khmer have often been considered by historians and architects as the finest devotional constructions ever
to be made. What made these temples not lose their charm with the passage of time; on the contrary and
inspite of their conversion from Hinduism to Buddhism, was the strong and dedicated devotional purpose
for which they were builtThe Angkor Wat Temple is one of the most interesting famous temples in terms
of architectural design. It was built with an intriguing fusion of South Indian style and Khemer style of
architecture. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century, around
the year 1110-1150, making Angkor Wat almost 900 years old. The temple complex, built in the capital
of the Khmer Empire, took approximately 30 years to build.

However, the temple of Angkor Wat itself was never abandoned. And the landscape surrounding the
temple appears to be reoccupied by the late 14th or early 15th centuries, during the period Angkor was
supposedly sacked and abandoned by Ayutthaya, and used until the 17th or 18th centuries. Angkor, the
great medieval city located near the Tonlé Sap (the “Great Lake”) in northwestern Cambodia, was
abandoned by Khmer rulers in the fifteenth century in an effort to find a capital that could be more easily

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defended against the expansionistic Thailand invasions. But that is just one of the theories. My theory
propounded in my paper…. Ks that after conversion from Hinduisn to Buddhism almost in a day as if one
changes 1 shirt with another, the people who were Hindus were reluctant to change to Buddhism. Being
farm labourers, they migrated to other interior locations where their Hindu relatives lived in order to
continue as Hindus.

It was originally built in the first half of the 12th century as a Hindu temple. Spread across more
than 400 acres, Angkor Wat is said to be the largest religious monument in the world.. Dedicated
to the Hindu god Vishnu, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist temple by the end of the 12th century.
Angkor Wat is a miniature replica of the universe in stone and represents an earthly model of the
cosmic world. The central tower rises from the center of the monument symbolizing the mythical
mountain, Meru, situated at the center of the universe. Its five towers correspond to the peaks of
Meru. Angkor Wat is an architectural masterpiece and the largest religious monument in the
world – covering an area four times the size of Vatican City. It was built by the Khmer King
Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century, around the year 1110-1150, making Angkor
Wat almost 900 years old.

Double Divinity: Angkor Wat was shared by two religions.

In Cambodia today, divinity and modernity co-exixt as denoted by the beer mug, yet the
symbol of the Hindu legacy binds them together.

It was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, breaking the previous
kings' tradition of worshiping Shaiva. It gradually turned into a Buddhist temple towards the end
of the 12th century and is still used for worship today. Piles of shoes outside front doors is a
common sight across Cambodia because it is considered polite to remove your shoes when
entering someone's house. This rule also applies to temples, where hats and other items that
cover the head are expected to be taken off even today in all Hindu temples no matter which
country.