Belief systems Of the angkor/khmer empIre by hayden nguYen
The Angkor/Khmer empire did not have many different religions in it's time, Hinduism and two branches of Buddhism.
Hinduism
Hinduism was much more significant in the Angkor/Khmer empire than Buddhism. It was the main religion in the Angkor/Khmer empire. Many buildings were temples built for worship of Hindu gods. The people believed in the Hindu Trinity. This is a group of three Hindu gods consisting of:
Shiva, the God of Rebirth and Creation
They believed that Shiva has the power to destroy the universe after every universal cycle of 2,160,000,000 years and create a new universe after. Shiva is believed to have done many great deeds such as, stopping Vasuki, the king of Serpents when he tried to vomit out snake venom into the sea. Shiva transformed into a giant turtle/tortoise and swallowed the venom which left a blue scar on Shiva's throat. Shiva is often represented with a third eye (to represent Shiva's wisdom and is believed to be the source of his power), a cobra necklace (to represent Shiva's power over all creatures and is believed to also represent Shiva's power to destroy the universe. A snake sheds it's old skin to grown a new one just like how Shiva destroys the universe to create a new one) and the vibhuti (three lines of ash horizontally drawn across Shiva's head to represent his wealth). Shiva is always shown with a blue face and throat. |
An image of Shiva
Vishnu, the Protector
Vishnu is the second god in the Hindu Trinity. He role is to preserve and protect the universe. Vishnu returns to Earth in its troubled times and restores the balance of good and evil. Believers of Vishnu believe him to be the greatest of all gods and see other gods as demi-gods. Vishnu has a human body with blue skin and four arms. Each hand carries an important object which symbolises something. They are:
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an image of Vishnu
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an image of Brahma
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Brahma, the Creator
Brahma is responsible for the creation of all creatures. He is the least worshipped god in the Hindu Trinity. Brahma created a beautiful woman to assist him with his creation of creatures. This woman as called Shatarupa. He became obsessed with Shatarupa and stared at her wherever she went. Shatarupa attempted to avoid Brahma's gaze by moving in different directions but for every direction she went, Brahma grew another head untill he had four heads face each direction. Shatarupa decided to jump above Brahma. This resulted in Brahma growing a fifth head above the other four. Some Hindu sources say that Shatarupa transformed into every creature on Earth as an attempt to avoid Brahma. Brahma did the same until there was a male and female for every creature on Earth. This explains the creation of creatures. Shiva noticed Brahma's "unholy behaviour" and chopped off his fifth head and gave him a curse that people should not worship him. Brahma now has to recite the the four Vedas (a collection of poems and religious teachings) with each of his four heads. Brahma is always shown with four heads and fours arms. He has red coloured skin. He holds a water pot, a spoon a book of prayers and a lotus leaf. Brahma sits on the lotus in the lotus position on a lotus (as shown in the picture on the left). Brahma is never shown holding a weapon. |
Buddhism
Buddhism was not very common in the Angkor/Khmer empire at first, but when Indians and Sri Lankans started to spread. This allowed for more religions to be brought into the empire. Buddhism became very significant in the Angkor/Khmer empire.
Buddhism was founded sometime in 500 BCE by a young Nepalese prince named Siddhartha Gautama. He escaped from his pallace at night and wandered India searching and trying various ways to achieve enlightenment (becoming a perfect person). He finally succeeded when he meditated under a Bodhi tree and was known as Gautama Buddha from then.
Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the underlying order of life and the cosmos. He assisted others to achieve enlightenment aswell. When he died his disciples continued his teachings.
Buddhists are restricted from killing others. Some do not kill animals. Oddly, most Buddhists are meat eaters. Priests, monks and nuns have very strict diets consisting of:
Below are the two types of Buddhism that have been practiced in the Angkor/Khmer empire.
Buddhism was founded sometime in 500 BCE by a young Nepalese prince named Siddhartha Gautama. He escaped from his pallace at night and wandered India searching and trying various ways to achieve enlightenment (becoming a perfect person). He finally succeeded when he meditated under a Bodhi tree and was known as Gautama Buddha from then.
Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching the underlying order of life and the cosmos. He assisted others to achieve enlightenment aswell. When he died his disciples continued his teachings.
Buddhists are restricted from killing others. Some do not kill animals. Oddly, most Buddhists are meat eaters. Priests, monks and nuns have very strict diets consisting of:
- No intoxicants because they cloud the mind and interfere with concentration needed to achieve enlightenment.
- No meat because Buddha himself died from eating tainted pork.
- The five pungent spices (onions, garlic, scallions, chives and leeks are not to be eaten because it is believed that they attract hungry ghosts and demons.
Below are the two types of Buddhism that have been practiced in the Angkor/Khmer empire.
Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism that believes it is possible to reach heaven in one life. It originated from India sometime during 100 BCE. Most of the Angkor/Khmer empire were Mahayana Buddhists at the end of the 12th century. King Jayavarman II took up Mahayana Buddhism which probably ensured its success. Due to its rising popularity, many Hindu temples were converted into Buddhist temples.
Mahayana Buddhism is very religious and consists of many religious ceremonies and rituals. Mahayana Buddhists believe do not believe in a single creator or god. They believe in three deities which are the three bodies of Buddha. They are:
Mahayana Buddhism is mainly about the Bodhisattva, which means the enlightenment being. Being a Bodhisattva consists of a life of selflessness and liberating all beings from suffering. Mahayana Buddhists vow to be reborn as a Bodhisattva and return to assist others in reaching Nirvana (heaven) before them similar to what Buddha did.
Mahayana Buddhism is very religious and consists of many religious ceremonies and rituals. Mahayana Buddhists believe do not believe in a single creator or god. They believe in three deities which are the three bodies of Buddha. They are:
- Dharmakaya: Buddha is the same thing as ultimate truth.
- Sambhogakaya: Buddha's body of bliss/enjoyment.
- Nirmanakaya: Buddha's human body.
Mahayana Buddhism is mainly about the Bodhisattva, which means the enlightenment being. Being a Bodhisattva consists of a life of selflessness and liberating all beings from suffering. Mahayana Buddhists vow to be reborn as a Bodhisattva and return to assist others in reaching Nirvana (heaven) before them similar to what Buddha did.
Theravada Buddhism
Theravada Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism that bases its beliefs on the oldest surviving teachings of Buddha. Sir Lankans that were spreading throughout Asia introduced Theravada Buddhism to the empire. It became the empire's main religion. Kings were no longer considered as incarnations of gods.
Theravada Buddhism is mainly about achieving enlightenment through meditation similar to how Buddha did it. The purpose of a Theravada Buddhist is to become an arhat (a person who has reached enlightenment and is worthy of reaching Nirvana) and reach Nirvana (heaven). Unlike Mahayana Buddhism, only monks, priests and nuns were worthy of reaching Nirvana. To become an arhat a Theravada Buddhist has to go through four stages:
Unlike Mahayana Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism is focused on helping yourself reach Nirvana rather than helping others.
Theravada Buddhism is mainly about achieving enlightenment through meditation similar to how Buddha did it. The purpose of a Theravada Buddhist is to become an arhat (a person who has reached enlightenment and is worthy of reaching Nirvana) and reach Nirvana (heaven). Unlike Mahayana Buddhism, only monks, priests and nuns were worthy of reaching Nirvana. To become an arhat a Theravada Buddhist has to go through four stages:
- Sotopanna: One who has overcome false beliefs.
- Sakadogamin: One who has diminished lust, hatred and illusion.
- Anagamin: One that will only be reborn in heaven where he or she will become an arhat.
- Arhat: One who is worthy of reaching Nirvana.
Unlike Mahayana Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism is focused on helping yourself reach Nirvana rather than helping others.
Primary source
A screenshot from a created by GlobalVision 360 in 2014 (click on image to view video) showing monks in modern day Angkor Wat. This shows us that Angkor Wat is still used for religious purposes today. A circumstance in which it was created that may affect what this image shows us is age. If the image is old, Angkor Wat may not be used for religious reasons anymore. It is a primary source because the temple shown in the video has not been modified or altered.
Secondary source
A painting by Nik Helbig showing a Buddhist monk meditating. It suggests that monks are peaceful and do This is a unreliable source because it is the artist's perspective and ideas on what a monk looks like. This makes it a secondary source.
REferences
https://asianstudies.wikispaces.com/Angkor-Religion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/deities/vishnu.shtml
http://www.ancient.eu/shiva/
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/deities/vishnu.shtml
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http://hinduism.about.com/od/godsgoddesses/p/brahma.htm
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Brahma-Hindu-god
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http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/beings/shiva
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http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Buddhism/Galleries/What-Do-Mahayana-Buddhists-Believe.aspx?p=4
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/subdivisions/theravada_1.shtml
http://www.religionfacts.com/theravada
http://www.myangkorguide.com/history/angkor-religious-history/
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View image references by clicking on the image.