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Thursday, December 25, 2014

King Jayavarman IV (921 - 941 A.D)

King Jayavarman IV (921 - 941 A.D)
Capital                 : Koh Ker (Chok Gargyar or Lingapura)
Temple built        : Koh Ker group,(Preah Vihear) Neang Khmao
                             (Takeo), Choeung An (Kampong Cham)
Style                   : Koh Ker

King Jayavarman IV succeeded Isanvarman II after his death. His wife was Jayadevi who was a sister of Yasovarman I. He moved the capital from Yasodharaoura (Angkor) to Chok Gargyar, which is known as Koh Ker at the present.

To develop his new city, he dug the Rahal, an artificial lake about 560 x 1200 meters in dimensions, in order to provide water for the rice-field and also for religious purpose. He built a lot of temples to keep Devaraja under the name of Tribhuvanesvara.

He was given the posthumous name Paramasivapada atfer his death.

Koh Ker temple

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

King Yasovarman I (889 - 910 A.D)

King Yasovarman I (889 - 910 A.D)
Capital             :Hariharalaya, Yasodhapura (present day Angkor)
Temple built    : Lolei, Bakong, Phnom Krom, Phnom Bok,
                         East Baray, and Preah Vihear
Style               : Bahkong

The King Yasovarman I succeeded his fater, Indravarman I in 889 A.D  initially he continued to reign at Hariharalaya, After building Lolie temple upon in the middle of Indratataka, which he dedicated to his parents and grandparent, he moved his capital to Yasodharapura (present day Angkor) and contructed a temple for his state temple named Yasodharagiri, and is known day as Phnom Bahkeng.

He also erected the second reservoir called Yasodharatat?aka, now known as the East Baray (east of Siem Reap river), which played a very important role in his new capital, Yasodharapura.

In addition he also built temple on Phnom Bok and Phnom Krom which were dedicated to the major Trimurti gods, Brahman, Vis?n?u and Siva.

Later, he constructed temple dedicated to the supreme gods, Sikharesvara at Preah Vihear temple and Bhadresvara at Phnom Sandak.

Yasovarman I was given the posthumous name Paramasivaloka after his death.
 Preah Vihear temple

 Bahkeng temple

 Phnom Krom temple






Saturday, December 20, 2014

King Indravarman I (877 - 889A.D)

King Indravarman I (877 - 889A.D)
Capital                 : Hariharalaya
Temple Built        : Preah Ko, Bakong, and Baray Indravarman
Style                    : Preah Ko

The King Indravarman I succeeded Jayavarman III in 877 A.D and continued to reign at Hariharalaya. He was one of most well-known king in Khmer history. His guru was Sivasoma and his  purohita since the reign of Jayavarman III.
He built Preah Ko temple in 879 A.D, which he dedicated to his ancestors, andin 881 A.D Bakong temple where he laid the Indresvaralinga. He considered Bakong to his state temple. Beside constructing temples, he also created a  reservoir known as intdratataka measuring 3.8 kilometers by 800 meters which played very important roles in both social and religious life in Khmer society.
He was an active king and the inscription praise him for virtue. After his death, he was named as Isvaraloka.


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

King Jayavarman II (802 - 850 A.D)

Jayavarman II (802 - 850 A.D)

Capital                      :   Indrapura, Hariharalaya, Amarendrapura, 
                                     Mahendravparvata.
Temple Built             :   Damrie Krap, O Paong, Khting Slab, 
                                      Rup Areak, Nek Ta, Trong Khla Khmum,  
                                      and Krus Preah Aram Rong Chen.
Style                          :   Kulen styele

King Jayavarman II was one of the greatest king of Khmer history. He was known as the founder of Angkorian monarchy and also the king who freed the country from the ruler of Java in 802. After coming back from Java, he settled in his first capital Indrapura which is probably now in Banteay Prei Nokor, Kompong Cham province.

Later, he moved his capital city to Hariharalaya, near Rolus 15km southeast of Angkor. After Hariharalya, he settled his capital in these different places Amarendrapura, Mahendraparvata, and finally he moved back to Haraharalaya and died there in 850 A.D.

Mahendraparvata ( Maha + Indra + Parvata) is on the Kulen Mountain where he established the religious ceremony of Devaraja. The ceremony was prepared by a Brahman, Hiranyadama.
The Brahman made the King Cakravatin ( Universal monarch ) though the Devaraja cult. During his reign, he built temples on Phnom Kulen to house the stone and precious metal Siva Linga.

He was named Preah Paramesvara after his dearth.