CambodiaTemple9: EAST MEBON TEMPLE

Date : Middle of the 10^th century (953)

Style : Pre Rub

Region: Rajendravarman

The East Mebon was constructed in 953 by the king Rajendravarman to dedicated to his parents in the form of Shiva and Uma. This temple was stood on an artificial island is 250 square meters, the diameters situated in the center of the east Barray called Yasodharatataka (which was 1830m wide by 7.5 kilometers long) today it became a vast plain of the rice fields. It was capable of holding about 55 million cubic meters of water when the water level reached 4m in depth. This reservoir was built just 53 years before the temple by king Yasovarman I, and depends on the stele was installed on each corners engraved with Sanskrit poems that declared that Barray was under the protection of Ganga the goddess of water. This reservoir was fed by the water from Roluos and also was divert from Siem Reap river. The temple was formerly accessible only by boat, and according to an inscription was found here the temple was dedicated on Friday 28th January 953 at about 11am.

The temple was stood on the same axis of the east gate of Angkor Thom city and was built on the high laterite base with 3 levels. There are 4 stairways on each side of the temple base, the 5 brick towers stood on the top level and opening to the east side, the first laterite base of this temple is 126m long by 121m wide, and nearby is the outer enclosure wall (measuring 104m wide by 108m long) with 4 cross shape entry gates. The sandstone inscription was found inside the east gate of the first wall it was brought to Angkor conservation during 1995. From here was also can see the beautiful monolithic sandstone elephant, it is 2m high which stood on the 4 corners on the first and second levels, in the first courtyard of the first level there are many rectangular laterite Buildings they were probably covered by timber roofs and used as long halls for priests meditation. The second level is 95 square meters with 2.5m high it has 4 stairways on each side.

The west lintel of the each gate: is in the second wall was depicted Krishna who fights against a snake Kaliya that lived in the Ramanaka pond. In this courtyard we can see 8 brick towers are on each 4 sides and opening to the east and used to installed the Shiva and Linga, beside the 8 brick towers there are 5 more rectangular laterite buildings and the 2 building are on the west side opening to the east and 3 other buildings are on the east opening to west, but the 2 building in the south axis where they found the 9 planets stone blocks they are (Chhandra Surya Vayu Agni Varuna Yama Indra Skanda Rahou).

The west lintel on the northeast building which depicted the goddess Shri (wife of Vishnu) was sitting on the lotus between the 2 elephants with raised their trunks sprinkling the holy water on her. Each lintel on the west gate of the second wall was depicted god Vishnu is in his incarnation as a man-lion called Narashimha who tore a part of his enemy the demon king (Hiranyaksha Kashipu) who claimed to have the same right and ranks as gods. There are 5 brick towers on the top, the 4 towers are on the corners and one biggest is in the center opening to the each side.

East Lintel: was depicted Indra god of rain is riding on an elephant with 3 heads (name Airavana) and also showing the small horsemen on a branch of the lintel and small frieze of worshippers.

West Lintel: was depicted Skanda god of war rides on his peak cock.

South Lintel: (Yama on a water buffalo) he is the guardian of the south.