The Eastern Mebon Temple

The Eastern Mebon Temple is a Hindu religious monument constructed in 953 within the current Angkor Archaeological Park, which was the capital of the Khmer Empire at the time. It was built and completed during the reign of Rajendravarman II, who sought to make modifications to the vast water reservoir Yasodharatataka, or Eastern Baray. In the center of this reservoir, an artificial island was created to house the temple, with the purpose of honoring the ancestors of the royal family. Today, the Eastern Mebon stands in the middle of a completely dry reservoir, dried up over time. 

History

Built in the Hindu style, which was the dominant religion among the Khmers at the beginning of the imperial era, the Eastern Mebon, although constructed in memory of the royal family, is dedicated to Shiva, a member of the Hindu Trimūrti. Shiva is depicted riding his sacred mount, Nandi, the bull. You will also notice a tribute to the god Indra, sculpted with his mount: Airāvatā, the three-headed white elephant, a mythical product of the churning of the ocean of milk, as well as Chandra, the moon, which Shiva used to adorn his hair.

The builders of the Eastern Mebon adhered to a strict alignment with other temples in Angkor (see map photo). For example, it forms a north-south axis with the Pre Rup, the state temple during Rajendravarman II's reign, which is located to the south at the edge of the vast dried-up baray. There is also an east-west axis aligned with the Hindu temple Phimeanakas, located 7 km to the west.

Visiting the Temple

The main materials used for the Eastern Mebon, as with most Angkorian temples, are brick, laterite, and sandstone. A central tower, the largest, likely serving as the Hindu sanctuary, is located on the third and highest level of the structure. At each corner of the tower, four smaller towers surround it. The entrance to the central sanctuary is guarded by two symmetrical lion statues, which, in Hindu belief, protect the temple from evil spirits.

The two enclosing walls of the temple form three levels. On the first and second floors, you will find a monolithic elephant statue. You can also appreciate the carvings and detailed work on the temple's lintels. From the third and highest floor, you can imagine the Yasodharatataka reservoir when it was still full. In fact, four small stone jetties still stand at the foot of the temple, a reminder that access used to be by boat.