Category: hinduism
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Sacred Garden
UNESCO World Heritage Site Lumbini, Nepal, the Birthplace of Lord Buddha has been inscribed on the world heritage list. This heritage site is of exceptional universal value which deserves protection for the benefit of humanity. King Ashoka’s Pilar The Devil and the Saint The lady in pink represent the saint, the figure in black represent…
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Lumbini Development Trust Survey
Lumbini is a Nepali town right at the border with India and is the place where Lord Buddha was born and raced as a child in accordance with Emperor Ashoka’s pillar/edict found in the archaeological record. I arrived at Lumbini during the third mass COVID-19 wave in India and some of the Buddhist monasteries were…
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Bhaktapur Durbar Square
This is basically a royal palace square with many Hindu temples in the traditional Nepali architectural style. The main square of the city, is a conglomeration of stone art, wood carving, and terracotta art and architectural showpieces. The Golden Gate, statue of King Bhupatindra Malla perching on the top of stone monoliths, National Art Gallery,…
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My Falcons
Caribbean Kestrel, Falco sparverius. For many years I lived my life with a pair of falcons (male/female Caribbean Kestrels) at home. Why this two decided to permanently live at my backyard and nest next to my bedroom window has an explanation that latter a Buddhist Lama explained me, but the birds were not afraid of…
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Bayon
End of 12th century Jayavarman VII Buddhist. At the center of the last city of Angkor and perhaps a microcosm of the kingdom with representations of all the major divinities – Buddhist to the south and east, and Hindu to the north and west. 200 large faces adorn the 54 towers signifying the omnipresence of…
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Bat Chum
953 AD Rajendravarman II Buddhist. The first known Buddhist temple. Three brick sanctuaries with the main architectural elements in sandstone on a common moulded laterite base. Inscriptions give details of dedications to three Buddhist divinities and reveal the architect of the Eastern Mebon as its patron and builder. More at “The Angkor Survey“.
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Baphuon
Middle of 11th century Udayadityavarman II Hindu (Shiva). A three tiered temple mountain – the “impressive copper tower even higher than the tower of gold” (the Bayon) described by Tcheou Ta-Kouan, a Chinese diplomat visiting at the end of the 13th century. Probably the central temple of the fourth kingdom of Angkor. More at “The…
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Banteay Srei
967 AD Rajendravarman II Jayavarman V Hindu (Shiva) 25 kilometres to the north east of Angkor Thom. A jewel to which the nature of the material used – a finely textured rose coloured sandstone – is perfectly suited. Monumental size and architectural theme give way to a miniature scale and a dense and exquisite detail…
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Banteay Kdei
End of 12th century Jayavarman VII Buddhist temple of four enclosures, the outer measuring 700 by 500 metres, showing signs of at least two stages of construction in differing styles. Typical of Jayavarman VII, but in an advanced state of ruin. More at “The Angkor Survey“.
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Baksei Chamkrong
947 AD Hashavarman I Rajendravarman II Hindu (Shiva). A temple mountain set back in the trees at the base of Phnom Bakheng, in materials typical of the 10th century. A brick tower opening to the east and originally decorated with stucco moulding surmounts four diminishing tiers in laterite – the upper-most of which is moulded…
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Angkor Wat
Beginning of 12th century Suryavarman II Hindu (Vishnu). A pyramid temple in three tiers built on an artificial mound with four enclosures and opening unusually to the west, suggesting this was the funerary temple of Suryavarman II. The external wall forms a rectangle of 1025 by 800 metres which is enclosed by a moat 190…