Ta Muen Thom Temple Complex Reflects Khmer-Indian Influence

Published on 7.24.25

  The Ta Muen Thom temple complex in Cambodia is a significant cultural and artistic link between the Khmer Empire and the Indian Gupta Empire. Built during the peak of the Khmer Empire (9th-15th centuries), the temples were initially Shaivite Hindu but later transitioned to Buddhist use under King Jayavarman VII, who commissioned several structures, including a dharma sala, for Mahayana Buddhism. The complex features laterite construction with sandstone elements and Sanskrit inscriptions that affirm its links to India, reflecting the Devaraja concept of rulers as divine embodiments of Shiva or Vishnu.

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