- Vishnu
Beng Mealea Temple
- Angkor Archaeological Park,Cambodia
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Overview
The Beng Mealea Temple is a Hindu shrine located in the city of Angkor, Cambodia. This temple has extensive carvings, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology such ad carvings depicting the Churning of the Milky ocean, Lord Vishnu being borne by the bird god Garuda, etc. The corridors of the temple have long balustrades formed by sculptures of the body of the seven-headed Naga serpent.
About The Temple
The temple was built as a Hindu temple, but one could also find few carvings depicting buddhist motifs. The temple is built using sandstone and is not properly maintained. Trees and thick bushes are found thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lie in great heaps. The temple remained inaccessible for long until recently when a road has been built leading to the temple complex of Koh Ker, which passes through Beng Mealea. Many visitors have started coming to the site, as it is just around 77 km from Siem Reap by road.
The corridor in the temple.
The actual history of this temple is still unknown and thus it can be dated only on the basis of its architectural style. Its architecture is very much identical to the renowned temple of Angkor Wat. Hence scholars assumed that this temple too was built during the reign of king Suryavarman II, during the early 12th century. This temple is relatively smaller in size than the Angkor Wat temple but is said to be one among the Khmer empire's larger temples. The outer gallery of this temple is 181 m by 152 m. It was the center of a town, surrounded by a moat 1025 m by 875 m large and 45 m wide.
Beng Mealea is basically located facing the east, but also has entrances from the other three directions. The temple layout shows three enclosing galleries around a central sanctuary, which stands collapsed at present. The enclosures are tied with "cruciform cloisters", like Angkor Wat. Structures known as libraries lie to the right and left of the avenue that leads in from the east. Extensive carving of scenes from Hindu mythology is seen in this temple with causeways having long balustrades formed by bodies of the seven-headed Naga serpent.
Beng Mealea itself is a sandstone structure which is just about 7 km away from the sandstone quarries of Phnom Kulen. It is believed that the sandstone blocks used for Angkor, were transported along artificial water canals and passed from here. Despite the lack of authenticated information on its origins, the temple and its architecture has drawn the attention of French scholars’ right from its discovery.
How To Reach Beng Mealea Temple
Road
Frequent and regular buses ply to and forth from many important places around the region to Angkor.
Railways
The nearest railhead is the Siem Reap railway station.
Airport
The Siem Reap International Airport is the closest located airport.
Temple Address
Beng Mealea Temple,
Angkor Archaeological Park,
Cambodia.
Significance
Devotees visit this temple to seek fulfillment of the following:-
- Fame
- Freedom from diseases
- Wealth
- Courage
- Relief from adverse effects from bad planetary aspects
- Relief from bondage
Shlokas
Achutham Keyshavam Rama Narayanam Krishna Damodaram Vasudevam Harim Shridharam Madhavam Gopika Vallabham Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhajey
Meaning -Oh Lord who cannot be perished, who also has names like Keshava, Rama, Damodara, Narayana, Sridhara, Madhava, Krishna, Ramachandra the beloved of Janaki, let me say your name regularly.
Vasudeva Sutham Devam Kamsa Chanoora Mardhanam Devaki Paramanandham Krishnam Vande Jagathgurum
Meaning -I bow to you O Krishna, the ultimate guru, Devaki and Vasudeva's son, and the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanur.
Adharam Madhuram Vadanam Madhuram Nayanam Madhuram Hasitam Madhuram Hridayam Madhuram Gamanam Madhuram Mathuraa Dhipate Rakhilam Madhuram
Meaning -Meaning - Sweet are Your lips, sweet is Your face, sweet are Your eyes, sweet is Your smile, sweet is Your heart, sweet is Your gait, O Lord of Mathura, everything about You is sweet.
Alokya Mathur Mukha Madarena Sthanyam Pibantham Saraseeruhaksham Sachinmayam Devam Anantha Roopam Balam Mukundam Manasa Smarami
Meaning -I think of this Balamukundan as the one who looks lovingly at his mother's face while taking milk from her, who has eyes similar to the red lotus, who is the embodiment of truth and intelligence and other forms.
Timings
The temple is open from 7.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.