The Khmer kingdom was at its peak between 9th and 12th century AD, the kings predominantly followed Hinduism with the exception of Buddhist Jayavarma VII who was a 'monument builder' who constructed many Buddhist temples in his time.
The temples were not really constructed to be places of worship as much as God's residence and so was created in symbolic likeness to Mt Meru, where Gods reside. The 5 towered Mt Meru is considered to be the the centre of the universe floating in the sea of milk. Thus most of the temples have 5 towers representing Mt Meru and are surrounded by a moat symbolising the sea of milk. There are many temples where the towers are built at a height and is called the 'temple mountain' style of construction.
There are no idols in any of the temples today and hence no worship. The Buddhist & Hindu idols of the Angkor empire are missing - desecrated by non-believers, ransacked for treasures believed to be buried under the idols, stolen and sold for gain in the international market, especially during the time of civil war to finance arms. The few Buddha idols being worshiped at a few temples are of latter day and not Angkorian.
After the end of rein of the monument building kings by end of 12th century AD, the empire itself declined. In early 15th century AD, due to various reasons, the capital was shifted from Angkor to Phnom Penh.
The temples were not really constructed to be places of worship as much as God's residence and so was created in symbolic likeness to Mt Meru, where Gods reside. The 5 towered Mt Meru is considered to be the the centre of the universe floating in the sea of milk. Thus most of the temples have 5 towers representing Mt Meru and are surrounded by a moat symbolising the sea of milk. There are many temples where the towers are built at a height and is called the 'temple mountain' style of construction.
There are no idols in any of the temples today and hence no worship. The Buddhist & Hindu idols of the Angkor empire are missing - desecrated by non-believers, ransacked for treasures believed to be buried under the idols, stolen and sold for gain in the international market, especially during the time of civil war to finance arms. The few Buddha idols being worshiped at a few temples are of latter day and not Angkorian.
After the end of rein of the monument building kings by end of 12th century AD, the empire itself declined. In early 15th century AD, due to various reasons, the capital was shifted from Angkor to Phnom Penh.
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