khmer sources

The buildings of a Vihara (Buddhist temple), and a Sala Thoama Saphea (the hall in which the dharma is taught or discussed) are like great palaces. Built in the Khmer architectural style, they are usually decorated with beautiful artistic ornaments and covered with flickering golden roofs that rise above those of the nearby houses of rural people in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

These are sacred places of worship for the Buddhists, who make up approximately 95% of the population. A Buddhist monastery, or Wat (in Khmer language), is composed of a Vihara, the Sala Thoama Saphea and the Kods (Buildings

where monks live).
In the past, especially in the post-Angkor time, through the French and Japanese colonial rules, the Wat played an important role in the field of education. Religious ceremonies and other national festivals were held there. Even today, in almost every village, the tradition of building schools in or nearby Wats continues.

The Khmer people are very devout in their practice of Buddhism. That is why nearly all Wats are large and ornate. Although the rural villagers are often very poor, they sacrifice from their meager wages, to contribute to the building of an impressive Wat.

According to Mr. Chhoam Chhat, Director of Administrative Department of the Ministry of Cults and Religious Affairs, "90% of the 13,000,000 people living in Cambodia are Buddhist. The country has 59,470 monks living in the 3,980 Wats." He stated that the people contribute to the building of an ornate monastery, worth thousands of US dollars, because their belief in the religion is so strong.

Since ancient times, Viharas were usually built with their face turning towards the east. The statues of Buddha enshrined in those buildings, or other places of worship, also traditionally face east. This was done to express gratitude to Lord Buddha for his achievement of enlightenment, and to guide all people toward the path of enlightenment.

Of Cambodia’s 3,980 Wats, only 3 or 4 of them were built, oddly, with their Viharas not facing East. Those Viharas include: the Athaross Temple, which faces to the north and is located in Kandal province; the temple in Wat Bakan or Bakan monastery in Pursat province, which faces to the west; and the temple in the 100-column monastery in Kratie province, which faces to the north. A big statue of Buddha placed outside the temple in Wat Prek Prang (north of Prek Kdam in Kandal province) also faces toward the west. The pages that follow contain some historical legends involved with those unusual temples and statues:

Vihara Athaross or Athaross Temple is located on the top of Preah Reach Trop Mountain in the district of Punhea Leu of Kandal province (about 40 km. north of Phnom Penh, reach by national road No 5). In the 13th century AD, the end of Angkor Era, a Chinese King designated many groups of envoys to visit various countries in order to study their respective civilizations. If the culture were found to be advanced the envoys were to gather information, which would be disseminated upon their return to the king’s court. China would then open relations with these advanced civilizations and colonize those countries that were found to be undeveloped.

After the Chinese envoys made a full investigation of Cambodia, they went back to inform their Emperor that The Khmer Kingdom was flourishing although it had declined a bit in recent years. The Khmer people still walked barefoot, ate with their fingers, and wore nothing on their heads. However, the envoys believed that Cambodia would flourish and become more glorious than ever before. According to Chinese astrology, the place, which corresponded to the present-day Preah Reach Trop Mountain in Punhea Leu district of Kandal Province, was very favorable to the country. They had seen the form of "Mokar" (a legendary sea monster) in the mountains. The monster’s body was located at the present-day Trai Troeng Stupa. The head and mustache lay at Totim Stupa, and the tail at the statue of a reclining Buddha. They had also noted that there was a deep cavern on the top of the mountain, where they believed Mokar would soon emerge.

According to the Chinese astrological prediction, whichever country the creature emerged from would become powerful, making it invincible. So, for the safety of China in the future, Chinese officials asked their emperor to send troops to attack Cambodia and take it as a colony immediately. But the Chinese emperor thought that to do so would be a violation. Moreover, Cambodia was still strong and flourishing, and would not be defeated easily. Even if China could defeat Cambodia, it would lose many soldiers, and thus, cause the people to suffer.

The Chinese emporor wished to block the hole in order to prevent the monster from coming out. They thought, "if we use rocks to block it, one day, when the Khmer know the secret, they will take them out. So, we should build something there that the Khmer respect." The Chinese knew that Khmers strongly observed Buddhism. They wouldn’t dare destroy statues of Buddha, or Viharas. Therefore, the Chinese King sent his officials to Cambodia to ask for permission to build a Vihara on the mountaintop. First they built a Buddha statue in the Khmer style. Then, they built the Vihara to house the statue according to the Khmer tradition and Chinese astrology. For this reason the Vihara faces north, towards China. No one knew what the Chinese called the temple, but, having seen that the huge Buddha statue is 18 Haths (an ancient unit of linear measurement equal to the distance from the finger tips to the elbow. 1 Hath is approx. 0.50 meter) high, the Khmers called it ‘Vihear Athaross’, which literally meant the temple with a Buddha statue 18 haths high.

Many years later, the temple fell into ruin, with only the Seima (the sacred boundary within the temple) and the Buddha statue remaining. Later on, in the Longvek era, during the 15th century, King Ang Chan Reachea ordered the reconstruction of the temple, but the statue was left more or less as it was found.

Many years later, the temple deteriorated again, prompting King Norodom to use royal and privately donated funds to rebuild the temple. Patriarch Teang (the head Monk) oversaw the construction personally. The new temple was inaugurated in 1911, during the reign of King Preah Sisovath.

Although the temple was damaged during the war it still is used as a place of worship, and is a popular place for day tripping from Phnom Penh.