| East
Mebon Temple (953 AD)
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East Mebon is a small temple built in the reign of king Rajendravarman, who named the temple "Yashodharatataka" (the reservoir of Yashodhara). King Rajendravarman greatly admired King Yashovarman I, who ruled from 889-900 AD and built the East Baray (reservoir). Out of respect, King Rajendravarman built East Mebon at the center of the baray. Its main god was Rajendreshvara, a linga of the present king.
The temple was dedicated on Friday, January 28, 953 at about 11am. The architect was Kavindrarimathana, whose name survives because he sponsored several temples himself. A thousand years ago, the waters of the East Baray would have lapped around the temple's foundations, but nowadays it has completely dried up.
Bibliography:
Cohen, Joan Lebold. Angkor: The Monuments of the God Kings
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York. 1975
Jacques, Claude. Angkor: Cities and Temples
River Books Co., Ltd. Thailand. 1997.
All images copyright 2000 by Professor Yunsheng Huang