Tarun Vijay’s photo exhibition shares details about the 1100-year-old UNESCO world heritage site. He spoke to Goter Gangkak
From time immemorial, India has contributed immensely to the growth of religion and culture in other Asian countries. Different religions have travelled out and entered at the same time. Archaeology is one of the best indicators of exchange of culture between parts in the world. The photo exhibition by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Kailas in Cambodia by Tarun Vijay, who is a Parliamentarian and photographer, traces archeological links between the temples in India and Indo-China as well as South East Asia.
The world heritage temple Preah Vihear is located at the top of a cliff in the Dangrek Range which was considered as the Himalaya of Angkor in ancient times. This temple is an important subject of dispute between Thailand and China from centuries. The Temple is located between Northern Cambodia and North-Eastern Thailand, with entrance on both the sides. Both Cambodia and Thailand claimed ownership, the temple was handed to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice.
Tarun Vijay took the initiative of visiting the site over the mountain top, becoming the first Indian Parliamentarian to visit the temple. During his visit, he wrote to the PM Hun Sen of Cambodia and PM of Thailand Shinawatra to have the temple entrance from both the sides. “The temple was originally built by the Angkor king Yasovarman in the ninth century AD. The following kings — Suryavarman I, Suryavarman II, Jayavarman VII added new elements to the temple. The temple is also known as Shikareshwar, meaning the lord of the peak that represents Kailas, the abode of Shiva. I took a total of 2500 pictures out of which 50 have been selected and displayed. The experience was fantastic and enlightening,” shared Vijay.
“There are five Gopuras in the temple, located on the slope of the Dangrek range. The layout of the temple is linear, representing the pilgrimage to the abode of Shiva who lives on top of the cliff in the central temple. The mandapa of the central temple depicts Shiva dancing on the head of an elephant-demon. Number of other images of the Hindu Gods are also found,” He informed.
According to Tarun Vijay the existence of the temple sends an important message to the world.
“The Preah Vihear Shiva temple is an example of cordial relation that existed between Buddhists and Shaivites globally, especially in the eastern part,” he added. His photographs represent a glorious period of our country. He believes that this attempt will bring new perspective to the country, “look East” and not “West” for inspiration.