<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Seven "new wonders"
Angkor Wat too deserves your vote
By K.G. Suresh
The most important monument of the Khmer Empire and the world's
largest sacred temple complex, Angkor is famous for its complex
ornamentation and striking beauty. The temples at Angkor are spread
out over 64 kms around the village of Sien Reap, about 308 kms from
the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
Indian television channels and websites have of late launched a
campaign asking people to vote for the inclusion of the Taj Mahal as
one of the seven "new wonders" of the world. With barely three weeks
left for the nominations to close, hectic efforts including celebrity
endorsements are on to get the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in
India into the elite club through sms, internet and phone voting.
Music wizard A R Rahman has even composed a theme song for the Taj to
canvass support for the historic monument in Agra built by Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Persian born princess
Arjuman Bano Begum popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal.
Notwithstanding the controversies surrounding the Taj, including
claims by some Hindu groups that it was built over a temple dedicated
to Goddess Yamuna and the alleged atrocities perpetrated on the
workmen (whose hands were reportedly cut-off by the Emperor who did
not want them to build any such grand mausoleum), the Mughal tomb
remains an integral part of our composite heritage and attracts
tourists from the world over, providing employment to lakhs of our
countrymen and millions of dollars in foreign exchange.
And as Indians, we should also undoubtedly join this campaign to
enable this enduring symbol of our country to make it to the top
seven. But equally significant, both for all Indians and Hindus across
the globe is the presence of the world's largest Hindu temple, Angkor,
among the 21 finalist candidates in the campaign to choose the New
Seven Wonders of the World.
The most important monument of the Khmer Empire and the world's
largest sacred temple complex, Angkor is famous for its complex
ornamentation and striking beauty. The temples at Angkor are spread
out over 64 kms around the village of Sien Reap, about 308 kms from
the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
Like many other aspects of their culture, the Cambodians adapted
Indian architectural methods and styles. The Hindu religion played an
important part in the Khmer temples. In fact, the Hindu monarch
Jayavarman II introduced the cult of `Devaraja' into Cambodia, which
saw the King as a representative of Lord Shiva. From then on, the
temples were built to honour both the Lord and the King. However, the
Angkor Wat temple was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu though later
it was converted to a Buddhist temple.
Angkor is a vernacular form of the word nokor which comes from the
Sanskrit word nagara (city), while wat is the Khmer word for temple.
The most famous temple in Angkor is Angkor Wat, a huge pyramid temple
built by King Suryavarman II between 1113 and 1150, generally seen as
the masterpiece of Khmer architecture. It is surrounded by a 570 feet
wide and about 6.4 km long moat. With its water moats, concentric
walls and great temple mountain in the center, Angkor Wat symbolizes
the Hindu cosmos, with its oceans at the periphery and the Meru
mountain at the centre of the universe.
Other impressive temples include Ta Prohm in the midst of still dense
jungles and the Bayon built by King Jayavarman VII in the later part
of 12th century that features among other things 3,936 feet of
beautiful bas-relief carving.
There are other temples located in the area and Khmer temples can also
be found in many other parts of Cambodia, as well as China, Thailand,
Laos and Vietnam.
For the Cambodians, the Angkor Wat has become a matter of national
pride with the temple appearing even on its national flag, the only
building to appear on any national flag. In fact, riots erupted in the
capital city after a Thai artist claimed that the temple belonged to
Thailand.
For us Indians too, Angkor not only reminds us of our ancient glory
but also symbolizes the deep impact Indian culture had across the
globe, particularly South-East Asia. After the destruction of the
Bamiyan Buddhas by the fundamentalist Taliban in Afghanistan, Angkor
remains the most potent symbol of the glory of Hindu culture outside
of India.
The shortlist was chosen by a panel of world remowned architects and
ex-UNESCO Chief Federico Mayor in January 2006, out of 77 public
nominations.
In fact, only one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, the Great
Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, survives to this date.
The internet contest for the new seven wonders is aimed at raising
global awareness about the world's shared cultural heritage and was
conceived by Swiss film maker, curator and traveler Bernard Weber,
following the destruction of the giant Buddha statues at Bamyan in 2001.
Though Indian television channels are running a campaign for the
inclusion of the Taj in the list appealing to the nationalist
sentiments, much of the internet and phone text message voting so far
has avoided national preferences.
A visit to the site www.new7wonders.com would reveal that any
visitor can vote for any seven monuments of his or her choice. So, if
Taj deserves your vote, click the mouse for Angkor Wat too. It is as
much ours as is the Taj.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Please use http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=409 to vote
I selected Angkor and Taj Mahal, besides others.
Angkor Wat too deserves your vote
By K.G. Suresh
The most important monument of the Khmer Empire and the world's
largest sacred temple complex, Angkor is famous for its complex
ornamentation and striking beauty. The temples at Angkor are spread
out over 64 kms around the village of Sien Reap, about 308 kms from
the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
Indian television channels and websites have of late launched a
campaign asking people to vote for the inclusion of the Taj Mahal as
one of the seven "new wonders" of the world. With barely three weeks
left for the nominations to close, hectic efforts including celebrity
endorsements are on to get the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in
India into the elite club through sms, internet and phone voting.
Music wizard A R Rahman has even composed a theme song for the Taj to
canvass support for the historic monument in Agra built by Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Persian born princess
Arjuman Bano Begum popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal.
Notwithstanding the controversies surrounding the Taj, including
claims by some Hindu groups that it was built over a temple dedicated
to Goddess Yamuna and the alleged atrocities perpetrated on the
workmen (whose hands were reportedly cut-off by the Emperor who did
not want them to build any such grand mausoleum), the Mughal tomb
remains an integral part of our composite heritage and attracts
tourists from the world over, providing employment to lakhs of our
countrymen and millions of dollars in foreign exchange.
And as Indians, we should also undoubtedly join this campaign to
enable this enduring symbol of our country to make it to the top
seven. But equally significant, both for all Indians and Hindus across
the globe is the presence of the world's largest Hindu temple, Angkor,
among the 21 finalist candidates in the campaign to choose the New
Seven Wonders of the World.
The most important monument of the Khmer Empire and the world's
largest sacred temple complex, Angkor is famous for its complex
ornamentation and striking beauty. The temples at Angkor are spread
out over 64 kms around the village of Sien Reap, about 308 kms from
the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.
Like many other aspects of their culture, the Cambodians adapted
Indian architectural methods and styles. The Hindu religion played an
important part in the Khmer temples. In fact, the Hindu monarch
Jayavarman II introduced the cult of `Devaraja' into Cambodia, which
saw the King as a representative of Lord Shiva. From then on, the
temples were built to honour both the Lord and the King. However, the
Angkor Wat temple was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu though later
it was converted to a Buddhist temple.
Angkor is a vernacular form of the word nokor which comes from the
Sanskrit word nagara (city), while wat is the Khmer word for temple.
The most famous temple in Angkor is Angkor Wat, a huge pyramid temple
built by King Suryavarman II between 1113 and 1150, generally seen as
the masterpiece of Khmer architecture. It is surrounded by a 570 feet
wide and about 6.4 km long moat. With its water moats, concentric
walls and great temple mountain in the center, Angkor Wat symbolizes
the Hindu cosmos, with its oceans at the periphery and the Meru
mountain at the centre of the universe.
Other impressive temples include Ta Prohm in the midst of still dense
jungles and the Bayon built by King Jayavarman VII in the later part
of 12th century that features among other things 3,936 feet of
beautiful bas-relief carving.
There are other temples located in the area and Khmer temples can also
be found in many other parts of Cambodia, as well as China, Thailand,
Laos and Vietnam.
For the Cambodians, the Angkor Wat has become a matter of national
pride with the temple appearing even on its national flag, the only
building to appear on any national flag. In fact, riots erupted in the
capital city after a Thai artist claimed that the temple belonged to
Thailand.
For us Indians too, Angkor not only reminds us of our ancient glory
but also symbolizes the deep impact Indian culture had across the
globe, particularly South-East Asia. After the destruction of the
Bamiyan Buddhas by the fundamentalist Taliban in Afghanistan, Angkor
remains the most potent symbol of the glory of Hindu culture outside
of India.
The shortlist was chosen by a panel of world remowned architects and
ex-UNESCO Chief Federico Mayor in January 2006, out of 77 public
nominations.
In fact, only one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, the Great
Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, survives to this date.
The internet contest for the new seven wonders is aimed at raising
global awareness about the world's shared cultural heritage and was
conceived by Swiss film maker, curator and traveler Bernard Weber,
following the destruction of the giant Buddha statues at Bamyan in 2001.
Though Indian television channels are running a campaign for the
inclusion of the Taj in the list appealing to the nationalist
sentiments, much of the internet and phone text message voting so far
has avoided national preferences.
A visit to the site www.new7wonders.com would reveal that any
visitor can vote for any seven monuments of his or her choice. So, if
Taj deserves your vote, click the mouse for Angkor Wat too. It is as
much ours as is the Taj.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Please use http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=409 to vote
I selected Angkor and Taj Mahal, besides others.