BUDDHIST INFLUENCES APPEARING IN PRASAT TA MUEN THOM

Abstract

Abstract

This research article aims to examine: 1) the architectural forms, meanings, development, and religious concepts underlying the construction of Prasat Ta Muean Thom; 2) the manifestations of Buddhist beliefs found within the site; and 3) the influence of Buddhism as reflected in the architecture and inscriptions of Prasat Ta Muean Thom. This qualitative research collected data through documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with key informants. The data were analyzed using descriptive methods.

The findings reveal that: 1) Prasat Ta Muean Thom was originally a Hindu sanctuary affiliated with Shaivism, constructed during the 15th–17th Buddhist centuries. The temple complex comprises a main sanctuary, auxiliary structures, a library, and a surrounding gallery. A distinctive feature is its south-facing orientation, which contrasts with the typical east-facing Khmer temples. Its architectural development indicates repeated reconstruction on the original site or the reassembly of ancient elements in accordance with ritualistic beliefs and religious practices. 2) Buddhist beliefs at the site are evidenced by inscriptions containing the words “virtue” (khunatham) and “hell” (narok). Although rooted in Hinduism, these terms reflect the influence of Buddhist doctrines, particularly the concepts of karma, its consequences, and the afterlife. 3) The Buddhist influence can be interpreted through the concept of khunatham as aligned with the Noble Eightfold Path—central to Buddhist practice—while narok corresponds to beliefs in realms of suffering found in both Buddhist and Hindu cosmologies. This demonstrates a syncretic integration of the two belief systems in this frontier zone of civilization.