Taprom Temple
Taprom Temple
Date: Built in late twelfth century
Religion: Buddhism
King: Jayavarman VII (1181-1221)
Posthumous name: Mahasangatapada
The tourist who arrives in Ta Prom feels mysterious and amazed because Ta Prom structure is not much restored and it still has its special natural condition of jungle. It shows the tourist what the temple is like after it’s been abandoned for hundreds of years.
Ta Prom was constructed in 1186AD by king Jayavarman VII to dedicate to his mother, to Buddhism and to use a Buddhism Education Center. The five- year construction of this temple was begun immediately after Jayavarman VII had just finished a five year-construction of Banteay Kdei temple. Ta Prom was designed with 36 towers. The central tower of Ta Prom originally had Buddha’s 
mother’s statue, but today it only has its pedestal. Buddha’s mother was called Pranhaparamita. She was a god of wisdom.
mother’s statue, but today it only has its pedestal. Buddha’s mother was called Pranhaparamita. She was a god of wisdom.
Ta prom is a grand temple complex covering an area of 1000m by 700m and there’s one entrance structure on each side. As it is easy to get lost inside, i would like to confirm that we are entering the temple through the North entrance which is quiet and well preserved, and we come out through the west entrance as the driver is waiting there.
Inscription:
According to the inscription, the original name of 
this temple was Raja Vihara which means The Royal Monastery. Taprom or Prom is a new name and a local accent of Brahma. Brahma is a Hindu god who has four faces similar to Buddha.after this temple was abandon for many hundreds of years, the people living around here forget the history and just call this temple Taprom because they think those faces belong to Brahma not Buddha.
this temple was Raja Vihara which means The Royal Monastery. Taprom or Prom is a new name and a local accent of Brahma. Brahma is a Hindu god who has four faces similar to Buddha.after this temple was abandon for many hundreds of years, the people living around here forget the history and just call this temple Taprom because they think those faces belong to Brahma not Buddha.
The inscription found in this temple describes clearly about the number of properties and people who lived in Ta Prom. There were 79, 365 people 
who lived and practiced religious ceremony in this temple complex. Those people were 18 high Brahmins,2740 monks or Buddhist teachers, 2202 low rank priests, 615 dancers so on. King Jayavarman VII also assigned 3,140villages around here to support this temple. Prom owned a set of gold dish weighing500kg and a set of silver dish weighing 500kg. Ta Prom owned precious stones such as 36 pieces of diamonds, 36 pieces of rubies, 36 pieces sapphires,44,620 pieces of pearls and 4500 pieces of other precious stones. Ta Prom had 250 statues of Buddha, Hindu gods,
and king’s ancestors. Some of those statues were made in gold, silver, bronze and some in mahogany. beside this, there were useful stuff such as 512 pieces of good silk, 523 parasols, and 876 veils from China so on. furthermore, the inscription shows a list of offerings for daily praying in Ta Prom such as rice, seeds, milk, and oil sent from those villages. moreover, there is also a list of supplies from the royal treasures needed for special ceremony such as seeds, milk, honey juice, wax, sandalwood and 2,387 sets of clothe to adorn the statues. The inscription 
ends with saying that’ Doing these good deeds, I and all prayers with extreme devotion dedicated these things to my mother. Because of the virtue of good deeds, i wished my mother enjoy life in the highest heaven with Buddha’s mother after she passed away from the earth. What the inscription mentions makes the Cambodian people proud of the glorious period of Khmer kingdom.
who lived and practiced religious ceremony in this temple complex. Those people were 18 high Brahmins,2740 monks or Buddhist teachers, 2202 low rank priests, 615 dancers so on. King Jayavarman VII also assigned 3,140villages around here to support this temple. Prom owned a set of gold dish weighing500kg and a set of silver dish weighing 500kg. Ta Prom owned precious stones such as 36 pieces of diamonds, 36 pieces of rubies, 36 pieces sapphires,44,620 pieces of pearls and 4500 pieces of other precious stones. Ta Prom had 250 statues of Buddha, Hindu gods, and king’s ancestors. Some of those statues were made in gold, silver, bronze and some in mahogany. beside this, there were useful stuff such as 512 pieces of good silk, 523 parasols, and 876 veils from China so on. furthermore, the inscription shows a list of offerings for daily praying in Ta Prom such as rice, seeds, milk, and oil sent from those villages. moreover, there is also a list of supplies from the royal treasures needed for special ceremony such as seeds, milk, honey juice, wax, sandalwood and 2,387 sets of clothe to adorn the statues. The inscription ends with saying that’ Doing these good deeds, I and all prayers with extreme devotion dedicated these things to my mother. Because of the virtue of good deeds, i wished my mother enjoy life in the highest heaven with Buddha’s mother after she passed away from the earth. What the inscription mentions makes the Cambodian people proud of the glorious period of Khmer kingdom.
Dancing Hall:
The same to other main temples built by Jayavarman VII, Ta Prom also has its dancing hall.According to the inscription, 615 beautiful girls 
were sent from every city to be taught how to dance as divine dancers to perform here. They danced twice a month in this hall, during full moon and new moon time which are religious holy days.
were sent from every city to be taught how to dance as divine dancers to perform here. They danced twice a month in this hall, during full moon and new moon time which are religious holy days.
The dome roof of the hall has completely collapsed and being restored by Cambodian-Indian corporation project.
Hollywood Movie:
Most of the tourists who come to visit Taprom wish to see real amazing trees growing on the temple as there were filmed in Holywood Movie, Tomb Raider acted by Anjerlyna Jolie.
In that movie, Angerlyna Joly, who played asLaracros, tried to explore a half of a triangle hidden under a jasmine tree that was growing in side this temple. She competed against another group of explorers who also wanted to take that half of the 
triangle. they want it to fix together with another half hidden at the other side of the earth to get power to control the time of the universe or to be immortal and Laracros just wanted to meet her father bring her father back from the past. When Laracros was exploring near the jasmine tree, she fell down into the underground. Down there, the statues of lions and demons with many arms and weapons became alive and aggressively attacked her and other explorers. She struggled to fight against them. Finally, she found what wanted and escaped to Angkor Wat. There, she was blessed and well treated by monks.
triangle. they want it to fix together with another half hidden at the other side of the earth to get power to control the time of the universe or to be immortal and Laracros just wanted to meet her father bring her father back from the past. When Laracros was exploring near the jasmine tree, she fell down into the underground. Down there, the statues of lions and demons with many arms and weapons became alive and aggressively attacked her and other explorers. She struggled to fight against them. Finally, she found what wanted and escaped to Angkor Wat. There, she was blessed and well treated by monks.
The central shrine:
The central and the main tower of the temple used to have Buddha’s mother’s statue, but today, it only remains its pedestal. There’re many holes on the wall with some remaining iron in them. These holes were probably fixed with iron sticks to carry copper plates or to be placed in with precious stones to make this chamber very bright and rich of decoration.
Stegosaur:
Today many archeologists are researching why there is a figure of Stegosaur on Taprom structure. Are there any dinosaurs in the late 12th century? If not, why is its figure here?
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