Angkor Wat, originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, underwent a profound transformation into a Buddhist monument—largely due to the religious vision and legacy of King Jayavarman VII, one of the Khmer Empire’s greatest rulers.

Jayavarman VII’s Path to Power and Buddhist Patronage

Jayavarman VII ascended the throne in the late 12th century, following the devastating Cham invasion of Angkor. A devout Mahayana Buddhist, strongly influenced by his wife Indradevi, he saw Buddhist compassion and wisdom as guiding principles for both government and personal conduct.

His reign marked a dramatic shift: Buddhism became the Khmer state religion for the first time. Jayavarman VII constructed new Buddhist monuments, notably Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple, and pointedly invested in hospitals, rest houses, and civic works inspired by Buddhist ethics of care and relief from suffering.

Conversion and Transformation of Angkor Wat

While Jayavarman VII poured resources into new Buddhist temples, his religious policies had ripple effects throughout the empire, including Angkor Wat. Originally a Hindu temple, Angkor Wat’s gradual conversion began in Jayavarman’s time:

• Integration of Buddhist Iconography and Ritual:
  Under Jayavarman VII, images of the Buddha and bodhisattvas (especially Avalokitesvara/Lokesvara, symbolizing compassion) began to appear alongside or even replacing Hindu deities in Angkor Wat’s galleries and sanctuaries. These additions invited Buddhist ritual and pilgrimage, fostering syncretism between the old and new faiths.

• Political and Religious Syncretism:
  Jayavarman VII’s adoption of Mahayana Buddhism wasn’t simply a religious choice. It offered a new cultural glue for the empire, aligning spiritual values—compassion, wisdom, protection—with political authority and unity. The four-faced towers of Bayon (close to Angkor Wat) are widely believed to blend Jayavarman’s visage with Avalokitesvara, an embodiment of kingly compassion.

• Gradual Reorientation of Practices:
  While the temple’s core cosmological layout and many Hindu bas-reliefs were preserved, the daily and ceremonial activities increasingly centered on Buddhist worship. The original Hindu structure became a living home for Buddhist ritual, meditation, and community gatherings.

Long-Term Impact and Legacy

Jayavarman VII’s conversion did not instantly erase Angkor Wat’s Hindu past; instead, it set the framework for centuries of integration. The process of transformation continued after his reign, especially as Theravada Buddhism became dominant in Cambodia in the centuries ahead. Buddhist monks, rituals, and iconography took root, ensuring Angkor Wat’s survival and relevance as a sacred center even as political fortunes changed.

Today, Angkor Wat remains a national and spiritual symbol—its layers of Hindu and Buddhist heritage standing as enduring testimony to Jayavarman VII’s vision and the adaptive genius of Khmer civilization.

In summary:

Jayavarman VII did not just convert Angkor Wat—he inaugurated a new religious era.

His passionate embrace of Mahayana Buddhism infused the temple with new iconography and ritual, modeled a compassionate kingship, and facilitated its transformation into a vital Buddhist pilgrimage site, shaping centuries of Cambodian faith and culture.