Angkor Wat, originally constructed as a grand Hindu temple in the early 12th century, underwent a remarkable transformation into a Buddhist site over several centuries.

This process was not abrupt but evolved in response to shifting religious, political, and cultural landscapes within the Khmer Empire and its surroundings.

Angkor Wat was built between 1122 and 1150 CE under King Suryavarman II, dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Its architecture embodies Hindu cosmology, featuring motifs of Mount Meru and extensive bas-reliefs depicting the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

For several decades, it served as the king's state temple and a symbol of imperial power.

The Rise of Buddhism and Religious Syncretism

In 1177, Angkor was sacked by the Chams. Subsequently, King Jayavarman VII, who ruled from the late 12th century, restored Khmer power and became a devout Mahayana Buddhist. Under his reign, Buddhism was elevated to the status of state religion. Jayavarman VII orchestrated a major shift in the region’s spiritual landscape, building new Buddhist temples like Bayon and retrofitting older Hindu temples to accommodate Buddhist worship.

Although Jayavarman VII’s main focus was the construction of Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple, his adoption of Mahayana Buddhism created a cultural climate in which Hindu temples—including Angkor Wat—began to display images of the Buddha and Buddhist iconography alongside pre-existing Hindu deities. This syncretism reflected a uniquely Khmer approach, blending both traditions.

Conversion to Theravada Buddhism

While Jayavarman VII practiced Mahayana Buddhism, by the early 15th century, the dominant form of Buddhism in Cambodia shifted toward Theravada. This movement was propelled by increased trade and scholarly contact with Thailand and Myanmar, regions where Theravada Buddhism was already rooted.

As Theravada Buddhist influence grew, so did the presence of Buddhist monks and communities at Angkor Wat. The temple underwent structural and iconographic changes: Buddha statues were added and sections of the temple were adapted for Buddhist rituals, while some Hindu imagery was repurposed or replaced. Inscriptions and travelers’ accounts from the 16th and 17th centuries further document Angkor Wat’s flourishing as a pilgrimage site for Khmer and foreign Buddhists alike.

Cultural and Political Factors

The conversion also reflected deeper social and political changes. The decline of the Khmer Empire, shifts in regional power, and the appeal of Buddhist values during periods of upheaval all contributed to Angkor Wat’s sustained relevance as a spiritual center. Khmer kings and their courts continued to sponsor the temple, but now oriented its purpose toward Buddhist devotion. Eventually, Angkor Wat became an enduring symbol of Khmer identity, uniting its population under, and through, Buddhist tradition.

Legacy

Despite periods of political neglect, Angkor Wat was never abandoned. Buddhist faithful continued to visit and care for the temple through the centuries, ensuring its survival as a sacred space. Today, it remains a functioning Buddhist center and a national symbol of Cambodia, embodying the complex historical interplay between Hinduism and Buddhism in Southeast Asia.