Bayon Temple

History of Bayon Temple: Bayon Temple was the last state-run temple built in Angkor by King Jayavarman VII (King Jayavarman VII), it was primarily a Mahayana Buddhist temple dedicated to Buddha, although there were a few minor and Buddhist temples. It is the only Angkor state temple ever built. Local deities were also included as representatives of the various districts and cities of the realm. It was central to Jayavarman VII's massive program of monumental construction and public works, also responsible for Angkor Thom's walls and Naga Bridge, as well as the Preah Khan, Ta Prohm and Banteay Kdei temples. The similarity of the 216 huge faces on the temple towers to other statues of the king has led many scholars to conclude that they are representations of Jayavarman VII himself. Others said that the face belonged to the Bodhisattva of Compassion called Guanyin Bodhisattva or Lokesvara. Angkorian scholar George Coedes theorized that Jayavarman stood squarely in the tradition of Khmer monarchs who considered themselves "Devaraja" (god-kings), the notable difference being that his predecessors were Hindus and themselves identified with Shiva and his symbol. In contrast to his identification with the inlingam, Jayavarman VII, a Buddhist, identified himself with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.