Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Cultural beliefs have played a vital role in developing cities. Historic cities worldwide show the places of cultural importance as the city centers and settlement around it. Various patterns of development have emerged due to religious beliefs of the region, dominated by the socio-cultural functions as the focus. In India, temples were not only the religious structures but also served as a socio-administrative centers historically. These temples have always played a pivotal role in shaping the cities leading to the typology of ‘Temple towns’ e.g. city of Madurai and Srirangam showcase the planning principles with similar concept. History demonstrates that city planning was a matter of great concern in all the Indianized kingdoms of Southeast Asia as well, where the Indian cultural influence was evident with specific planning principles focusing on the temples. This research paper focuses on the planning principals implied in Khmer capitals during the evolution of Angkor region of Cambodia from 5th AD and reached at its peak in 12th C AD. The key concepts were cosmological belief that symbolic correspondences existed between the divine macrocosm and the mundane microcosm. These concepts were given symbolic expression through ritual re-enactment along with the material configuration of centers of power. Each ruler had planned a capital based on the concept of Devarāja which was of a high significance, had an influence of Indian culture and religion. The paper evaluates the architectural manifestation of the cultural beliefs during the chronological development of the capitals.