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Angkor Wat

Definition

Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia and one of the largest religious monuments in the world. It was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu but gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple.

Analogy

Think of Angkor Wat as an enormous multi-purpose stadium. Initially, it was designed for football (Hinduism), but over time, it started hosting baseball games (Buddhism) too.

Related terms

Khmer Empire: The powerful state in ancient Cambodia which built Angkor Wat - like the construction company behind a massive architectural project.

Vishnu: A principal deity of Hinduism, often depicted as preserver and protector of the universe - akin to Superman in comic books who protects Earth from various threats.

Theravada Buddhism: The form of Buddhism that became dominant at Angkor Wat after its transition from Hinduism. It's like switching from iOS to Android operating system on your phone.