OUR WORLD || Vietnam
Located in the deep jungle of central Vietnam is the ancient Hindu temple ruines, My Son Sanctuary.
The My Son Sanctuary, located in the mountainous Duy Xuyen District of central Vietnam, served as the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom from the 4th to the 13th centuries CE. This sacred site showcases a unique Hindu-influenced culture that flourished in Southeast Asia during this period.
The sanctuary's strategic location, surrounded by mountains and near the sacred Thu Bon river, was chosen by the ruling Dua Clan as their ancestral homeland. Over ten centuries, they constructed impressive tower temples primarily dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, reflecting a blend of indigenous traditions and Indian influences.
The site contains 71 standing monuments arranged in eight groups, each symbolizing Mount Meru, the sacred mountain of Hindu mythology. These structures, featuring intricate sandstone bas-reliefs, demonstrate the sophisticated engineering and religious thought of the Cham civilization.
Despite damage during 20th-century conflicts, conservation efforts have maintained the site's authenticity and integrity. My Son Sanctuary is recognized for its cultural significance and its representation of the Champa Kingdom's history, offering unique insights into Southeast Asian spiritual and political history.
Current challenges for the site include weather risks, unexploded ordnance in the buffer zone, and managing increasing tourism. These issues are being addressed through various initiatives and management plans to ensure the preservation of this remarkable architectural ensemble.
Surrounding jungle you walk through to get to My Son Sanctuary.
The ruins at My Son Sanctuary feature inscriptions in Sanskrit and Cham.
Garbhagriha is a shrine room with this construct of some kind that was suppose to be used for religous purposes with water.
This room is used to store safely hand crafted relics from around the site, and even some weapons found after the Vietnam war.
This is another site located further into the My Son site up on a hilltop.
The main site at My Son Sanctuary that you can see expands over a large area right under the Mount Meru, the sacred mountain of Hindu mythology.