Po Nagar is a Cham temple complex, located in the modern-day coastal city
of Nha Trang in Vietnam. The complex is dedicated to goddess Yan Po Nagar, the
founder of the Cham people according to legend.
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| Po Nagar temple complex with the shrines dedicated goddess Yan Po Nagar (left), Shiva (middle) and Kartikeya (right) |
Records dating back to 781 CE indicates the Cham king Jaya Satyavarman
(reigned from 770 CE to 787 CE) reconstructed the original temple structure,
after regaining power in the area, from the Javanese raiders). This suggest
that the original temple complex would have been much older. The site was
continuously in use until the mid-13th Century CE, with subsequent rulers
continuing constructions and restorations.
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Goddess Yan Po Nagar (Lady Po Nagar)
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The temple complex has three levels, with the topmost level containing the
temple shrines dedicated to the deities. The first level consisting of the
stone steps from the entrance leads to the vestibule area (“the Mandapa”),
where the worshipers prepared their offerings for the ceremony inside the
temple. The third level consists of four temple shrines (although there were
six initially). The temple shrines are dedicated to the goddess Yan Po Nagar
and the Hindu gods Shiva, Kartikeya and Ganesha.
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| The temple shrine dedicated to Yan Po Nagar |
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The depiction of the Hindu goddess Durga, above the entrance to the temple shrine dedicated to Yan Po Nagar
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Today, the Cham people of Vietnam still use Po Nagar as a place of worship. |
| The Mandapa at Po Nagar |
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The Mandapa at Po Nagar
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