Most temples before Angkor were dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, however, this temple was dedicated to Vishnu and faced it west, instead of east. The architects designed the temple and grounds to represent the universe, including the ocean and a mountain temple to house the Hindu gods which was the main reason of importance for Khmer.
Additionally, it lay in a most auspicious location at the center of the capital city of the Khmer Empire. The city served as a testament to the wealth and power of Suryavarman’s vast kingdom.
