Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple near the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia,
built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara (“Royal Monastery”).
Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university.
Jayavarman VII constructed Rajavihara in honour of his family. The temple’s main image, representing Prajnaparamita, the personification of wisdom, was modelled on the king’s mother.
The northern and southern satellite temples in the third enclosure were dedicated to the king’s guru, Jayamangalartha,and his elder brother respectively. As such,
Ta Prohm formed a complementary pair with the temple monastery of Preah Khan, dedicated in 1191 A.D., the main image of which represented the Bodhisattva of compassion Lokesvara and was modelled on the king’s father.