Angkor’s legacy still ripples through the rhythms of Cambodian Buddhism, where ancient Hindu-Buddhist blends set the stage for today’s spiritual tapestry. One noticeable echo lies in temple architecture and layout: modern wats often mimic the tiered “temple-mountain” concept pioneered at Angkor, symbolizing Mount Meru. Those soaring prasats and concentric galleries live on in contemporary stupas and ordination halls, guiding pilgrims from the earthly realm toward nirvana.

Sacred imagery offers another thread. Guardians carved into sandstone—lions, nagas and yakshas—have morphed into lively murals and statuary flanking today’s vihāras. Their silent watch over worshippers mirrors Angkorian protective deities, a reminder that spiritual safety still hinges on balancing Buddhist precepts with animist rites. It’s common during Pchum Ben to see spirit offerings laid at neak ta shrines—nature spirits once embedded in Angkor’s foundation stones—alongside trays of rice and flowers for departed ancestors.

Rituals also carry that Angkorian stamp. Current water-pouring ceremonies, meant to transfer merit, recall ancient purification rites performed for kings at the Royal Palace’s sacred barays. Chanting sequences preserve verses that once resonated beneath the Bayon’s smiling faces. At festivals like Meak Bochea, lightning-flash processions weave monks, laypeople and spirit mediums into a living tableau not unlike the processional art once painted on temple ceilings.

Even ordination customs bear faint echoes: young novices today still wear saffron robes patterned after depictions found in Angkorian bas-reliefs. Their ceremonial crowns and banners are direct descendants of those presented to bodhisattva-kings. This royal-religious fusion underpins the close ties between monkhood and monarchy, reinforcing the monarch’s role as Dharmaraja, guardian of the faith.

Recent UNESCO-led restorations—especially at Ta Prohm—have reignited public fascination with those ancient rituals. As heritage tourism blooms, there’s renewed pride in rituals that blend pre-Buddhist spirit lore with Theravada orthodoxy. In essence, Cambodian Buddhism remains a living palimpsest, where every prayer, every incense stick, carries a whisper of Angkor’s bygone grandeur.