Prasat
Neak Pean is located in the east of Prah Khan, 300 meters (984 feet) from the road.
A enter and leave from the north entrance. It was built in second half of the 12th century
by king Jayavarman VII, dedicated to Buddhist, with following to
Prasat Bayon art style.
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BACKGROUND
Although.
Neak Pean is small and a collection of five ponds, it is worth a visit for its
unique features. It is believed to have been consecrated to Buddha coning to the
glory of Nivana.
The central pond is a replica of Lake Anavatapta in the Himalayas,
situated at the top of the universe. The lake gives birth to the four great
rivers of the earth. These rivers are represented at Neak Pean by sculpted
gargoyles corresponding to the four cardinal points Lake Anavatapta was fed by
hot springs and venerated in Idia for the curative powers of its waters. The
orientation of the ponds at Neak Pean ensured that the water was always fresh
because the pods received only reflected light.
LAYOUT
Neak
Pean is a large square man-made pond (70 meters, 230 feet each side) bordered by
steps and surrounded by four smaller ponds. A small circular island with a
stepped base of seven laterite tiers is in the center of the large square pond.
Small elephants sculpted in the round originally stood on the four comers. The
central tower was dedicated to Avalokitesvara
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CENTRAL
ISLAND (1)
The
bodies of two serpents encircle the base of the island and their entwine on…Neak
Pean-the last word being pronounced <Ponn>, and the whole name signifies
curved Nagas. Neak Pean is one of the temples that makes one dream of the olden
days of luxury and beauty. It was worth while to live then and to be a woman
among a race which has wver adored its women It is to the overpowering temple of
Civa that men and armies repaired, but it was at the tiny temple of Neak Pean
that eager princesses laid their lovely offerings of wrought gold and pungent
perfumes…Fancy it as it was in the old days. To begin with there was the
artificial lake, a wide extent of water in the shallows of which floated the
flowering lotus. In its exact center-the surveyors of Angkor were expert stood
the exquisite miniature temple of one
small chamber, the sanctuary, a temple as finely ornate and as well-proportioned
as an alabaster vase. With art delicious this wonder was made to appear like a
vision in the land of faerie. It floated upon a full-opened flower of the lotus,
the petal tips curling back to touch the water. On the corolla of the flower
curved around the temple’s base, were two Nagas whose tails were twisted
together at the back and who raised their fan of heads on either side of the
steps in front which mounted to the sanctuary. Thus they guarded the gem and
gave gracious welcome to whosoever directed her light barque to draw close to
this lovely heaven….On this circular pedestal of poetic imagination rested a
square temple with four carved doors, one open occupying all the fasade except
for the square columns which flank it. Above rose the tower with pointed
over-door groups of carvings, symbolic, graceful, inspiring Each closed door
bore the figure of the humane god Vishnu standing at full height, but lest he
impress too strongly his grandeur in this dainty spot, the space about him is
filled with minor carving which vary on each door.
Within this lovely casket was a seated stone figure.
The door was ever open, suppliants might at any time lay before Buddha their
offerings and their prayers.
The chamber was too small to admit them and they
stood without in a bending group, swaying toward the Naga-heads for support or
salaaming gracious salutations to the god of peaceful meditation. The golden
boat floating beside the approach again… Rowers moved the shallop so slowly
that the Naga-prow seemed to progress of its own volition. And so, the gods
appeased, the spirits rose, and life went happily in the lovely twilight
hour…one must know its former state to love it….Neak Pean stands hidden, but
it stands in greater perfection than if it had not had not had the enveloping.
H Churchill
Candee, Angkor: The Magnificent, The
Wonder City of Ancient Cambodia (H F& G Witherby, London, 1925)
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