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.
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 India 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.
CENTRAL ISLAND
The bodies of two serpents encircle the base of the island
and their entwine on… Neak Pean-the last word being pronounced , 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 waver 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.
