Prasat Kravan

Prasat Kravan (Khmer: ប្រាសាទក្រវាន់) is a small 10th-century temple consisting of five reddish brick towers on a common terrace, at Angkor, Cambodia, south of the artificial lake (baray) called Srah Srang. Its original Sanskrit name is unknown. The modern name in Khmer, "Prasat Kravan", means artabotrys odoratissimus temple. The temple was dedicated to Vishnu in 921 CE,[1]:70 according to an inscription on doorjambs.[2]

Prasat Kravan
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DeityVishnu
Location
LocationAngkor, south of the Srah Srang baray
CountryCambodia
Location in Cambodia
Geographic coordinates13°25′11″N 103°53′59″E
Architecture
TypeEarly Angkorian
CreatorHigh officials under Harshavarman I or Ishanavarman II
Completed921

The site was cleaned from vegetation in the 1930s by Henri Marchal and Georges Trouvé. Afterwards the towers were restored on Bernard Philippe Groslier's initiative from 1962 to 1966,[2] adding some new bricks which are marked with a "CA" (meaning "Conservation Angkor").[3]

The temple is oriented to the east and surrounded by a small moat. Its exterior is striking for its classical lines and symmetry. The central and the south tower have superstructures which take advantage of false perspective by simple means of diminishing tiers. The sanctuary's interiors are remarkable for the large bas-relief depictions of Vishnu and Lakshmi that have been carved into the walls of reddish brick, connected by a vegetable compound. This type of sculptured artwork is rather common in Cham temples, but rare in known Khmer monuments.[4]

Bas-reliefs

The bas-reliefs on the interior walls of the central tower are representations of Vishnu. There are three in all:

  • Four-armed Vishnu sits astride his vehicle Garuda and holding his standard appurtenances: the globe, the conch, the discus, and the baton.
  • Four-armed Vishnu, again holding his four standard appurtenances, takes a large step. This image illustrates the story of Vishnu in his incarnation as Vamana the dwarf taking three great steps to reclaim the world from the asura Bali.
  • Eight-armed Vishnu stands stiffly in the position of a statue. He is surrounded by hundreds of tiny devotees and surmounted by a crocodile or a lizard. Its significance remains unknown.[5]
Relief of Vishnu on garuda carved directly out of the brick walls.

The interior walls of the northernmost tower feature a pair of bas-reliefs of Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort, flanked by devotees:

  • In one of the depictions, the goddess holds the trident of Shiva and the discus of Vishnu, possibly marking her as the great goddess who transcends the duality of Saiva and Vaishnava worship.
  • A more traditional depiction of Lakshmi holding lotuses is on the opposite wall.

References
  1. Higham, C., 2001, The Civilization of Angkor, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, ISBN 9781842125847
  2. Glaize 1993, p.153
  3. Freeman, Jacques 2006, p.153
  4. in Freeman, Jacques 2006 The authors say they are "the only known examples of their type" but this is incorrect, e.g., there are brick bas-reliefs in Vat Praeus Meas (page on CISARK site Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine), Phnom Trop group, near Skuon, in Kampong Cham Province. For some photos see http://angkorexplorers.nengu.jp/07ruins/16_013phnomtrop/index.htm . Pointed out on Andy Brouwer's blog.
  5. Freeman, Jacques 2006, p.154

Notes
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