Neak Pean is one of
the temples that make one dream of the olden days of luxury and beauty. It was
worth while to the overpowering temples of Siva 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.
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.
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.
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.
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