KRAVAN PRASAT
"The Cardamom Sanctuary"
Prasat Krawan
is located in the east of Angkor Wat and south of Banteay Kdei. A enter and
depart from the east.
Tip:
The reliefs in this tower are best viewed in the morning when the east light
enters the door, in the afternoon they are barely visible.
It was built in the first half of the tenth century (921) by Completed during.
the reign of Harshavarman 1 (it may have been built by high court officials) in Hindu religion with following transitional from Bakheng to Koh Ker.
BACKGROUND
The main point
of interest at Kravan is the sculpture on the interior of two of the five towers
depicting Visnu and his consort, Laksmi; the scene in the central tower is the
most impressive one. These carvings in brick on the interior of a monument are
unique in Khmer architecture.
This temple was reconstructed by the French and given a new foundation, interior walls and drains. Some broken bricks were replaced with carefully made reproductions which are marked with the letters CA; representing the Angkor Conservancy These can be seen, for example, on both the interior and exterior of the tower on the right.
LAYOUT
Kravan is an
unusual arrangement of five towers in a row on one terrace. They are built of
brick; the lintels and columns are of sandstone.
CENTRAL TOWER
This is the
only tower with recessed tiers intact, which are visible on the interior. The
columns are octagonal, with four bare sides and sandstone rings. This tower
enclosed a linga on a pedestal. An inscription on the pillars gives the
date 921 for the erection of the statue of Visnu on the interior Decoration
(exterior): The east side of the Central Tower is sculpted with male guardians
in shallow niches and chevrons and framed figures on the pilasters. A frieze of
small heads adorns the lintel. Decoration (interior): The main decoration of
this tower, on the left, depicts Visnu taking three steps to span the universe
and to assure the gods of the possession of the world. It comprises a standing
image of Visnu (with four arms) carrying his attributes-a disc, a ball, a conch
and a club. One of his feet rests on a pedestal; nearby a person is meditating
and another one is walking on a lotus held by a woman on a background of
undulating lines representing the waves of the ocean. On the right, Visnu (with
eight arms) is framed with six registers of people meditating and a giant
lizard. This sculpture on brick was formerly coated with stucco and was probably
highlighted with color.
NORTH TOWER
This temple was
dedicated to Laksmi, wife of Siva. She holds the symbols of her powers in her
four hands and is flanked by kneeling admirers, the niche with multiple lobes is
decorated with tassels and floral swags.
SOUTH TOWER
The walls on
the interior have no decoration A lintel on the exterior with Visnu on his
mount, the Garuda, is skillfully modeled.
Source: tourismcambodia |