Prasat Kravan Temple
Date: first quarter of the 10th century (921)
King: Harshavarman I (posthumous name: Rudraloka)
Cult: Brahmanic
Clearing H. Marchal in 1929-1931 and G. Trouvé in 1935
Further restoration by B.P. Groslier from 1962-1966
Prasat Kravan is a Hindu templebuilt in 921AD by a minister Mahendravarman, under the reign of king Harshavarman I who crowned from 910-923AD. Minister Mahendravarman dedicated this temple to Vishnu god. Prasat Kravan was designed as a small brick temple with five towers standing a row on a single foundation. Although Prasat Kravan is a small temple, it’s very interesting to visit because it’s the only one temple in Cambodia which has carvings carved directly into the brick while other brick temples have carvings on the plaster covered the structure.
Returning towards Siem Reap by the Small Circuit, on the left one passes, between the 12th and 13th kilometre marker stones, a line of five crumbling brick towers set at an angle to the road. One should not hesitate to stop here, since within their barren exterior they hide a phenomenon unique in the art of Angkor; - sculpture in the brickwork of the sanctuary interiors.
Surrounded by a moat, which is crossed in its north-western corner by a small access causeway, these towers are set quite close, built on a single terrace and open to the east - though the absence of any access stairway to the very high thresholds is surprising. Their state of ruin has been caused mainly by the presence of several large trees, whose roots have disintegrated the brickwork.
We recommend that the visit starts with the central tower, the only one still retaining any of its upper tiers. These remain perfectly visible, particularly from inside where the brickwork has been constructed with remarkable care; - the mortar-less joints, which have only a thin vegetal binder, remain absolutely tight.
Externally, the eastern side is sculpted with dvarapalas set in shallow niches, while the pilasters show a decoration of chevrons and small framed figures. Only the lintel with its line of small heads set in a frieze above and the octagonal colonnettes with their four ringed bands are in sandstone. All are very well preserved. The jambs of the door openings are inscribed, mentioning the placing of a statue of Vishnou in 921.
The 3m.50 square sanctuary chamber sheltered a linga on a pedestal and must once have contained a hanging velum, the stone suspension hooks for which can still be seen. To the left of the entrance one can see a large figure of Vishnou, whose four arms carry the usual attributes - a disc, a sphere, a conch and a club. One of his feet rests on a pedestal next to a figure in prayer, while the other stands on a lotus blossom being held by a female figure on a background of undulating lines (waves of the Ocean). This is clearly a representation of the "three strides of Vishnou", with which the god won possession of the world. To the right is a Vishnou mounted on the shoulders of Garuda between two seated figures in prayer. In front, another Vishnou with eight arms is framed by six rows of standing figures in prayer which multiply in number from bottom to top and are for the most part masculine, above all of which there is a frieze of other praying figures and an enormous lizard.
The extreme northern tower is also sculpted internally with figures (although unfortunately truncated at the waist) replicating the female aspect of the central sanctuary and perhaps consecrated to Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnou. A pedestal was found there during clearing works, ornate on three sides of its plinth with small figures in prayer.
The three other towers have their walls bare. In places one can see again the remains of their false brick doors, and on the middle northern tower some fragments of sculpted pilasters. The best preserved of the lintels (Vishnou on Garuda) is to be found on the extreme southern tower. Internally, the secondary towers measure only three metres across.
Moat: Prasat Kravan still has a moat surrounding.
Agni Shrine: There’s also a foundation of Agni shrine.
Entrance: There’s a cross foundation of the main entrance to the east of the temple. Its wooden structure has gone, anyway.
Staircase and lion: There’s a staircase to walk up to each shrine. Originally, each staircase had two lion statues guarding in the front, but just a few of them remain today.
Tower:
Each shrine originally had a Linga and Yoni sculpture, but just some Yoni remain. Its Gray sandstone lintels and octagon columns are still in good shape, although some carvings are eroded. They still have quite a lot of interesting figures to see.
The central tower:
The wall of the central tower has carvings of guardians carrying a club which are in good shape.
Inscription: There’re important inscriptions on the door piers. They tell us about the history of rivalry between king Harshavarman and Jayavarman IV, about principle religious projects of those kings and about religious ceremonies in this temple. The inscription also says that The Minister who was also a Brahmin provided 250 workers for acting as Slaves to the Gods in Prasat Kravan. The Minister Mahendravanman divided those people into two different groups. A half of them served in the temple during the waxing moon and another half during waning moon. Regretfully, this important inscription is gradually eroded.
Inner wall: the inner walls of this central tower have carvings of Vishnu who is a god of Protector.
Southern wall: Vishnu took a form as a dwarf called Varmana to take the three worlds back from a demon king called Balot. Balot looked down Vamana who was a dwarf, and agreed to give Vamana some land as big as he could take for three strides. We could see the waving lines symbolizing of the ocean that Vamana used only one stride to get across. Because Vamana was Vishnu’s fifth reincarnation, his three strides covered all the three worlds.
Northern wall: the northern wall has Vishnu’s figure riding on Garuda which is a mythical half bird-half man.
Western wall: the western wall also has Vishnu’s figure appearing with eight arms. he was standing in the middle of men and women who were praying and being grateful to him as he always took care of them from aggressive demons. Eights arms of Lord Vishnu represented to eight directions of the universe and he appeared at any direction where something bad happened.
Roof: the roof of this tower was opened by the French. they cut off the tip of the tower, because the French wanted some light to bright the carvings and they also covered the top with a piece of glass to protect from rainwater but glass was broken by aircraft bombardments in 1970.
The northern tower:
the northern tower has carvings of three main Hindu Gods’ wives.
Southern wall: the figure on the southern wall is Durga, who is one of Shiva’s nine wives. She was a goddess of Fierceness.
Western wall: the figure on the western wall is Laksmei, who was one of Vishnu’s two wives. She was a goddess of Beauty, good fortune.
Northern wall: the figure on the northern wall which is almost gone is Saravati. she was Brahma’s wife.she was agoddess of wisdom and Eloquence.
Date: first quarter of the 10th century (921)
King: Harshavarman I (posthumous name: Rudraloka)
Cult: Brahmanic
Clearing H. Marchal in 1929-1931 and G. Trouvé in 1935
Further restoration by B.P. Groslier from 1962-1966
Prasat Kravan is a Hindu templebuilt in 921AD by a minister Mahendravarman, under the reign of king Harshavarman I who crowned from 910-923AD. Minister Mahendravarman dedicated this temple to Vishnu god. Prasat Kravan was designed as a small brick temple with five towers standing a row on a single foundation. Although Prasat Kravan is a small temple, it’s very interesting to visit because it’s the only one temple in Cambodia which has carvings carved directly into the brick while other brick temples have carvings on the plaster covered the structure.
Surrounded by a moat, which is crossed in its north-western corner by a small access causeway, these towers are set quite close, built on a single terrace and open to the east - though the absence of any access stairway to the very high thresholds is surprising. Their state of ruin has been caused mainly by the presence of several large trees, whose roots have disintegrated the brickwork.
We recommend that the visit starts with the central tower, the only one still retaining any of its upper tiers. These remain perfectly visible, particularly from inside where the brickwork has been constructed with remarkable care; - the mortar-less joints, which have only a thin vegetal binder, remain absolutely tight.
Externally, the eastern side is sculpted with dvarapalas set in shallow niches, while the pilasters show a decoration of chevrons and small framed figures. Only the lintel with its line of small heads set in a frieze above and the octagonal colonnettes with their four ringed bands are in sandstone. All are very well preserved. The jambs of the door openings are inscribed, mentioning the placing of a statue of Vishnou in 921.
The 3m.50 square sanctuary chamber sheltered a linga on a pedestal and must once have contained a hanging velum, the stone suspension hooks for which can still be seen. To the left of the entrance one can see a large figure of Vishnou, whose four arms carry the usual attributes - a disc, a sphere, a conch and a club. One of his feet rests on a pedestal next to a figure in prayer, while the other stands on a lotus blossom being held by a female figure on a background of undulating lines (waves of the Ocean). This is clearly a representation of the "three strides of Vishnou", with which the god won possession of the world. To the right is a Vishnou mounted on the shoulders of Garuda between two seated figures in prayer. In front, another Vishnou with eight arms is framed by six rows of standing figures in prayer which multiply in number from bottom to top and are for the most part masculine, above all of which there is a frieze of other praying figures and an enormous lizard.
The extreme northern tower is also sculpted internally with figures (although unfortunately truncated at the waist) replicating the female aspect of the central sanctuary and perhaps consecrated to Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnou. A pedestal was found there during clearing works, ornate on three sides of its plinth with small figures in prayer.
The three other towers have their walls bare. In places one can see again the remains of their false brick doors, and on the middle northern tower some fragments of sculpted pilasters. The best preserved of the lintels (Vishnou on Garuda) is to be found on the extreme southern tower. Internally, the secondary towers measure only three metres across.
Moat: Prasat Kravan still has a moat surrounding.
Agni Shrine: There’s also a foundation of Agni shrine.
Entrance: There’s a cross foundation of the main entrance to the east of the temple. Its wooden structure has gone, anyway.
Staircase and lion: There’s a staircase to walk up to each shrine. Originally, each staircase had two lion statues guarding in the front, but just a few of them remain today.
Tower:
Each shrine originally had a Linga and Yoni sculpture, but just some Yoni remain. Its Gray sandstone lintels and octagon columns are still in good shape, although some carvings are eroded. They still have quite a lot of interesting figures to see.
The central tower:
The wall of the central tower has carvings of guardians carrying a club which are in good shape.
Inscription: There’re important inscriptions on the door piers. They tell us about the history of rivalry between king Harshavarman and Jayavarman IV, about principle religious projects of those kings and about religious ceremonies in this temple. The inscription also says that The Minister who was also a Brahmin provided 250 workers for acting as Slaves to the Gods in Prasat Kravan. The Minister Mahendravanman divided those people into two different groups. A half of them served in the temple during the waxing moon and another half during waning moon. Regretfully, this important inscription is gradually eroded.
Inner wall: the inner walls of this central tower have carvings of Vishnu who is a god of Protector.
Southern wall: Vishnu took a form as a dwarf called Varmana to take the three worlds back from a demon king called Balot. Balot looked down Vamana who was a dwarf, and agreed to give Vamana some land as big as he could take for three strides. We could see the waving lines symbolizing of the ocean that Vamana used only one stride to get across. Because Vamana was Vishnu’s fifth reincarnation, his three strides covered all the three worlds.
Northern wall: the northern wall has Vishnu’s figure riding on Garuda which is a mythical half bird-half man.
Western wall: the western wall also has Vishnu’s figure appearing with eight arms. he was standing in the middle of men and women who were praying and being grateful to him as he always took care of them from aggressive demons. Eights arms of Lord Vishnu represented to eight directions of the universe and he appeared at any direction where something bad happened.
Roof: the roof of this tower was opened by the French. they cut off the tip of the tower, because the French wanted some light to bright the carvings and they also covered the top with a piece of glass to protect from rainwater but glass was broken by aircraft bombardments in 1970.
The northern tower:
the northern tower has carvings of three main Hindu Gods’ wives.
Southern wall: the figure on the southern wall is Durga, who is one of Shiva’s nine wives. She was a goddess of Fierceness.
Western wall: the figure on the western wall is Laksmei, who was one of Vishnu’s two wives. She was a goddess of Beauty, good fortune.
Northern wall: the figure on the northern wall which is almost gone is Saravati. she was Brahma’s wife.she was agoddess of wisdom and Eloquence.
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