TEMPLE AND KING: TA PROHM TEMPLE

By Ek Chandararith

LOCATION: 33 km from South of Phnom Penh in Takeo Province .
ACCESS :National Road 2, Intersection of National road N2 and at point 33km,turn left, the temple is 2.5 km from the highway.

DATE : 12th Century
KING : Jayavarman VII (1181-1201)
RELIGION: Buddhist
ART STYLE: Baphoun

BACKGROUND
There are two temples :Taprohm temple and Yeay Peau temple.The temples were built by king Jayavarman VII at 12th century. Ta Prohm temple dedicated to his farther (ThoranindravarmanII) and Yeay Peau temple dedicated to his mother ( Jordivamony ). The temples were renovated by King Angchan I at 16th century.
The meaning in
Hinduism : The temple is symbol of mother Ganga
BA: The RULER of the three worlds, SIVA
TI: place
BATI: SIVA's paradise
TONLE : in this text means lake or sacred pond.
TONLE BATI: where the SIVARATRI, the nigh of SIVA, was held on the day of the full moon. Devotees go to take bath in the lake to clean their sins . On SIVA RATRI, LINGA was placed on its pedestal , YONI of UMA , the sacred water was poured over LINGA. The water was taken from canal of its pedestal to drink or wash their face for the happiness. ( the happiness called TEAK-ANG BAMPONGKCHEY, TEAK-ANG refers to SIVA , BOMPONGKCHEY is GODDESS KOUMAPHAKVADEY)

Buddhism: In the 12th century, The temple dedicated to Mahayana Buddhism and in the 16th century, Teravada Buddhism because the temple houses statues of Lokesvara and Buddhas. The temple symbolizes Nirvarna, the peaceful heaven of the Buddhism .
The main sanctuary consists of the five chambers , in each is a AVALOKESVARA' statue.

YEAYPEAU
It is 150 meters north of Taprohm Temple. It is a small structure situated in WAT TONLE BATI. Inside , there is a statue of YEAY PEAU or PRAYAPARAMITA , standing next to the a seated Buddha . On the outside wall at the back of the structure is bas-relief carving of SIVA dance for saving the world . The bas-relief carving divides into three sections representing the three worlds .
Near by is a lake ,TONLEBATI, with a nice beach and footstool where Phnom Penh residents come for picnic during the weakens .

TAPROHM OF BATI

This temple is located in the Province of Bati, between Phnom Penh and Phnom Chiso. It is one of the few monuments some importance erected in the region South of Phnom Penh during the Angkor period. In fact, there must have been a monument here in light material during the Funan period; for one of the earlier inscriptions was found here. The present monument, about 150 m from Lake Bati, has been known for a long time. It consisted of
1. A central sanctuary of sandstone, square, oriented to East, but open on all four sides and preceded on each side by a porch and tied to the east and west Gopuras by an antechamber.
2. Two library building, in laterite, conventionally situated and oriented.
3. An inner enclosure of vaulted galleries, in laterite, 30x30m,with monumental Gopuras on each face;narrow,dark,vided very irregularly into rooms of various sizes,receiving light only from the interior and some of them entered only through an interior window,like those of Preah Vinhear.
4. An exterior enclosure,formed by a laterite wall,100x130m openng on all
four sides. It was preceded on the east by an avenue bordered by sacred basins.The original sanctuary,in light material,was dedicated to the Buddha. Groslier thinks this temple was rebuilt in sandstone,not later in the twelfth century and much later (sixteenth century),the edifice behind the central sanctuary was erected by Hinayanists and the sanctuary was disaffected. Stem and Mme de coral Remusat place the central sanctuary in the first period of the reign of Jayavarman VII.The temple is now abandoned and is celebrated as one of the most bat-infested monuments of Cambodia.

Explaining the Bas-relief

Bas-relief of Buddha Nirvana at Bati of Taprohm temple

There are two figures, one at the head of Buddha is Preah Kasapa and Preah Anan at the feet. They are disciples of Buddha. In the middle is a Buddha, he went to Nirvana. Preah Anan is crying because he went to wash the spittoon with the blood of Buddha at the lake and didn't come to see the last breath of Buddha on time. Preah Anan is a disciple who remember all what were the Buddha's teaching. Preah Kasapa is a disciple who write what the Buddha 's teaching.

4-tired parasols covering the Buddha is even number represents zero or death.

Near the head of the Buddha, there are two discs and one at his feet symbolizes cycle of lives.

On each pilaster there are Stupa and door guardian.The two Stupas represent the Stupa of Preah Selaminy at Traitreung paradise containing hair and hairpin of Buddha, they were brought by the wind when he cut his hair to be a monk.

The Stupas and door guardians are made in 16th century by King Angchan I.
Art style :Burmese Style (Art of Mon)

Around the corner to the right from the northern entrance of the central sanctuary, about 4m above the ground, are bas-relief scenes of divinities.

Above : God Siva holding white bow and his wife,

Uma, sitting in his lap under the umbrella.

Below :A bas-relief scene depicting the story of Mahabarata, Krisna,a kneeling figure in front of a horse, he killed a demon horse, Kesin,a Friend of Katnsa, by cutting its head into two pieces with his hand in tire forest of Branaravak. A figure is trampled by a demon horse to death. this figures represents the villagers of Andgar.

The bas-relief at the south library

Three women hold the Buddha representing the past, present and future

A divinity of Mahayana Buddhism with 4 arms : one arm holding a book and the other is unidentified. Two other in a gesture of Thanutjaka Mudra, a gesture of thinking of cycle of lives or the past, present, future.

Bas-relief of Vessantara Jataka story

A few maters to the right of the main(eastward-facing ) entrance to the sanctuary

building, about 3m above the ground is a bas-relief carving of a man carrying an object on his head and bowing to a larger man , is a beggar. A larger is a Prince Vessantara. God Indra in the form of a beggar comes to the Earth to beg the wife of the Prince for his servant. To reach his ultimatum golf as the Buddha, he gave all his belongings to beggars. He gave his children and wife, Princes Metry, to beggar. This scene is the last birth of Buddha from the story of Vessantara Jataka story.

YEAY PEOU TEMPLE

STORY

The Bas-relief of God Visnu dancing at Prasat Yeay Peau

Above: the Dance of God Visnu represents the earth, wind, water, and fire. God Visnu

dancing have been seen only in Cambodia, his two arms hold con-shell and disc, and other, two others are dancing. The dancing for creating 4 elements: water, earth, fire and wind.

Below: there are three levels representing the three worlds, the top level at center is a Buddha. All devotees from the three worlds worshiping the Buddha, Visnu on the top and Buddha at below because Hinduism included Buddha in the 9th incarnation of Visnu.

Bas-relief Vessantara Jakata

Taprohm temple at Bati depicting the story of Vessantara Jakata,

Buddha's story of previous lives.

After giving a white elephant,Bachainikennirenkukchasa, which represents rain to a beggar. Prince Vessantara and his family were exiled from the palace.