Cambodia 2020 - 25. Preah Palilay

25. Preah Palilay 

Preah Palilay Temple at Top of Map - #6

Guardian Lion

Built or extensively renovated by Jayavarman VIII or an even later king, Preah Palilay is a stop at a small Temple suggested by our driver, Mr. Touch.

 

7-Headed Naga, Associated With Water, 
Fertility, Rainbows and Creation. 
Usually in the Form of a Cobra

While Jayavarman VII was a Buddhist, the next king, Jayavarman VIII, was a Hindu. Naturally, # VIII changed many things in many temples after # VII died; he destroyed many Buddha figures

Small Shrine in Front of the Preah Palilay

and replaced them with Hindu idols, which makes it difficult for today’s experts to follow the whims of the old kings.

Standing Buddha in the Small Shrine

Today this temple is Buddhist, a small shrine-like structure standing in front of the old ruins with worshipers actively praying in the Buddhist way when we visited.

Entering the Sanctuary

Tower and Sanctuary of Preah Palilay

Just before coming to this old temple, is a Buddhist School where we witnessed a man and his child being doused with cold water over and over again, by a priest. The child shivered severely from the cold water dousing.

Poor Kid

Inside the Shrine/School

Classes of ancient texts and prayers were taught in a classroom right behind this wet man. It was a very ‘active’ place, celebrating their Buddhist belief, learning the details of their religion.

It was a short stop but informative.

Cambodia 2020 - 24. Terrace of the Leper King and Elephant Terrace

24. Terrace of the Leper King and Elephant Terrace

The Original Statue Represented Yama, God of the Underworld.
His R. Knee Was Raised and He Carried a Mace Over His R. Shoulder

Mr. Touch drove us to our next stop, the Terrace of the Leper King.

The moss growing on the statue may have given it the Leper name. It is hard to see since the statue here is actually a copy; the original is in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. Or perhaps it refers to a previous King who had leprosy.

Deeply Carved Sandstone Terrace Walls With Laterite Backing (Below Blue Arrow).
5-, 7-, and 9-Headed Nagas and Underworld Characters on Bottom Rows.

In the Bottom Row, the Blue Dots Seem to Indicate the Underworld:
Fish, Strange Animals and the Central Figure Is Sitting on a Crab

Was there a King who had leprosy? There is a legend saying so.

This terrace we visited was built by Jayavarman VII (born about 1122 AD) built two centuries or later than Yasovarman I, the maybe Leper? (reigned 889-910 AD).

Deep Carvings, Nagas, Kings, Mythical Beings

It is believed today that this platform, this terrace and surrounding area was used as a funeral area, the platform used to cremate members of the royalty (see 1st picture).

More Kings and Consorts

To hold the earth back laterite walls were erected first and then were faced with sandstone blocks that were then profusely carved. 
Deep carvings of mythical beings cover, or litter the walls. The deeper meaning of all these shapes, figures, names, eludes me.

Elephant Terrace Garudas (See Below)
With Blue Dots

The densely covered walls of the terrace are a good example of how the whole structure of the even larger Elephant Terrace next to it was built.

Lion Headed Figures (Far R.) and Garudas (Blue Dots) = Mythical Bird-Man and Vishnu's Ride

Part of the 300 Meter Elephant Terrace Has Garudas and Lion-Headed Figures and Part Has Elephants

Grassy Area (Foreground) Used to be Filled With Water. Steps Allowed People in Boats to Climb to the Terrace.

A Few of the Many Elephant Bas Reliefs

Warrior With Spear (Blue Arrow) and Mahout = Elephant Handler (Blue Dot)

More Elephant Heads With Huge Lotus on Top of the Terrace.

I shake my head thinking of all the work that went into building these huge terraces.

Superlatives fail me. Why did they build all this?