Prasat Krawan is located in the east of Angkor Wat and south
of Banteay Kdei. A enter and depart from the east
Prasat KravanTip: 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.
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
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 colours.
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.
The walls on the interior have no decoration A lintel on the
exterior with Visnu on his mount, the Garuda, is skillfully modeled.
