Kravan

Kravan (921)

Kravan temple was consecrated in 921 A.D. by a man named Mahidharavarman, a high official at the court of King Harshavarman I. The remains of his inscription can be seen in the doorways of temples.

Mahidharavarman dedicated the central shrine to a cosmic form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Three images of this god can be seen carved into the brickwork on the interior walls of the shrine.

Kravan temple is surrounded by a small moat and consists of five bricked shrine aligned north-south with entrance facing east. Each shrine has four doorways but only opening east and the remainder closed and are called false or blind doors.

A main terrace situated in front of the five shrines at the east was probably a honour terrace for the king and royal family viewing the temple and meeting his official during the ritual ceremony. There is another terrace located on the south which is probably a foundation support wooden building of library.

The bas-reliefs on the interior walls of the central tower are representations of Vishnu. There are three in all:

1.      Four-armed Vishnu sits astride his vehicle Garuda and holding his standard appurtenances: the globe, the conch, the discus, and the baton.

2.      Four-armed Vishnu, again holding his four standard appurtenances, takes a large step. This image illustrates the story of Vishnu in his incarnation as Vamana the dwarf taking three great steps to reclaim the world from the Asura Bali.

3.      Eight-armed Vishnu stands stiffly in the position of a statue. He is surrounded by hundreds of tiny devotees and surmounted by a crocodile or a lizard. Its significance remains unknown.

The interior walls of the northernmost tower feature a pair of bas-reliefs of Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, flanked by devotees:

1.      In one of the depictions, the goddess holds the trident of Shiva and the discus of Vishnu, possibly marking her as the great goddess who transcends the duality of Saiva and Vaishnava worship.

2.      A more traditional depiction of Lakshmi holding lotuses is on the opposite wall.

Harshavarman I (910-922 AD)

Harshavarman I was the eldest son of Yasovarman I. He built a small temple at the foot of Phnom Bakheng, Baksey Chamkrong temple in the early 10th century to dedicate to Shiva and Kravan temple to dedicate to Vishnu in 921. He has a younger brother Isanvarman II, who is said to have succeeded his brother in 922 AD.