Neak Poan

Neak Poan

Neak Poan temple was built by the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavaraman VII in the late 12^th century, dedicated to Buddhisatva Avalokitesvara.

Neak Poan temple is located in the centre of Jayatataka Baray, 3.6 kilometres by 930 metres with a storage capacity of 5 million cubic meters to 10 million cubic meters and between Preah Khan temple and Ta Som temple. The access presently is at the north.

Neak Poan temple is derived from the sculptures of two serpents (Naga) entwining around the base of the temple structure. Original name of Neak Poan was Rajasri.

Neak Poan temple was originally designed for medical purposes, it is one of the many hospitals that Jayavarman VII built (the ancients believe that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing diseases).

A central single tower stands a platform of the island and the top of the tower has two upper tiers crowned with an enormous corolla of lotus flowers. There is a door opening to the east and the other three are false doors. The pediments above the doors depicted the life of the Buddha-cutting of hair to the east, the “Grand Departure” to the north, and Buddha (defaced) meditating under the Budhi tree to the west, while the southern tympanum has been defaced.

The shape of a cross situated on an artificial circular island in a large pond. An island is in form of a large square with the man-made pond is 70 metres along each side. Two serpents surround the base of the circular island with their fan opening to the east whereas the tales entwined together at the west. In front of the heads of the serpents there is a horse statue with some images of people are clinging the body.

Surrounding the central pond there are four smaller ponds of 25 metres each side and each of them has got a chamber made of sandstone covered by vaulted roof on  which appear images of a Buddhisattva of Pheysachakuru-the god of herb and healing along the walls of the chambers. But some images were defaced during the period of religious reaction in the mid-13^th century and were modified into the form of a Shiva Linga.

The central pond is a replica of Lake Anavatapta, a mythical lake in the Himalayas situated at top of the universe whose waters are thought to cure all illness. The lake gives the birth to the four great river of the earth. Four chambers surrounding central pond are considered to serve as places for the ablution of the pilgrims who came hoping to be cured of their illness and afflictions. Crouched on a circular lotus base, bearing the imprint of two bare feet and thus elevated symbolically above the level of their physical reality, they showered themselves with water flowing from the gargoyle that was fed from the exterior by a channel. This channel terminates at large pool in a sort of ornamental stone bowl.

Inside the chambers are figures with the head of man on the east wall represented the element earth, a lion on the south represented the element fire, a horse on the west represented the element air, and an elephant on the north represented the element water. All of those heads have water spouts from their mouths.

A statue of horse, Balaha in the central pond is a form of the Buddhisattva Avalokitesvara, saving sailors from the ogresses Tamradvipa. The figures of the merchant Sinhala with his companion appear to be heading towards the sanctuary, as if to safety, (who were rescued from their shipwreck on the island of the Rakshasis (Ceylon)), and fleeing the resident ogresses. The group, hanging from the tail of horse, is remarkable in its composition and craftsmanship.

There are four laterite chambers located in corners near the small ponds at the sub cardinal points and they may be used by the treaters.

Jayavarman VII - Supreme King (1181 - c. 1218)

Jayavarman VII defeated the Chams out of Angkor and built a prosperous nation in all areas, elevating Khmer civilization to the highest level. The battle for territory took four years. King Jayavarman led a fierce battle against the invading Cham army and won a series of victories. He finally received complete victory over the Chams in naval battles on the Tonle Sap Lake. Cambodia was liberated. He was crowned King of Angkor at the age of 46, named Jayavarman VII, after which the Kingdom of Cambodia became prosperous. This king has a wife named Jayarajadevi. Husband and wife love each other very much and are very generous in Buddhism. After Jayarajadevi died, the king married Indradevi, who was the brother of Jayarajadevi. Princess Indradevi is a woman, scholar, highly cultured and deeply philosophical. She was a professor at a Buddhist pagoda and built an inscription at Phimean Akas about the biography of Jayavarman VII. Jayavarman VII had many good and loyal officials, including the Cham king Vityanon waiting to serve. With all their loyalty, he was able to restore and rebuild the nation.

 

For the Chams who invaded, destroyed and occupied Angkor in 1177, Jayavarman VII decided to take revenge. For many years He lived quietly and patiently. Now it's time to attack. First, he neutralized Dai Viet. He then sent an army under the command of the Cham king named Vityanon to attack the kingdom of Champa. Khmer troops captured Vichey, the capital of Nokor Champa. He raised Prince En to reign in Vichey. Later, the Chams in Vichey rebelled against the Vityanon, conquered, conspired, and declared themselves kings of the entire kingdom of Champa. Unable to bring Vityanon under his command, Jayavarman VII sent troops to defeat Vityanon. Nokor Champa then became a Khmer province for about 17 years. In 1207, Jayavarman VII ordered another Cham king, Apsaraj, to raise an army to attack Dai Viet. During his reign, the Khmer Empire had a very large scope. In all wars, Jayavarman VII was both strict and tolerant of the losers. To everyone, he loves and compassionate, according to the main virtue of Buddhism, compassion.

Jayavarman VII was a staunch adherent of Mahayana Buddhism. He always had compassion according to the teachings of the Buddha. This is the virtue that the king must have to fulfill his royal duties. He always thinks of people in need. He also commissioned the construction of several hospitals throughout the country. An inscription states that there are 102 hospitals. These hospitals have enough medicine and many traditional medicine doctors to treat patients at all levels. Jayavarman VII ordered the construction of many roads across the country, especially from Angkor to Phimai (Phimai today in Thai territory) and from Angkor to Champa. In addition, there are large bridges as well as many inns for travelers and monuments. There are 121 lodges across the country, located on the main road, about 12 to 15 km apart, equal to the distance that pedestrians can walk in 4 or 5 hours. At those lodges, travelers can cook, eat and rest at night. Jayavarman VII was very kind and respectful to his parents. To dedicate to the souls of the two meritorious, he built many temples and monasteries: Ta Prohm, dedicated to his mother, and Preah Khan, dedicated to his father. Compassion, another virtue of Buddhism, enabled him to retain important functions for the Brahmins. The Brahmins continued to live in the palace, still being respected and still having the necessary elite status in organizing Brahmanical ceremonies. Some Brahmins traveled from far away to come and serve him. He was kind, loved the people, and was moved by the suffering and pain of the people. An inscription on his hospital reads: "The sickness of the people afflicted him more than his own."

Jayavarman VII was the most accomplished king. The capital of Angkor was reorganized after the Chams invaded and destroyed it. He built a quadrangular wall around Angkor Thom, 3 km long and 8 m high on each side. Angkor Thom has four gates facing the four directions and a fifth gate called the Victory Gate, which exits to the east corner. Like other Cambodian capitals, this city is surrounded by moats. The Bridge, which crosses the entrance to the temple, has statues of gods and demons dragging dragons on the sides. Phnom Bakheng of Yasovarman is no longer the center of the capital: in the middle of this new compound he built the Bayon temple dedicated to Mahayana Buddhism. Bayon has a total of 54 towers at all levels; each tower has 4 smiling faces. In the galleries, there are sculptures depicting men and women of that time, working in daily life, serving the king or waging war, etc. Bayon temple is the core in the center of the city. Not far from here is Baphuon Temple, there is an old palace decorated with terraces of elephants and terraces of Leper king, and nearby there are 12 towers of Sou Prat temple. Around the city, Jayavarman VII left many artifacts for future generations, such as Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei with Srah Srang in front, Neak Pean temple in the middle of the reservoir, Ta Som, Krol Ko. The King not only adorned the capital, he built many other structures throughout the country: Wat Nokor (Kampong Cham), Ta Prohm (Tonle Bati), Banteay Chhmar (Banteay Meanchey) and many other temples that are now in Thailand. The construction of the Banteay Chhmar temple, which has beautiful sculptures, may require about 44,000 workers to work for eight years and about 1,000 sculptors to work for 20 years (according to Mr. Chuck Kroly).

He built many temples in addition to the great works of previous monarchs to give the whole of humanity one of the most glorious civilizations known to the world.