Pre Rup

Pre Rup (961)

Pre Rup was built during the reign of King Rajendravarman, dedicated to a Shiva Linga named Rajendrabhadresvara in 961 A.D. and it is a state temple. It is built in the form of pyramid and a combined brick, laterite and sandstone construction.

Pre Rup is aligned on a north-south axis with the East Mebon temple, which is located on what was an artificial island in the Baray. There are two enclosure walls with the main entrance facing east.

Pre Rup means "the transformation of a body from corpse to ashes". The king was cremated there. When cremated, the ashes and bones can be collected and washed at an open tower with a laterite conical roof, four pillars to the northeast. Inside the tower, there is a sandstone slab in the form of a square mortar with a gutter. However, the locals' perception is not correct, as the locals claim that the coffin is a support for the statue of Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva, because this temple was built to dedicate to Shiva in Brahmanism, on the other hand a sandstone slab in the form of a square mortar with a gutter is actually a pedestal of Uma for Shiva Linga.

The outer enclosure is bounded by a laterite wall, 177 metres north-south by 127 metres east-west. The four outer Gopuras are cross-shaped, the central part made of brick and the sandstone door frames on either side.

Inside the eastern gate is a group of six brick tall towers aligned north to south (one of them completely disappeared apart from its foundation). Most of the lintels of these towers did not have their carving completed. Lintels above the opening door to the east have decorations of the Hindu god like; Rama siting on Hanuman, Indra on Airavan, Narasinha tearing Hiranyakyaspipu, Vishnu on Garuda, and Vishnu killing Madhu and Kaitabha.

Inside the second enclosure wall, there is a series of eight long, distinct galleries running along each side. These buildings were probably used by pilgrims as resting place and for their meditation and chanting.

Inside the wall to the east side there are two square tall brick towers with vertical holes on them, considered as sacred fire building for calling gods down for blessing during a ritual ceremony making.

The main shrine is the squared pyramid, measuring 50 meters at it base, rises in three levels to a height of 35 metres and with a square platform at the summit. The second level is symmetrically surrounded by 12 small shrines.

At the top, five towers are arranged in a quincunx, one at each corner of the square and one in the centre. Deities carved as bas-reliefs stand guard at either side of all doors on each tower, with female deities guarding the two towers in the south-west and north-east, and two male guardians standing at the south-east and north-east towers as well as on the central tower.

The south-west tower once contained a statue of Lakshmi, the north-west tower a statue of Uma, the south-east tower a statue of Vishnu, and the north-east tower a statue of Shiva.

Rajendravarman II - Return to Angkor (944-968)

Rajendravarman II succeeded Jayavarman IV's son and further strengthened the Angkorian Empire.

 

Rajendravarman II was a nephew of King Yasovarman I. He ascended the throne in 944 and relocated the capital from Koh Ker to Yasodharapura. He declared that he was related to the former relatives of the kingdom of Chenla. The king strengthened the Khmer rule: he fought to gather the autonomous city to submit to his rule, established the central administration in Angkor and sent civil servants to other provinces. Gradually, the nation came to know peace and prosperity. He also waged war on the Cham people who had received Indian civilization. The mighty Khmer army invaded the kingdom of Champa and brought a golden statue to be kept in Angkor. At the same time, he was always kind to Buddhists. During his reign, many temples were built, such as the East Mebon Temple, Pre Rup Temple, and some parts of the Phiman Akas temple and Srah Srang. A Brahmin named Yachnavarahak, a royal teacher, built the temple of Banteay Srei, north of Yasodharapura, in 967 AD, a year before his death.