Neak Pean is one of the temples that make one dream of the olden
days of luxury and beauty. It was worth while to the overpowering
temples of Civa that men and armies repaired; but it was at the
tiny temple of Neak Pean that eager princesses laid their lovely
offerings of wrought gold and pungent perfumes.
 Prasat
Neak Pean is located in the east of Prah Khan, 300 meters (984 feet)
from the road. A enter and leave from the north entrance. It was
built in second half of the 12th century by king Jayavarman VII,
dedicated to Buddhist, with following to Prasat Bayon art style.
Background : Although. Neak Pean is small and a collection
of five ponds, it is worth a visit for its unique features. It is
believed to have been consecrated to Buddha coning to the glory
of Nivana.
The central pond is a replica of Lake Anavatapta in the Himalayas,
situated at the top of the universe. The lake gives birth to the
four great rivers of the earth. These rivers are represented at
Neak Pean by sculpted gargoyles corresponding to the four cardinal
points Lake Anavatapta was fed by hot springs and venerated in Idia
for the curative powers of its waters. The orientation of the ponds
at Neak Pean ensured that the water was always fresh because the
pods received only reflected light.
 Layout
: Neak Pean is a large square man-made pond (70 meters, 230
feet each side) bordered by steps and surrounded by four smaller
ponds. A small circular island with a stepped base of seven laterite
tiers is in the center of the large square pond. Small elephants
sculpted in the round originally stood on the four comers. The central
tower was dedicated to Avalokitesvara
 Central
Island : The bodies of two serpents encircle the base of the
island and their entwine on…Neak Pean-the last word being pronounced
<Ponn>, and the whole name signifies curved Nagas. Neak Pean
is one of the temples that makes one dream of the olden days of
luxury and beauty. It was worth while to live then and to be a woman
among a race which has wver adored its women It is to the overpowering
temple of Civa that men and armies repaired, but it was at the tiny
temple of Neak Pean that eager princesses laid their lovely offerings
of wrought gold and pungent perfumes…Fancy it as it was in the old
days. To begin with there was the artificial lake, a wide extent
of water in the shallows of which floated the flowering lotus. In
its exact center-the surveyors of Angkor were expert stood the exquisite
miniature temple of one small chamber, the sanctuary, a temple as
finely ornate and as well-proportioned as an alabaster vase. With
art delicious this wonder was made to appear like a vision in the
land of faerie. It floated upon a full-opened flower of the lotus,
the petal tips curling back to touch the water. On the corolla of
the flower curved around the temple’s base, were two Nagas whose
tails were twisted together at the back and who raised their fan
of heads on either side of the steps in front which mounted to the
sanctuary. Thus they guarded the gem and gave gracious welcome to
whosoever directed her light barque to draw close to this lovely
heaven….On this circular pedestal of poetic imagination rested a
square temple with four carved doors, one open occupying all the
fasade except for the square columns which flank it. Above rose
the tower with pointed over-door groups of carvings, symbolic, graceful,
inspiring Each closed door bore the figure of the humane god Vishnu
standing at full height, but lest he impress too strongly his grandeur
in this dainty spot, the space about him is filled with minor carving
which vary on each door.
Within this lovely casket was a seated stone figure. The door was
ever open, suppliants might at any time lay before Buddha their
offerings and their prayers.
The chamber was too small to admit them and they stood without
in a bending group, swaying toward the Naga-heads for support or
salaaming gracious salutations to the god of peaceful meditation.
The golden boat floating beside the approach again… Rowers moved
the shallop so slowly that the Naga-prow seemed to progress of its
own volition. And so, the gods appeased, the spirits rose, and life
went happily in the lovely twilight hour…one must know its former
state to love it….Neak Pean stands hidden, but it stands in greater
perfection than if it had not had not had the enveloping.
H Churchill Candee, Angkor: The Magnificent, The Wonder City of
Ancient Cambodia (H F& G Witherby, London, 1925)
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