PRASAT KRAVAN

PRASAT KRAVAN
- Location : east of Angkor Wat and south of Banteay Kdei.
 - Access : enter and depart from the west entrance.
 - Tip : the bas-reliefs of the towers are the best viewed in the morning when the light enters the doors from the east, in the afternoon, they are barely visible.
 - Date : completed during the reign of king Harshavarman 1st, it may have been built by a high court official in 921 (first half of the 9th century).
 - Religion : Hinduism (dedicated to Vishnu and Lakshmi).
- Art-style : Bakheng and Koh Ker (Kompong Tom).
 - Clearance worked by Henri Marchal 1929-1931 and Mr. George Trouve 1935.
 - Posthumous name: Rudraloka.

 1. BACKGROUND
The main point of interest at Prasat Kravan in the sculpture on the interior of the 2 towers amongst the 5 towers depicting “Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi”. The carvings on brick of the inferior of the central tower and the north tower are unique in the Khmer Art and Architecture. A Frenchman Mr. Bernard Philipe Groslier 1959-1960 reconstructed this temple. He came to Cambodia in the year (1959-1972).

 2. LAY-OUT
Kravan consists a group of 5 large towers stood on a low base and opened to the east. The column lintels are made of sandstone.

 3. CENTRAL TOWER The central tower has impressive carvings on the interior wall. It is 3.5 meters for each side where a Linga on a pedestal used to be there. Well! According to the inscriptions on the doorpost told the date 921 for the erection of the statue of god “Vishnu” on the interior of the main tower. On the both sides of the main tower at the east side is decorated with the male guardians in niches and some chevrons. 
On the east lintel : is adorned with a frieze of small heads. Inside the tower on the left, depicted god Vishnu in his Avatara, Vamana in gaining the world for the gods in his 3 steps. It is a standing image of Vishnu with 4 arms carried his attributes as are: a disc, a ball, a conch, a club. One of his feet rests on a pedestal near by a person is medication and another one is walking on a lotus holds by a woman on the background of undulating lines that representing the waves of the ocean.
On the right : god Vishnu in on the shoulders of Garuda between 2 worshippers. Facing Vishnu with 8 arms is framed with 6 registers of devotees. On the top is a giant lizard. This carving on brick was formerly coated with stucco and was probably highlighted with colors.

 4. NORTH TOWER It was dedicated to “Lakshmi” wife of “Vishnu”. She had 4 arms carried her own attributes and flanked by 2 kneeling devotees.

 5. SOUTH TOWER A lintel on the door depicted god Vishnu is riding on his vehicle Garuda.