PREAH NEAK PEAN

PREAH NEAK PEAN

Late 12^th century Buddhist temple by Jayavarman VII. A large square surrounded by 4 smaller square pools. In the centre of the central pool is a circular ‘island’ encircled by two naga with intertwined tails. The basin of the lake today is dry. Zhou Daguan reports that the pond was filled with red lotus and that the tower had a golden spire (He seems to have liked Neak Pean). The tower is decorated with images of the Buddha and the Boddhisatva Avalokiteshvara. A horse statue also refers to this Boddhisatva; it represents the horse Balala. According to a Buddhist legend, Avalokiteshvara once manifested himself as this horse to rescue a group of merchants who were shipwrecked.