Prasat Narai Cheng Weng

No evidence related to the establishing history

The building is made of sandstone and the base is made of Laterite

Prasat Narai Cheng Weng is a single prasat and the whole prasat was built with sandstone which is a special feature because other prasats in the upper area of the Northeast often use other materials or mixed materials. Based on the details of the engravings and the use of materials, it can differentiate this prasat and other prasats in the same area such as Prasat Phra That Dum and other prasats inside Phra That Choeng Chum.

The diagram of the prasat consists of a Garbhagriha room and a porch protruding to the east. There is only one door at the front. The other doors are false doors which usually could be seen in prasat in Baphuon Arts and Nakon Wat in northeastern Thailand. What is interesting about this prasat is that the Somasutras, a drainage channel still appears at the false gate on the north side.

It is an important castle in Khmer culture in the upper area of the northeast.

The prasat's name is probably taken from the name appeared in the Urangkathat legend, Ordi Maya Narai Cheng Weng, to integrate the story together with the legend. Or the name might be from the Khmer language that "Narai Choeng Wang" or long-legged Narai because there is a carvings of Narai Bantomsin in the north of the prasat.

The Urangkathat legend also stated that when Kassapa Buddha and his followers arrived in Mueang Nong Han Luang, a group of women from Mueang Nong Han had asked to share Phra Urangkhathat (Chest bone) of the Lord Buddha but the monk did not allow because the intention of the Buddha was to take Phra Urangkhathat to enshrine at Phu Kam Phra in the center of the Mekong River (Phra That Phanom). Kassapa Buddha then gave them the relics from the cremation of the Lord Buddha instead. Later, Phraya Suwanphingkarn wished to share some relics, he then starting to build Prasat Phu Phek castle to compete with the women who were building Prasat Narai Cheng Weng. Both sides held the rule that if the Phek star (Venus) had risen, the construction must be stopped. During the construction, the women had used a trick by hanging a lantern up high. The men thought the lantern was the star and stopped building. Prasat Narai Cheng Weng was then the only one prasat that was completely created.

ดำรงราชานุภาพ, สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ กรมพระยา. เรื่องเที่ยวที่ต่าง ๆ ภาคที่ 4 : ว่าด้วยเที่ยวมณฑลนครราชสีมา มณฑลอุดร และมณฑลร้อยเอ็ด. พิมพ์เป็นอนุสรณ์ในงานพระราชทานเพลิงศพ รองอำมาตย์เอก หลวงพิทักษ์พนมเขตร์ (สีห์ จันทรสาขา) 18 พฤษภาคม 2512.

ศันสนีย์ แสงบำเพ็ญ. การศึกษาปราสาทนารายณ์เจงเวง อำเภอเมือง จังหวัดสกลนคร. วิทยานิพนธ์หลักสูตรศิลปศาสตรมหาบัณฑิต (โบราณคดีสมัยประวัติศาสตร์) ภาควิชาโบราณคดี บัณฑิตวิทยาลัย มหาวิทยาลัยศิลปากร, 2529.