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Prasat Neak Pean

Keywords : Avalokitesvara , Bodhisattva, Jayavarman VII, Naek Paen, Prasat Neak Pean, Baray

Site common namePrasat Neak Pean
Type of artworkArchitecture
Village-
Province/CityAngkor
StateSiem Reap
CountryCambodia
Geographic Coordinates
Decimal degree		Lat : 13.463056
Long : 103.895

History of productionJayavarman VII had the reservoir entitled “Jayataḍāga” to be excavated in front of the complex of Rāajayaśrī (Prasat Preah Khan). In the middle of the lake there exists Prasat Neak Phan, the representation of the mythical Anottāta Lake, the holy lake in Buddhism.
PeriodHistorical Period
Art periodBayon
Age12th Century A.D.
ReligionBuddhism
SectMahayana
Religion and beliefAccording to the Buddhist mythology, Anotātta is the lake in the Himalayas, locating near Mouth Kailash, the abode of Śiva. This lake is the origin of four rivers flowing from the fountains of four animals, namely, the elephant fountain in the east, that of the horse in the south, that of the cow in the west and that of the lion in the north. This temple is also relate to the story of Potalaka, the island abode of Avalokiteśvara.
Related artworkAt the cardinal directions of Prasat Neak Phan, there are four fountains of four animals testifying the inspiration from the myth of Anotātta Lake. However, one of the fountains is, differently from the myth, the fountain of human face. In the centre of the lake, there exists the isle of Potalaka where the palace of Avalokiteśvara locates at the centre of the isle.

Type of LicenseAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
RightsPrincess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation2015-02-00
Record creatorChedha Tingsanchali