Prasat Kravan Temple
Prasat Kravan Temple
Date: Built in early tenth century (921)
Religion: Hinduism
King: Hashavarman I (910-922)
Posthumous name: Rudraloka
Prasat Kravan is a Hindu templebuilt in 921AD by a minister Mahendravarman, under the reign of kingHarshavarman I who crowned from 910-923AD. Minister Mahendravarman dedicated this temple toVishnu god. Prasat Kravan was designed as a small brick temple with five towers standing a row on a single foundation. Although Prasat Kravan is a small temple, it’s very interesting to visit 
because it’s the only one temple in Cambodia which has carvings carved directly into the brick while other brick temples have carvings on the plaster covered the structure.
because it’s the only one temple in Cambodia which has carvings carved directly into the brick while other brick temples have carvings on the plaster covered the structure.
Moat: Prasat Kravan still has a moat surrounding.
Agni Shrine: There’s also a foundation of Agni shrine.
Entrance: There’s a cross foundation of the main entrance to the east of the temple. Its wooden structure has gone, anyway.
Staircase and lion: There’s 
a staircase to walk up to each shrine. Originally, each staircase had two lion statues guarding in the front, but just a few of them remain today.
a staircase to walk up to each shrine. Originally, each staircase had two lion statues guarding in the front, but just a few of them remain today.
Tower:
Each shrine originally had a Linga and Yonisculpture, but just some Yoni remain. Its Gray sandstone lintels and octagon columns are still in good shape, although some carvings are eroded. They still have quite a lot of interesting figures to see.
The central tower:
The wall of the central tower has carvings ofguardians carrying a club which are in good shape.
Inscription: There’re important inscriptions on the door piers. 
They tell us about the history of rivalry between king Harshavarman and Jayavarman IV, about principle religious projects of those kings and about religious ceremonies in this temple. The inscription also says that The Minister who was also a Brahmin provided 250 workers for acting as Slaves to the Gods in Prasat Kravan. The Minister Mahendravanman divided those people into two different groups. A half of them served in the temple during the waxing moon and another half during waning moon. Regretfully, this important inscription is gradually eroded.
They tell us about the history of rivalry between king Harshavarman and Jayavarman IV, about principle religious projects of those kings and about religious ceremonies in this temple. The inscription also says that The Minister who was also a Brahmin provided 250 workers for acting as Slaves to the Gods in Prasat Kravan. The Minister Mahendravanman divided those people into two different groups. A half of them served in the temple during the waxing moon and another half during waning moon. Regretfully, this important inscription is gradually eroded.
Inner wall: the inner walls of this central tower have carvings of Vishnu who is a god of Protector.
Southern wall: 
Vishnu took a form as a dwarf calledVarmana to take the three worlds back from a demon king called Balot. Balot looked down Vamana who was a dwarf, and agreed to give Vamana some land as big as he could take for three strides. We could see the waving lines symbolizing of the ocean that Vamana used only one stride to get across. Because Vamana was Vishnu’s fifth reincarnation, his three strides covered all the three worlds.
Vishnu took a form as a dwarf calledVarmana to take the three worlds back from a demon king called Balot. Balot looked down Vamana who was a dwarf, and agreed to give Vamana some land as big as he could take for three strides. We could see the waving lines symbolizing of the ocean that Vamana used only one stride to get across. Because Vamana was Vishnu’s fifth reincarnation, his three strides covered all the three worlds.
Northern wall: the northern wall has Vishnu’s figure riding on Garuda which is a mythical half bird-half man.
Western wall: the western wall also has Vishnu’s figure appearing with eight arms. he was standing in the middle of men and women who were praying and being grateful to him as he always took care of them from aggressive demons. Eights arms of Lord Vishnu represented to eight directions of the universe and he appeared at any direction where something bad happened.
Roof: the roof of this tower was opened by the French. they cut off the tip of the tower, because the French wanted some light to bright the carvings and they also covered the top with a piece of glass to protect from rainwater but glass was broken by aircraft bombardments in 1970.
The northern tower:
the northern tower has carvings of three main Hindu Gods’ wives.
Southern wall: the figure on the southern wall is Durga, who is one of Shiva’s nine wives. She was a goddess of Fierceness.
Western wall: the figure on the western wall is Laksmei,who was one of Vishnu’s two wives. She was a goddess of Beauty, good fortune.
Northern wall: the figure on the 
northern wall which is almost gone is Saravati. she was Brahma’s wife.she was agoddess of wisdom and Eloquence.
northern wall which is almost gone is Saravati. she was Brahma’s wife.she was agoddess of wisdom and Eloquence.
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