Prasat Preah Palilay

Date: end of 13^th century early of 14^th century

Religion: Buddhism and Hinduism.

King: Jayavarman VIII or later

Art-style: Angkor Wat and Bayon

Cleared: 1918-19 and restoration 1937-38

This small Buddhist sanctuary located is north of the royal enclosure of Angkor Thom City was built maybe during the reign of the king Jayavarman VIII or later. It is still the holy place that the Buddhist monks-nuns and people still worship. The lintels and pediments are lying on the ground that depicted the religious scenes; Preah Palilay is a single structure was stood on a high base with 3 levels that the central tower was made of sandstone, the 4 step stairways leading to the sanctuary face to the 4 cardinal direction but today is in poor condition. This temple was enclosed by a laterite wall is 50m for each side with the main entry at the east, just in front of this sanctuary there is a terrace is in the Angkor Wat style was decorated with the beautiful Naga balustrade and 2 guardian lions flanked the stairway. At the end of this terrace there were originally 2 statues of the guardian Dvarapalas but they were stolen by vandalism, the large seated Buddha is modern and just behind this Buddha there is a Gopura with cross-shaped of Preah Palilay temple, on the pediment of this entrance was showed the Buddha’s life.

Prasat Preah Palilay

ü  The half pediment: you could see Buddha received gifts from elephant and monkey in Palilay forest in India.

ü  The west part: on the pediment was show the Buddha and his wife Pimpea with his son Ra-Hul-Ku-Ma were riding on the elephant.

ü  Small pediment: Buddha received milk from So-Chea-Ta she is daughter of millionaire.

ü  Pediment nearby: was shown the Buddha is making a sermon to his devotees.

ü  The north part: on the pediment was shown the elephant Ni-La-Kiri pay respected to the Buddha.

ü  The south part: on the pediment was shown the Buddha received food from 2 merchant brother names Tapassu and Bhalluka.

ü  The small pediment: the Buddha went back to his royal court of his wife and surrounded by his devotees.