Saturday, November 21, 2009

PAILILAY TEMPLE, SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

Palilay (the word Palilay is derived from Palilay, the name of the forest where the Buddha lived. The local people believed that when Buddha lived in the forest, he was served by an elephant named Palilay) Temple is located north of Phineanakas temple and behind Tep Pranom. The temple was built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII’s father, King Dharanindravarman, called Paramanishkalapada (AD 1150-1160). Who was a Buddhist. The temple’s lintels and pediments lying on the ground afford a rear opportunity to see relief at eye level. Many depict Buddhist scenes with Brahmanism divinities.

Only the central sanctuary remains intact. The sandstone tower opens on four sides, each one with a porch. The tower stands on a base with three, tier intercepted by stairs on each side. The upper portion is collapsed and a truncated pyramid forms a cone which is filled with reused stones. The principle feature of interest at this temple is the Buddhist scenes defacement in the 15th century. The scene depicted are: east, a reclining Buddha reaching nirvana, south, a seated Buddha, which is especially beautiful in the mid-morning sun, north, a standing Buddha with his hand resting on an elephant.

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