Preah Palilay (Khmer: ប្រាសាទព្រះបាលិលេយ្យ [1]) is a temple in Angkor, Cambodia. It is located in Angkor Thom, 400 m north-west of Phimeanakas. This small Buddhist shrine in the leafy area north of the royal palace at Angkor Thom has a number of attractive features and is worth the small detour.

History

The coexistence of Hindu and Buddhist elements and the lack of stela foundation or inscriptions make it very difficult to date this temple. It is generally attributed to the reign of Jayavarman VIII, but it seems difficult to explain how the Buddhist image could have survived the iconoclastic fury of that time. Perhaps it was built in different periods: the sanctuary in the first half of the 12th century while the gopura in the late 13th or early 14th century. The Chinese art historian William Willetts (1918-1995) believed that it dated from the time of Suryavarman II (1113-1149). [3] The temple was cleaned by Henri Marchal in 1918-19, while the gopura was restored by anasthylosis by Maurice Glaize in 1937-1938.

description

The temple has a cross-shaped terrace of 8.5 meters by 30 meters in length, with balustrades nāga of seven heads in good condition, to the east, protected by two decapitated dvarapalas and a lion (of two originals). A 33-meter long sidewalk connects it to the simple sandstone gopura. Before the 50-square-meter laterite enclosure, there is a shrine with a 3-m-tall Buddha statue seated on a lotus from a later period.

The gopura has three entrances, the north-facing pediment shows "the offering of the animals in the forest of Parilyyaka," where the Buddha retired after leaving Kosambi. It seems that the origin of Pralilay could have been the change of the name of Parilyyaka. [4] Other pediments show other scenes of the Buddha's life, including Sujata's rice-milk supply for the Buddha-to-be and the subjugation of the Nalagiri elephant.

The sandstone sanctuary is in a three-tiered attic, with 6 m overall height. It has a central square chamber of 5 m that opens to the four cardinal points with so many vestibules. Its classic, unfortunately ruined decorations suggest that the sanctuary belongs to the first half of the 12th century and is older than the gopura. Even the characteristic "chimney" tower above appears to be a later addition (Willetts identifying it as belonging to the period of Jayavarman VII), [6] perhaps a framework for a cover.

Some parts of the pediments have been removed to guard, others are lying on the floor. The visible parts show Indra on his mount, the elephant Airavata and the assault of the demonic army of Mara.

At present, there is a small Buddhist monastery near the temple and the presence of the monks in their area is not uncommon.