42. Prea Prohmreah Pagoda - 4

 

Above: Spindled windows
If you look to the right hand side you will notice the spindled windows - and that intricate verandah is so detailed - it was eye-catching with all that gold.

 

Above: Offerings for Buddha
This is a close up of the bright temple where you leave offerings for Buddha. You can see the sign on the left side of the altar.

 

Above: Vihear (prayer hall)

 

Above: A Buddhist monk
As I was walking around, I saw this monk and I asked him politely (and respectfully) if I could take a photo. He graciously agreed.

I had read before leaving home, that when speaking to monks, a female must never touch a monk - in other words don't put your hand out to shake hands. It's some sort of no-no for a female to have contact with them. As with any religious person, be they monks, priests or nuns, it matters not which religion they belong to, you should always show them respect - this is my belief and what I do.

As I started to leave, I felt at peace and one with the world. There's a sort of serenity and calmness you have when you're in such a place as this.

It was time to go back to my driver and set off.

41. Preah Promreah Pagoda - 3

The Murals

Above: Murals
Everywhere on the exterior walls were the most colourful and brightly painted murals.

Above: Mural 2
Colourful murals everywhere.

Above: Mural 3

Above: Mural 4
You can walk around the perimeter of the buildings and on every inch are murals, murals, murals.

40. Preah Promreah Pagoda - 2

Around Siem Reap town
Although only having been in Cambodia less than two hours, I understood why friends had said sandals would be much better than thongs or crocs. It was very hot and I sat on the balcony and had a nice hot cup of tea. The time was now 9.40 am (Cambodia time) and I was undecided whether to go to the temples now or wait till after four o'clock and see the sunset, and only have to pay $20 for a one day pass.

Might ask the driver to take me around town. Asked Da would my driver drive me around town, she beckoned him over and I was asked what did I want to see? I knew I wanted to see the Old Market and the garden of the Royal Palace and generally drive and walk around the streets. I told Pookeah "This is your country - you show me your country" to which he replied, "You want to do a country tour?" I didn't, that wasn't what I had had in mind at all, but I didn't know how to convey this without sounding rude.

After consultation with Da who suggested would I like to see a silkworm farm? - yes I would, it was decided. And so - we set off. We crossed over the lovely bridge and drove along the river. We stopped at this magnificant looking colourful place and my driver said he would wait for me here, in the same place he dropped me off. We were outside Preah Promreah Pagoda. (He said it wasn't a temple, it was a pagoda.)

Above: View of the compound from the street.
Opposite the Siem Reap River is Wat Preah Prom Rath Temple and Pagoda - the largest and most astounding pagoda in Siem Reap town, Cambodia. This was my very first experience of temples or pagodas and my jaw dropped with the splendour of it all. (I could almost hear Mary Poppins saying, "Close your mouth Michael - we are not a codfish!") I saw the most beautiful and intricate things I've ever seen in my life, highly decorated mouldings, all in perfect condition and undamaged.

Above: The gardens
The landscaped and sculpted gardens you see above are only a fraction of what I saw. Lovely bright flowers, delightful displays of exotic plants. In the top left photo is a monk walking slowly along a path.

Above: Stupas and Buddhist artworks
The photo above left shows stupas, the middle one is of a decorative peacock, while the photo on the top right is of Naga - the multi-headed serpent.

 

Above: Wat Preah Prom Rath bridge with Naga

Naga
Naga is a mythical multi-headed serpent with a large crested head resembling a cobra, symbolising might, wealth, prosperity and fertility and is guardian of the Buddha and protector of earthly waters.

Take off your shoes!
As I approached the temple (second photo in post 39), I knew to remove my sandals before entering. It is considered a sign of disrespect to enter the temples wearing shoes/sandals/etc. I happend to meet Lisa and her husband and we had a chat about what we had seen so far and what our respective agendas were. We had met earlier at the airport.

39. Preah Promreah Pagoda - AD 1371

Preah Promreah

Preah Prohm Rath Monastery was founded about 500 years ago in the reign of King Ang Chan, who dedicated it to Preah Ang Chang-han Hoy and to the spirits of Ta Pum Yeay Rath. The temple was also established to propagate the Dharma (Buddha's teaching), and to provide lodging for monks, because a lot of them who came to Siem Reap didn't have anywhere to stay.

Built in late fifteenth and early sixteenth centery AD, it's situated on land belonging to the wealthy family of Ta Pum and Yeay Rath. It is said this monastery was regarded as the sacred residence of Preah Ang Chang-han Hoy who was a revered monk living in the thirteenth and fourteenth century AD.

All the Khmer people whether high born or peasant came to worship him, especially the King Ang Chan who came to pray for victory as the kingdom wasn't stable, and when it did became stable, the family mentioned above provided its sacred land to the King Ang Chan to establish a monastery which was called the Ta Pum Yeay Rath Monastery. In the 1940's, under the Most Venerable Monh, a former abbot, it was renamed Preah Prohm Rath Monastery as it is now.

 

Above: Entrance

 

Above: The main vihear (prayer hall)

 

Above: Preah Ang Chang-han Hoy's boat
Once upon a time in the year 1358 - 1456 in a temple in Siem Reap, there lived a monk called Preah Ang Chang-han Hoy who travelled across Tonle-sap Lake every day to collect alms from Buddhists at Longwek Capital. He returned to his temple each day for lunch. One day when he was in the middle of the lake, his boat was cut in half by sharks, but fortunately didn't sink.
One part was at Wat Boribo in Boribo District Kampong Chnang Province, the other part was in Siem Reap province, now at Wat Preah Prohm Rath.

In the late 15th, early 16th century, King Ang Chan built this shrine hall and temple which he dedicated to Preah Ang Chang-han Hoy while he prayed for victory.

This replica of Preah Ang Chang-han Hoy's boat was built in 2007 by most Venerable Tong Ton, Samanera Tong Teuom, fellow monks and Buddhist laymen to preserve the knowledge of culture, history and heritage for Khmer generations.

 

Above: Stupas
Stupas are ancient icons of Buddhist art and are symbols of enlightenment. They are also the oldest of Buddhist architecture designed with sacred geometry and symbolism. To learn more about stupas CLICK HERE.