Preah Vihear
Preah Keo Morakot was built between 1892 and 1902, during the reign of King
Norodom, but at that time it was constructed of wood and brick. Its design is
based on Cambodian architectural style. The
Banhchos Khan Seima ceremony was held on Feb 5, 1903.
The temple was
later damaged, and Queen Kosamak Neary-rath asked that it be repaired. Under
the direction of her son Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, who at that time was
the head of state, the old temple was dismantled a reconstructed in 1962 on the
same site with reinforced co Crete. The floor was laid with silver tiles, and
the columns were covered with glass stone imported from Italy. The
architecture, however, remained the same.
This temple is
called Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot because the main Buddha statue is made of
priceless emerald, which Cambodians call Keo Morakot. Westerners, however,
prefer to call the temple the Silver Pagoda because of the 5,329 genuine silver
tiles that cover the floor.
There are 1,650
art objects housed in this temple. Most of them are Buddha figures. They are
made of gold, silver, bronze and other valuable materials. Some are decorated
with diamonds. They are gifts from the King, the royal family, dignitaries and
other people who worship at Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot, where they pray for
peace and prosperity, for happiness and for the preservation of Cambodian
cultural heritage for the next generation.
casket should
be melted to make a Buddha statue represent- ting Preah Srei Araymetrey³ This
Buddha statue is named Preah Chin Raingsei Rachik Norodom.
Objects of
particular interest in the Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot include:
- The Preah Keo Morakot, the Emerald
Buddha, which sits atop a throne in the center of the temple.
- There is a small glass cabinet that
contains what Buddhists believe are ashes of the Buddha. The ashes were
brought from Sri Lanka in 1956 by Sam- dech Head Monk Lvea Em, who stayed
in Wat Lang- ka in Phnom Penh.
- In a nearby cabinet sits a gold
Buddha figure of- fered by Queen Kosamak Nearyrath, mother of King Norodom
Sihanouk, in 1969. This Buddha figure is protected by naga⁴. It represents
when the Budda stayed at the Muchalonti Pond.
- Objects in other cabinets are the
keepsakes and de- corated objects for royal and Buddhist ceremonies.
The temple is surrounded by a lofty gallery. On the wall of the gallery, there are traditional paintings of the entire Ream Ke epic. These paintings were done by 40 Cambodian artists between 1903 and 1904 under the direction of Oknha Tep Nimit. The Ream Ke painting is 642 meters long and 3 me- ters high. It starts from the south of the eastern gallery and winds its way around the gallery. This means that visitors must walk in a circle to see the entire story.
The ancient epic Ream Ke along the gallery shows a unique scene not copied completely from Indian Ramayana. Because some plots of Cambodian Ream Ke are so mysterious, visitors must look at the painting carefully. Visitors who are familiar with Indian Ramayana will understand the Cambodian Ream Ke easily, even though the two versions are different. Some themes are also depicted by La Khon Khaol or depicted in Sbek Thom and other sculpted figures. Astrologers also use the story to tell fortunes.
Weather,
structural damage and destruction by visitors over the years have caused the
paintings to deteriorate. In 1985, the Cambodian government was cooperating
with the government of Poland to restore, protect and maintain the paintings.
The venture lasted only five years, however, because the budget was terminated.
Today the Cambodian government is looking for ways to conserve, restore and
maintain this cultural heritage.
Monks from
Phnom Penh and other provinces once studied the Pali language in classes that
were held along the gallery before the Pali school was opened in Phnom Penh on
Dec 16, 1930.
In front of
Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot, are two stupas and a statue under the roof. The
south stupa holds the cremains of King Ang Duong, the great-great grandfather
of King Sihanouk. The north stupa holds the cremains of King Norodom, the great
grandfather of King Sihanouk. Both stupas were dedicated on March 13, 1908.
The statue of
King Norodom riding a horse was erected in 1875. It was kept in the keepsake of
the French King Napoleon III. It was kept in front of Preah Vihear Preah Keo
Morakot in 1892, but at that time there was no roof. During King Sihanouk's
crusade to win independence from France, he prayed on Nov 11, 1953, King
Sihanouk had the roof built in honor of King Norodom.