• Artistic/Style: Bayon
• Location: North of the Royal palace in Angkor Thom
• Duration of Visit: 10 minutes.

ប្រាសាទព្រះបាលិលេយ្យ, or Prasat Preah Palilay is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia. It is located in Angkor Thom, 400 m north-west of Phimeanakas. This small Buddhist sanctuary in the wooded area north of the Royal palace in Angkor Thom has a number of attractive features and is well worth the short detour.

History of Preah Palilay

Prasat Preah Palilay has a cross-shaped terrace, 8.5 m by 30 m long, with seven-headed Nāga balustrades in good conditions, on the east, guarded by two decapitated Dvarapalas and a lion (of an original two). A 33 m-long causeway connects it to the single sandstone gopura. Before the laterite enclosure 50 m square there is a shrine with a 3 m tall statue of Buddha, sitting on a lotus, of a later period.

The gopura has three entrances, the east-facing pediment of the northern one shows “the offering of the animals in the forest of Parilyyaka”, where the Buddha retreated after leaving Kosambi. It seems that the origin of Pralilay could have been the alteration of the name Parilyyaka. Other pediments show other scenes from the life of the Buddha including Sujata’s offering of rice-milk to the Buddha-to-be, and the subjugation of the elephant Nalagiri.

The sandstone sanctuary stands on a three-tiered basement, 6 m high in overall. It has a 5 m square central chamber that opens to the four cardinal points with as many vestibules. Their classical ornamentations, unfortunately ruined, suggest that the sanctuary belongs to the first half of the 12th century and is older than the gopura. Even the characteristic “chimney-like” tower that stands above seems to be a later addition (Willetts identifying it as belonging to Jayavarman VII’s period), maybe a frame for a covering.

Some parts of the pediments have been taken away for safe-keeping, others are lying on the ground. The visible parts show Indra on his mount, the elephant Airavata, and the assault of the demoniac army of Mara.

At the present time there is a little Buddhist monastery near the temple and the presence of the monks in its area is not uncommon.

More Detail: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah Palilay Temple