Prasat Phnom Rung
Prasat Phnom Rung is one of the most significant ancient monuments of Thailand locating on the top of an extinct volcanic Phnom Rung hill. The hill rises over 383 meters above sea level. With the location on the top of Phnom Rung hill and its gigantic constructions, Prasat Phnom Rung stands magnificently like the residence of god that located on the Mount of Kailasa, as recounted in the scripture.
Prasat Phnom Rung faces the east, a direction that is believed to bring prosperity. Its perfect layout, meticulous design and construction as well as its splendid stone carving have reflected the highest worship of human beings to their Gods and the great power of the founder.
Two pools are situated in the north-east of Prasat Phnom Rung. The pools were the craters of the volcano and later on were modified for religious functions at the time of the construction of the monastery.
The Lower Stairway was made of laterite and divided into 3 sets of stairs starting at the eastern slope of the hill to the first cruciform platform, which marked the first ascent to the eastern entrance. The entrance had similar shape to the last eastern gateway; however, there was no clear evidence or remains that could confirm that they were identical. The platform was assumed to be the base of the outer gateway pavilion, which was constructed of wood with a tiled roof. From the Lower Stairway, there was inclining causeway leading to the Upper Stairway to the main sanctuary. Originally the inclining causeway may be paved with laterite or sandstone stairs. The evidence from the excavation of the stairways in 2000 showed that the inclining causeway was constructed into multiple level slopes from volcanic stone.
The Inner Gallery was walled, covered with roof and consisted of several long and narrow rectangular rooms surrounding the main sanctuary. The eastern and the western walled galleries were identical and made of laterite measuring 2.6 meters wide and 59 meters long. The northern and the southern walled galleries were similar and a little longer, 68 meters long. The eastern walled gallery roof was carved in stone to imitate a tiled roof. The roof peal was decorated with prali or finials. The northern walled gallery was built of laterite with sandstone door and window jambs. Numerous tiles found during the restoration suggest that the roof had its wooden structured and tiled.
At the end of the causeway is the second cruciform platform or the first Naga Bridge that connects the causeway to the Upper Stairway and to the sacred pond. It was built of sandstone measuring 8.2 meters wide and 20 meters long and raised up about 1.5 meters. There are wing-shape stairs at the front and at both sides of the platform while the back side is a patio connecting to the Upper Stairway. The platform of the First Naga Bridge is supported by exquisitely carved sandstone pillars. The balustrades of the terrace are in the form of Naga bodies with five-headed Naga that was richly crowned and arched up at the corner. The Naga’s diadem was carved in the horizontal floral design of Angkor Wat style [1100 to 1175 ] dated back to the 12th century. To its north, which is the left exit of the First Naga Bridge, is a path to the sacred pond. The path was constructed with well- compressed soil with laterite edge on both sides.
Another point of attraction on the First Naga Bridge is the eight- petal lotus design carved inside a double-line circle on the floor at the centre point of the bridge platform. There are so many interpretations to this design. Some said the eight-petal lotus represented the eight directions of the universe and the Hinduism Gods for each direction. Some said this was a magical symbol for prosperity and preventing possible enemies and danger. Some said the design marked the center of the universe because the lotus design was the center point when measuring from the top of the tower. Some said the design set a point to worship and pray to God.
There are two more Naga bridges at Prasat Phnom Rung. One is at the eastern gateway while the last Naga bridge connects the eastern entrance to the Main Sanctuary. From architectural perspective, it could be interpreted that a Naga bridge is meant to be a connector between important entrances or structures where a level is changed.
However, in religious place construction methodology a Naga bridge has more symbolic implication. According to Hinduism rainbow is the bridge connecting between human being’s world and the God’s world. In East Asia and in India the rainbow can be associated to a Naga who is raising up to the sky or drinking from the sea. This legend is sometimes mentioned with 2 Naga because it is quite normal to have 2 rainbows at the same time. Therefore, a Naga bridge can be the bridge that connects between the 2 worlds. The Last Naga Bridge connects the eastern entrance to the eastern door way of the antechamber of the Main Sanctuary. The last Naga bridge shares the same characteristics of the previous Naga bridges; however, it is a bit smaller measuring only 3.4 meters wide and 9.9 meters long and instead of having a eight petal lotus motif carved in the middle it had three open lotuses carved on a door step of the eastern entrance to the antechamber of the main sanctuary.