Lolei - Roluos, Siem Reap

13 Feb 2014

Lolei is a Buddist temple in the area of Roluos. It originally formed an island in the middle of Baray but now dry. It is very close to Preah Ko and Bakong.  Compared to the other two temples, Lolei is rather small and damaged.  At time of visit the main tower was under restoration.  One next to it was rather deteriorated.  The state suggests that it collapsed previously. Nevertheless, remains of some beautiful lintels and sculptures can be seen. Some notes on the Khmer architecture:

Indra
It is the sky-god reignd supreme in the religion of Vedas. But it only served as a decorative motif at the period of medieval Hinduism of Angkor. Indra is associated with the east.  As Angkorian temples typically open to the East, his image is included in lintels and pediments facing east.  Typically, he mounted on the three-headed elephant Airavata.

kala
Kala is a ferocious monster associated with the destructure side of Shiva. It appears as a monstrous head with a large upper jaw lined by large carnivorous teeth but no lower jaw.  Sometimes it is shown as vine-like plants.  It is a common decorative element on lintels and walls.

Click here if you are interested in the terms for Khmer architecture.

Indra on Airavata









a divinity over a kala head








Male and Female Guardians
Nowadays the area of Lolei is dominated by a monastery.  You can observe the humble daily life of the Khmers.  

 
 

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