THE HISTORY OF WAT PREAH KEO MOROKAT

THE HISTORY OF WAT PREAH KEO MOROKAT

( WAT REMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA )

WAT PREAH KEO MOROKAT was built in 1892-1902 and renovated in1962 in the style of traditional Khmer architecture. formerly it was called the pagoda of UBOSOTH RATHANARAM. Ubosoth describes the practice of the Buddha's eight precepts which are: 1). not to kill 2). not to steal 3).not to commit adultery 4). not to speak falsely 5). not to slander 6). not to eat at the wrong time 7). to avoid worldly gifts 8).not to use ointments. The Khmer monarchs often used the pagoda as a hall to listen to Ubosoth sermons offered by Buddhist monks, to venerate the Emerald Buddha for auspicious benefits or to engage in meditation in order to develop a peaceful mind, particularly on Buddhist days.

It is also a site where the Royal Family and mandarins used to perform royal ceremonies throughout the year according to the traditions of Buddhism. Although monks did not reside here, His Majesty, King NORODOM SIHANOUK VAFMAN, stayed at the pagoda for one Vassa (year) during his royal ordination which began on 31st July 1947. Whenever the monarch had to celebrate a Buddhist ritual, they would invite monks from other pagodas in Phnom Penh, for example, Unalom pagoda and Botumvadei pagoda, to WAT PREAHKEO MOROKAT.

The pagoda is located in the southern section of the Royal Palace compound, enclosed by high galleries, These galleries were used as contemporary classrooms for Buddhist monks studying Pali before the school of Pali language established in Phnom Penh on 16th December 1930.

On the walls of the galleries are mural paintings (frescoes) illustrating the Ramaya legend from the beginning to the end. The frescoes were painted in 1903-1904 by famous Khmer artists under the direction of Oknha Tep Nimit THEAK. The legend begins in the southern part of the eastern gallery and stretches around 642 metres of wall, reaching a height of 3 metres. Today, parts of the paintings are being gradually eroded by the weather and micro-organisms.

In 1985 Cambodian government co-operated with the Polish government to set up a project to preserve and restore the damaged frescoes. The project lasted for 5years until funds were exhausted. At present the Royal government is looking forward to generous support from international countries to assist with the preservation and restoration of the Cambodian national heritage.

In front of the temple stand two stupas and a statue of a King enshrined under a Mondop (a square structure with a pyramidal pointed roof) :

* The southern stupa, which contains the cremated ashes of King ANG DUONG, was built on 13th March 1908, King ANG DUONG was the great-great grandfather of the present king king SIHANOUK.

* The northern stupa, which contains the ashes of king NORODON, was built on 13th March 1908, king NORODOM was the great grandfather of king SIHANOUK.

* The statue depicts king NORODOM on horseback . It was erected in 1875 and mounted on the pedestal in front of the pagoda in 1892. The Mondop canopy was a later addition by His Majesty, King SIHANOUKK, who, in 1953, embarked on a "Royal Crusade" in an attempt to gain independence from French colonialism. During this period he came to pray at achieved on 9th November 1953, the king had the mondop built to cover the royal statue as an act of gratitude towards king NORODOM's sacred power which had offered the desired results to him and the Cambodian people.

The temple was first constructed during the reign of His Majesty, King NORODOM, in wood and brick, The Seima Festval (a Buddhist festival during which amonument called a "Seima" is erected near the temple )took place on the 8th day of the waxing moon in the month of Miek (the third month of the lunar calendar corresponding to January-February ), during the Tiger years 2445, or Thursday 5th February 1903. year after year saw the gradual deterioration of the fabric of the temple, once resulting in near collapse which required urgent renovation. In1962, under the Royal guidance of Her Majesty, Queen Kossomak Nearyeath (SIHANOUK's mothe ) and under the glorious leadership of King SIHANOUK, the temple was demolished and a new concrete structure was built in its place using the same architectural style and with the terrace and columns covered with marble imported from Italy.

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