Preah Ko Temple

Preah Ko Temple

Preah Ko Temple

Date:                                Built in late ninth century (879)

Religion:                          Hinduism

King:                                Indravarman I (877-889)

Posthumous name:     Isvaraloka

The temple of Preah Ko, the sacred bull to whom this complex of stone and brick is dedicated, is bordered by a moat to the north and a moat to the south.

The temple was officially called Paramesvara, a name which means Supreme God and usually designates Shiva. Here, however, the name Paramesvara also is the posthumous name of King Jayavarman II, the founder of the Angkorian Empire. The rectangular area enclosing the monument measures about 500 meters by 400 meters. Preah Ko was dedicated by Indravarman in 879 AD to the memory of Jayavarman II, represented in the central sanctuary of the eastern side of the base platform. The side towers were dedicated to the ancestors of Indravarman himself.

The first entrance;

The first entrance of Preah Ko temple was designed like a cross. Only its laterite wall, sandstone doorframes and sandstone windows remain today. Its roof which was constructed of wood covered with clay tile has gone.

The causeway:

There is a causeway, paved with laterite leading from the first entrance to the second entrance, which is 30m long. This walkway originally had two rows ofstone columns in a form of candle on both side which some of them still remain. These columns symbolized Agni, a god of fire, who was a messenger between man and god in Hinduism.

The second entrance:

The second entrance has the same plan to the first entrance structure, but it has smaller size andvery ruined. There’re many broken pieces of columns, windows, doorframes and god statues on the ground. This section has a piece of sandstone to step up which was designed like a lotus petal.  This entrance is part of a literite wall which is 70m by 60mand in good condition.

The third entrance:

The third entrance was designed a bit different from I and II entrance.  Its structure was covered with a brick doom roof. This entrance is part of a brick wall which is 50m by 50m, which only its foundation remains today.

Agni Shrine:

At the southeast corner, there’s an elegant Agnie shrine which was used to pray to the god of fire and used as a crematorium of the royal family and high Brahmin. This structure has a very thick wall which was built with brick. There’re some holes on the wall for smoke to move away. Ancient Khmer people, particularly Hindu followers, believed that after offering their dead body to the god of fire, their souls or spirits would not be stunned and would be born in the happy world.  to worship to Agnie god was also the principle thing to do before entering the main shrines.

Bull statues:

There’re three kneeling bull statues in the front of the main sanctuary which are in good condition and they were dedicated to Shiva god.

Lion Statue:

Preah Ko has six lion statues in an action of seating as guardian in the front of the main shrine.

Central complex:

Preah Ko temple comprises six magnificent towers which were built with brick, standing on a single sandstone platform which is 30m by 20m. The north tower of the front line was dedicated to kingPrithivindravarman II who was the king’s father. The central tower was dedicated to KingRudravarman who was the king’s maternal grandfather. The south tower was dedicated to kingJayavarman II who was the king’s uncle. The three towers at the back row were dedicated to wives of ancestors in the front. Every tower originally had statues of King Indravarman I’s ancestors in a form of gods and goddesses.
Even Preah Ko is more than 1100 years old, its unique carvings in the lintels and columns are in good condition.  Its useful inscriptions also remain on the door pier providing information about the purpose of every shrine. There’re still excellent plaster carvings on these shrines. The ancient Khmer people made plaster from, Clay, Sand, limestone powder, Palm Sugar, and Tamarind Paste.