Kandaol Dom Khang Cheung Temple

Also recorded as Prasat Kandaol Dom Nord (North), it is located on the western side of Preah Ko temple in the Roluos area. The site, still today surrounded by its original moat, features only remnants of what was a group of five brick temples, on two rows, opening to the east with a “library” building that opened to the west.

Inscriptions

• K. 809 – Sanskrit and Khmer text – IC I, p. 37

THE PIEDROITS OF PRASAT KANDOL DOM (NORTH).

The Prását Kandòl Dorm (North) is located about 300 m. to the west of the outer enclosure of Práḥ Ko. Unknown to AYMONIER, it was summarily described by the Commt de LAIONQUIERE who has no record of registration.

In November 1934, G. A. TROUVÉ recorded on the side walls of the central sanctuary of the eastern row an inscription which counts, to the south 48 lines of Sanskrit forming as many çloka, the first and last of which are very ruined, to the north 49 lines in Khmer well-preserved.

The interest of this document is to have for author Çivasoma, the guru of king Indravarman, well known by the stele of Sdök Kak Thom. After 9 stanzas of invocations, the text praises Indravarman and Civasoma. We learn that the latter was the grandson of Jayendradhipativarman, who was a maternal uncle of King Jayavarman II. Çivasoma had had as master Bhagavat Rudra and had “learned the castra from the mouth of Bhagavat Çankara”. It is not impossible that it is the famous Çankaracarya whose activity in India takes place at the beginning of the ninth century.

The object of the registration was specified in the last lines which are partially illegible. Stanza XLIV names the god Bhadreçvara; now, as the inscription in Khmer begins with an invocation to Bhadreçvara, it is likely that this was the name of the divinity erected at Prását Kandòl Dom (North) by Çivasoma. The Khmer text gives the date of this foundation (between 878 and 887 A.D.). and contains only a long list of serfs.

Inscriptions du Cambodge I, G Coedes

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..