Kutisvara Temple

Kutisvara (Khmer: ប្រាសាទកុដិស្វរៈ or ក្តីសូរ) is a small brick temple site consisting of three towers in ruined condition. It is the site of Kuti, mentioned in the stele of Sdok Kok Thom in connection with the 9th century and King Jayavarman II. Besides, an inscription found on a stone reused for the building of Banteay Kdei next door mentions the dedication of the site to Shiva and the erection of two statues of Vishnu and Brahma by Shivacarya, one of King Rajendravarman’s priests in the 10th century.

At the site, the central temple is partially standing while the other two have mostly collapsed. They are aligned on a north-south axis on a raised earth mound and all facing east. The central tower is raised higher than those on either side and also featured a hall extending eastward. The platform of the central temple is brick but the bases of the other two are built in laterite. A decorative lintel can still be seen at the site and the southern tower has its round pedestal in situ. Round pedestals are not so common, off the top of my head the only other in situ is at Preah Kset Temple but there will certainly be or have been others. The pedestal of the central temple would have featured a linga that was not found. The north temple featured a square pedestal although its statue was not found.

Gallery

Site Layout

In the early 1900s, the French researcher, Henri Marchal, surveyed the site and left a detailed layout plan and record of the unique round pedestal along with the ornate door columns.

Historical Images

A statue of Brahma was found here, located in the southern temple atop the round pedestal. The images are of the excavations that took place in the early 1900s by Henri Marchal. At the time he noted the likelihood that the central temple existed prior to the outer pair, along with the brick wall, being added later, extending and curiously enclosing without steps or entrance, the east side and entrance of the central temple.

References

• Bulletin de l’École française d’Extrême-Orient Année, Henri Marchal, 1937 37 pp. 333-346