Parsat Chen- Cambodia

Address

Parsat Chen- Srayong Cheung village Kulen district Cambodia

Diety

Vishnu

Introduction

Parsat Chen (Chinese temple) is an ancient temple of Cambodia, located in Srayong Cheung village, Srayong commune, Kulen district. Parsat Chen is a remote archaeological site in northern Cambodia about 120 kilometres away from Siem Reap and the ancient site of Angkor. Prasat Chen (Chinese Temple) is on the west side of the temples street.

Puranic Significance

It was built by King Jayavarman IV in the 10th century for the worship of Brahmanism. It belongs to the north Koh Ker temple group. Three laterite towers (partially collapsed) stand on the same platform. In front of them are the remains of two brick libraries. Perhaps, it can be described as towers of Vishnu god standing on a vast battle field. It has two enclosures. There are two pavilions at the entrance of the first enclosure; one represents the battle of two monkeys (Valin and Surgriva) and the other, the battle of Bhima and Duryodhana in the epic Ramayana. The main entrance door (collapsed) was itself a sanctuary with a square central room (one side measured 4 m (13 ft)). A fragment of a multi-armed statue of Vishnu was found in front of the tower in the middle. In this temple five inscriptions are found. They inscriptions mention the names of all the numerous peoples connected to the temple site. Koh Ker is on the UNESCO tentative world heritage list.