Prasat Muang Tam Shiva , Thailand

Address

Prasat Muang Tam Shiva , Chorakhe Mak, Prakhon Chai District, Chang Wat Buri Ram 31140, Thailand

Diety

Shiva, Vishnu

Introduction

Prasat Muang Tam is a Khmer Shiva Temple in Prakhon Chai District, Buriram Province, Thailand. It is primarily in the Khleang and Baphuon styles, which dates its primary phases of construction to the late-10th and early-11th centuries. The primary deity was Shiva, although Vishnu was also worshipped there. Like most Hindu temples, Muang Tam is oriented towards the east. It has a flat concentric plan, with a central sanctuary and two surrounded successively by an inner enclosure, ponds, and an outer enclosure. The ponds between the enclosures are an unusual feature of the temple, as is the central sanctuary, which is not elevated and has its towers arranged in rows of three and two. Kala are particularly prominent in the lintels of the temple. Several of the lintels on the outer gopuras are unfinished.

Puranic Significance

The temple is surrounded by high walls with large formal gates at the center each of the four sides. As in most Hindu and Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia, the main entrance is the one facing east. Within the outer wall, there are large “L”-shaped ponds in each corner of the compound. These ponds symbolize the “Goddess of the Water” who protects the temple. The ponds are separated by broad causeways that lead from the gates in the outer wall to the gates to the gallery enclosing the inner sanctuary. The ponds are surrounded by naga balustrades with small gates opening off the causeways onto the stepped banks of the ponds. The inner sanctuary is enclosed by a gallery, again with grand gateways in the middle of each side. Within the inner sanctuary is a rather unusual arrangement of chapels. There are five tower-like chapels in all, set on a low platform. The main chapel is at roughly the center of the courtyard, although it is completely collapsed. The central tower is flanked by two more towers on either side, and then there is another row of two towers behind the first row. The remaining four towers are all incomplete, such as the intricately carved lintels.