Khmer Devatas at Prasat Sikhopharum

Prasat Sikhoraphum (Thai: ปราสาทศีขรภูมิ, Kh: ប្រាសាទស៊ីខរភូមិ, from Sanskrit shikhara, meaning tower sanctuary in South Asia) is a Khmer temple located in modern Thailand, not faar from Surin city. 

Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II for Hindu worship, it is made of five sandstone and brick towers, set on a laterite bas. Bas-reliefs depict Shiva, Brahma, Ganesha, Vishnu and Uma, while the door frames have sets of apsaras, devatas and dvarapalas (guardians of the doors). The temple became a Buddhist sanctuary in the 16th century. Architectural influences from Laos are noticeable on the tower roofs. 

Kent Davis remarks: ​“Thailand’s only two devata are not all that make Sikhoraphum temple unique. Its five towers are arranged in the same quincunx pattern as Angkor Wat itself, an especially rare configuration outside of Cambodia. This sacred design is limited to ​“state” temples, implying a high pedigree for this site (…) The two main devata at the northern and eastern gates are distinctively represented in Angkor style.”

See the Deva​ta​.org recension of Khmer architectural Devatas

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