Banteay Pir Choan Temple (ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយពីរជាន់)

Banteay Pir Choan Temple (ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយពីរជាន់) is a lesser-known yet historically significant temple located within the Koh Ker archaeological complex in Preah Vihear Province, northern Cambodia. Surrounded by double rampart, the temple was built in the 10^th century during the pre-Angkorain era in the Koh Ker style dedicated to Hinduism. Koh Ker served as the capital of the Khmer Empire during the reign of King Jayavarman IV (928–941 AD). Banteay Pir Choan is one of many temples scattered across this vast, remote site.

The name “Banteay Pir Choan” loosely translates to “the double ramparts”, suggesting that the temple may have had dual sanctuaries or was part of a twin-temple layout. The temple follows the distinctive Koh Ker architectural style, known for its robust and somewhat angular design, a departure from the classical Angkorian style seen in temples like Angkor Wat.

Most structures in Koh Ker, including Banteay Pir Choan, were built using laterite and sandstone, often with brick sanctuaries. While detailed layouts of Banteay Pir Choan are not as widely available as more prominent temples like Prasat Thom, it typically features: a rectangular enclosure, central sanctuaries, Lingas (phallic symbols of Shiva) and Yoni bases, reflecting the site’s Hindu religious dedication, particularly to Shiva. In the courtyard of the first rampart, there is central square tower made of laterite with the sandstone door frame and colonnette and decorated with false doors at each corner, oriented to the southwest. The eight small rectangular brick towers are arranged in two rows around the central tower. These eight towers face out in their respective directions. There are two bricks library (ហោត្រៃ) oriented to the west, with sandstone door frames. There are many inscriptions here. The Branma statue at the temple has a total height of 5 meters (including the pedestal), which is one of the largest Brahma statues among Trimuti statues (បដិមាត្រីម៌ូតិ) in the Koh Ker complex, including the Vishnu statue at Chen Temple and Shiva Naataraaj or Shiva lord of Dancing (សិវនាដរាដ ឬព្រះសិវរាំ ឬព្រះឥសូររាំ) at Kraham Temple. The Brahma pedestal is round, adorned with exquisite carvings of eight winged swans at the point of the diamond throne (បល្ល័ង្កពេជ្រ), oriented to eight directions.

According to a researcher, Mr. Thorn Vorathorn, this round pedestal is influenced by Bakheng Style, such as Phnom Krom and Phnom Bouk. The main piece of Brahma statue of the temple was vandalized and sold during the Khmer Rouge occupation of Preah Vihear province. Thanks to the efforts of officials at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the head of Brahma returned to Cambodian, while the body was at the temple site, along with countless small pieces of stone that were broken from the destruction of looters.

This temple opens towards Prasat Thom complex deviating from the usual temple orientation to the east. It therefore becomes significant as the direction of this Brahma temple is aligned to the main Shiva temple in order to enhance the religious value the site. The temple adds value to the site as significant inscriptions found in the temple (K.678, K678, K.680, and K.681 are in ancient Khmer and all are dated to the Koh Ker period); elaborate on the works of Jayavarman IV, the process of construction of temple, and several donations that are made to its maintenance. Built in 937 A.D., it is the only marker temple which was built in later years of Jayavarman IV’s reign. Its unique architectural feature is also a false story superstructure, with a vault and a vertical drum. The temple dedicated to Prajapatishvara or Brahma, comprises of the central tower, surrounded by eight brick buildings. Lintels of one of these towers show carvings depicting a horse-headed human body, a rare depiction of a Hindu god Kaitabha. The southern one is decorated with bas-reliefs show casing God Yama mounted on a buffalo and the northern one depicts lord Kubera. Similar reliefs are later seen at Prasat Bateay Srei and Prasat Vat Phou in Laos.

Like many temples in the Koh Ker region, Banteay Pir Choan has suffered from centuries of neglect, natural erosion, and past looting. However, its relative isolation has preserved some of its unique features. The temple is enveloped by forest and located near other significant Koh Ker monuments like Prasat Thom (the pyramid-like temple-mountain) and Prasat Krahom. Visiting Banteay Pir Choan provides a more secluded, off-the-beaten-path experience. Banteay Pir Choan contributes to understanding the short yet influential period when Koh Ker was the Khmer capital. The site is a reflection of Jayavarman IV’s ambitious temple-building program and the religious devotion of the time. It is part of the broader movement toward monumental religious architecture that would later culminate in the grandeur of Angkor.

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