Prasat Thom Complex (ក្រុមប្រាសាទធំ) is placed at the heart of Koh Ker and states as a landmark of the site. It is most imperative temple complex of Koh Ker site. The complex itself is divided into three distinct groups: First group is the main sanctuaries known as Prasat Kraham, Prasat Ruom surrounded by moat, Prasat Prang (the stepped pyramidal temple) and the tomb of the White elephant king. Second group is Prasat Srut with th central square. Third group is the Linga terrace with 5 Linga temples (namely, Prasat Balang Cheung, Prasat Thnoeng, Prasat Balang Tboung, Prasat Andoung Kuk, and Prasat Sralau) at the most east of this temple complex.
Prasat Prang (ប្រាសាទប្រាង): in 928 CE, Jayavarman IV became supreme “King of The Khmer Kings” and felt the need to build his own mangnificent state pyramid-temple at Koh Ker. He commissioned what was to become the tallest Khmer temple-pyramid, its square base measuring some 62 by 62 meters and rising over seven-tiers to a 35-meter-high summit. This monument is presently known as “Prang”, but name is inappropriate and of obscure origin. Prasat Thom is thought to have been completed during the reign of Jayavarman IV and Prasat Prang was probably never actually completed. Prasat Prang rises alone and slightly west-centre in the middle of a large area marked out by an enclosure rampart measuring 175 by 150 meters. Just west of Prasat Prang there is a enigmatic artificial mount known as Tomb of White elephant king.
Prasat Kraham (ប្រាសាទក្រហម): this temple acted as the gateway of Prasat Thom complex and its name is derived from the red brick used for construction with astonishing tapestry in its exterior. It is square in plan, and may be the biggest open space brick tower in Khmer architecture. Prasat Kraham’s lintels and single gate depict Vishnuite themes. According to Herry Parmentier (1936), it presented “two warriors vying for an unrecognizable object”, although it could be an elephant head whose ears can be seen between the two warriors. Prasat Karham housed a huge dancing Shiva, 6-meter-high, on a pedestal decorated with a snake-scaled carved torus, and a succession of vegetal friezes supported by burden-hearing lions. There are four other statues located at each corner – Dancing Uma, Chamuda, Mahakala, Nandykeshvara.
Linga Terrace: Lie on a north-south-axis, five shrines recorded only as Prasat Balang Cheung or Prasat Linga II (ប្រាសាទបាល្ល័ង្គជើង ឬប្រាសាទលិង្គ២), Prasat Thnoeng or Prasat Linga I (ប្រាសាទថ្នឹង ឬប្រាសាទលិង្គ១), Prasat Balang Tboung (ប្រាសាទបាល្ល័ង្គត្បូង ឬប្រាសាទលិង្គ៣), Prasat Andoung Kuk (ប្រាសាទអណ្តូងគោក ឬប្រាសាទលិង្គ៤), and Prasat Sralau (ប្រាសាទស្រឡៅ) perfectly perpendicular the great temple of Prasat Thom, and parted by a large square water tank, built of sandstone. Several pottery shards and roof tiles were discovered in trail pits on the site.
- The decoration of Prasat Balang Cheung expresses its exceptional grandeur through its elaborate doorjambs, lintels and colonettes. It comprises a gigantic Linga made with monolith stones placed on a highly ornate pedestal held by lion facing in the eight cardinal and ordinal directions.
- Prasat Balang Thboung is pedestal lies at perfect axial alignment with Prasat Thom.
- Prasat Sarlau is seen today as a chapel of hospital constructed during the reign of Jayavarman VII in 13th century C.E. by reusing stones and on the foundation of a previous temple structure (the fifth Linga temple). Based on its alignment and symmetrical position with other four Linga temples, this temple could be considered as the 5th Linga temple.
It is believed that these four temples (Linga I, Linga II, Linga III and Linga IV temples) are purposely built without any roof to allow the rainwater to be sanctified by flowing over their Lingas into the ceremonial square reservoir in front. This group of Linga temples may represent the four sacred rivers in Indian myth.
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