PHNOM CHISO

11th century

By   EK CHANDARARITH

TAKE0   :3 ANCIENT CAPITALS
-NORAVARA NOKOR   at ANGGKORBOREI  built by King of FUNAN
-SIVAPURA   (city of SIVA) at BAYONGKOR temple (50 km from TAKEO)
-YOKENDRAPURA  at CHISO
PHNOMDA
LOCATION : a bout 20 km east of TAKEO province
DATE: 6th century, only the base of the temple remains, was known as
NORAvARANOKOR  • When it was served as the capital of water Chenla ( from 6th     to 8th century). Four artificial caves built as shrine, are carved into the east wall of PHNOM DA. On the top of PHNOM DA is a square laterite tower open to the North, was reconstructed on the original base by King SORIYAVARMAN I in the 11th century.
 ART STYLE : PHNOM DA (ELORA from INDIA ).
PRASAT NEANG. KHMEAU
DATE  : l0th century
KING  : JAYAVARMAN IV
ART STYLE : KOHKER
The temple is used to house KALI, the dark goddess of destruction.

CHISO TEMPLE

Location:  70 km from the south of Phnom Penh .in Takeo Province.
Access : To climb to 100m high ridge of Phnom Chiso by the eastern path is steepest with 265m length. From southern path is slightly less steeper than other path with 490 steps .From the western path is over 200 steps.
Date 11th century
King SURYAVARMANI (1002-1049)
Religion  : Hindu
Art style : Kleang

BACKGROUND

Phnom  CHISOR  is one  of  the  historical  sites in Takeo  Province . Phnom means mountain and there are two explanations of the word Chi or JI.
1. The word Chi  or Ji literally refers to BRAHMANISTS  . these groups are called
JI or Jibrahma ( Jibrahma is male , Jibramany is female ). There are three or four inscriptions found at this temple indicated that this mountain called Phnom Suriyaboripoat. Boripoat means mountain or sacred place. SURlYA is a family name of king Suriyavarman I.  So, Phnom Suriyaboripoat is a mountain or a sacred place where king Suriyavarman lived. Later, this place called Phnom Chiso .This name is combined with the name of the king and the place where the king lived.

The word Chiso related to the main God Siva. Because, in the temple, there was a statue of Siva God made by king Suriyavarman I . The statue has two names found in the inscription: VARSADAVAYAKA and SURIYAVARMANDEVA.
VARSADAvAyAKA means that the King of the three worlds : Hell , Earth and
Heaven .  And    SURlYAVARANDEVA related to the name of King SURYAVARMANI (1002-1049) or SURlYAVARMANDEVA.

The CHISO temple is different from the other. Because the whole mountain
is taken as fundamental base of the temple and there are three GOPURAS. All form a straight line with Phnom Chiso ( Gopura : an elaborate gateway to the temple or entry tower ) .
1st  Gopura: at the temple's gate with base-relief carving of Siva dance to destroy the beauty of Kalikalameyaka .
2nd  Gopura :at the bottom of the mountain which is called SENTHMOL. THMOL
means NANDIN bull .
3rd Gopura: at the farther East of 2nd Gopura is called Senphuvang which is the entry tower of TRAYTRANG paradise or JITIRAKOT tower access to INDRA paradise.
TONL AM :  sacred pond , opposite the 3rd Gopura, symbolising the 7th Oceans or
AKSAKAMA  ocean .This pond was to hold SIVA RATRI.

we cane accesses to Amaravadey city in TRAITRANG ,INDRA' s paradise at the 3rd Gopura by crossing the sacred pond of Tonle Am . Leaving this city, we arrive at Indra heaven in the 2nd Gopura ;and then to the 1st Gopura is the heaven of Siva , KAILASA. The temple represents Mount Kailasa where Siva lived. Formerly, this site is called YOKENDRAPURA. It is a small city of King SURYAVARMANI (1002-1049).
LAYOUT  :

The temple of CHISO is 50m by 60m and 6m in high , constructed of laterite and brick with carved lintels of sandstone .The complex is surrounded by the partially ruined walls of a 2.5 m wide gallery . There are 7 libraries surrounded the main temple .Most of the carvings in KLAING style depicting Hindu mythology. According to the inscriptions found at CHISO indicates: the temples were constructed by three kings as follows:
King SURYAVARMANI (1002-1049)
King THORANADRAVARMAN I (1107-1113)
King SURYAVARMAN II (1113-1145)
Today, the Chiso temple was damaged and is in poor condition. The temple become the historical tourist site for local and international visitors, especially for the weekend, people from Phnom Penh and other place enjoy their picnic at the foot of the mountain after their visit on the top of the mountain where the temple stands.
LEGEN ON BAS-RELIEF OF THE THIRD GOPURA
KRISNA SUBDUING THE NAGA KALIYA
Visnu on Garuda
Siva & Uma
VISNU' S COSMIC DREAM