The third of the Linga temples at Koh Ker is one I’ve highlighted before

The third of the Linga temples at Koh Ker is one I’ve highlighted before, as the conservation team began excavation work in February to provide more background to this little-known structure. It’s the only Linga temple of the original five, without a surrounding sanctuary, instead a giant sandstone pedestal held a 3-meter tall Linga, which had toppled over due to time and Mother Nature as a tree had sprouted up through the middle of the pedestal and broken it apart. The excavation team have now removed the tree and are digging trenches nearby to hopefully shed more light on the people and ceremonies that took place in the past. Prasat Linga 3, also known as Prasat Balang Tbong, is located to the northeast of the man-made Rahal baray, though perhaps more importantly it lies directly opposite Prasat Thom, the state temple of the second quarter tenth century capital of King Jayavarman IV, then known as Lingapura. Exactly why and how sanctuary-less Linga 3 was so strategic to the state temple is still to be determined. The large Linga remains in really good condition, with graffiti I spied there in 2003 long gone, and demonstrates perfectly its three-part composition: the square lower section, usually planted in the earth, is associated with Brahma (the Creator); the octagonal mid-section, embedded within the pedestal or plinth known as the yoni, is associated with Vishnu (the Preserver); and the domed, cylindrical upper section is associated with Shiva (the Destroyer). The decorated pedestal has not fared so well and is badly damaged. A deposit stone with its holes that would’ve originally housed precious gems or gold leaf, has also been recently released from the grip of roots and soil. The results of the excavation and reconstruction of Prasat Linga 3 is eagerly awaited.