Chau Say Tevoda

About

Chau Say Tevoda (Khmer: ប្រាសាទចៅសាយទេវតា) is a small but elegant Hindu temple within the Angkor complex of Cambodia, set just east of Angkor Thom and directly south of the Thommanon temple across the Victory Way. Its Khmer name has been read as 'the prolific grandchildren of a deity'.

Built in the mid-twelfth century during the Angkor Wat period, the temple is consecrated to Śiva and Viṣṇu and is especially admired for its carved devatās — female celestial figures whose graceful forms line the temple's walls. Most of the principal sculptures depict Viṣṇu and are relatively well preserved, while the central deity is Śiva.

The temple is built to a cruciform plan with a central tower (prasat) attached to a maṇḍapa via a small antarāla chamber, flanked by two libraries to the north and south. A compound wall pierced by four gopuras encloses the precinct, with a raised causeway leading east toward the Siem Reap River. The carvings along the long connecting hall are particularly fine, with elegant floral ornament.

A later layer of Buddha images was added during the reign of Dharanindravarman, father of Jayavarman VII; these now stand mostly defaced, in a maṇḍapa behind the eastern entrance pediment, set in lotus posture and flanked by devotees.

History

Chau Say Tevoda was begun in the mid-twelfth century under King Suryavarman II, who also built the great Angkor Wat. Later additions were made under Jayavarman VII, and Buddha images were inserted under his father Dharanindravarman, who ruled from Preah Khan of Kompong Svay. By the modern era the structure had largely collapsed, with around 4,000 carved blocks scattered along the embankment and within the Siem Reap River. Between 2000 and 2009 a Chinese restoration team — working under a project of the People's Republic of China — reassembled many of these scattered elements; the restored temple was reopened in late 2009.