Sikhoraphum castle

Terrain

General Condition

Sikhoraphum castle It has been excavated, restored and landscaped. by the Fine Arts Department It is currently open as a tourist attraction of Sikhoraphum District. Surin Province

Sikhoraphum District It is a district in the central part of Surin Province, most of the area is plains. But there are some areas that are alternating uplands and undulating slopes as well. but not as much as in the south of the province.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Lam Phok, Mun River

Geological conditions

Soil condition in Sikhoraphum district sandy soil The geomorphology is sandstone in the Khok Kruat rock category. Korat Stone Group Cretaceous (Department of Mineral Resources 2010)

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Sikhoraphum castle It is a Hindu temple in the Shiva sect. Khmer art aged around the 17th Buddhist century and probably converted to a Buddhist temple as evidenced by its restoration in the 22nd - 23rd Buddhist centuries, the late Ayutthaya period. It consists of 5 prangs made of bricks and sandstone. located on the same laterite base facing east There is a U-shaped ditch (U) surrounded by the east and west sides. The president's prang is located in the middle. And there are 4 family pagodas surrounded in all 4 directions. The layout of the layout shows the characteristics of the simulation of Mount Phra Sumeru, which is the center of the world and the universe. Characteristics in Cambodia can be seen everywhere, such as Prasat Ta Kaeo, Prasat Prasat, and Prasat Angkor Wat. The details are as follows:

1. Prang President There is a square schematic diagram adding angles. The prang has no porch. There is only one entrance door. is on the east side The lintel above the entrance door frame etched the image of Sivanatraj on the pedestal, with three swans, above the head of the Kiat Muk, which is handled by hand. The lion's feet on each side stand tall, holding up a garland that splits into a circle on both ends. The garland piece breaks leaves into 3 cascading circles. Inside the curve is carved into the god Norasingha, a hermit and a swan. Inside the arch is carved in the form of Thep Norasing, with images of Lord Ganesha, Brahma, Vishnu and Nang Banpati (Phra Uma) below. Claw pattern and fistula pattern The gable area is brick showing traces of stucco decoration.

The lintel of the main castle carved a picture telling the story. "Siwanatraj" Which is beautiful and very close to the original in Cambodia, that is, Shiva dances over a swan, which means heaven. Therefore, this dance is meant to dance on Mount Krailas. Lord Shiva has 10 arms. He flirts with his hands without holding anything. The leaf pattern hanging from the garland is depicting various deities. On the right side are the goddesses. seated on a lotus-shaped lotus and a human-headed staff in both hands, which probably means the Uma Next is Vishnu with 4 hands holding a chakra and conch, a scepter and earth. On the far left is Ganesha and Brahma hitting a cymbal. at the crescent above the steering column on the right It is a picture of Giratar Chunnamurti. or the battle between Lord Shiva and Arjuna Part of the Mahabharatayuth, on the right, “is a picture of the battle between Lord Shiva and Vishnu in the Sarabesbhamurti posture” (Symram Pholkerd, 1991:109 – 110) and the triangular leaf pattern inside is the image. swan however The portrait and story of this lintel remains controversial among scholars. which must come to a clear conclusion.

Characteristics of Lord Shiva's robes And other gods have the edge of the cloth folded backwards at the bottom of the Phra Naphi and the fishtail hem that overlaps 2 layers, as well as the popularity of small carvings that fill the whole area. It shows that this lintel should have been carved at the juncture of the Sinai art with Angkor Wat. or around the middle of the 17th Buddhist century

Lintel on the story of Shivanatraj or Shiva dancing. “Which Brahmanic literature describes His dance as playing a very important role, that is, it represents the power of the five universe-related activities:creation, maintenance, destruction, concealment (by illusions or illusions) and compassion” (Smithi Siripat and Mayuree Weeraprasert, 1990:155). Hindus believe that The rhythm of the dance of Lord Shiva It can bring good and bad effects to the world. If His Highness dances at the right time, it will make people live together happily. If the dance is performed in an intense rhythm, it will be bad. Bring disaster to the world

2. The pagoda family has a square plan with more angles. The prang has no porch. There is an entrance door on the east side as well as the main pagoda. Two layers of lintels are found, one of which depicts Krishna killing an elephant and Kochasri. The other one depicts Krishna killing Kochasri. (Currently preserved at the Surin National Museum) at the west prang Found a sandstone inscription on the wall of the door frame as an inscription Tham Isan script in Thai language -Bali The story inscribed mentions a group of elders and Thao Phraya together to renovate this ancient site.

Isan script inscriptions, Thai-Pali, have been read and translated from Mr. Pichet Chaiphon and Mr. Termee Tem (Symphol Pholkerd, 1991 :42-43) said that in the late Ayutthaya period There is a group of elder monks and local Thao Phraya. Ban Ra-ngeng stone castle was restored. By understanding that it is a Phra Mahathat of Buddhism "

In addition to the lintel carved the image of Siwanatraj At this Sikhoraphum castle, two more lintels with the same art style were found. Carved the story of Krishnavatar, currently kept at Surin National Museum The details of each piece are as follows:

Pieces 1 It is a lintel carved with images of Lord Krishna fighting with elephants and lions. composition Divide the lintel into 2 horizontal parts, the upper part is smaller than the lower part. This part is carved into the image of 5 hermits, sitting in the yogasana position within the arch of Ruan Kaew. The lower part, in the center, is carved depicting Krishna, holding the lion's feet with her right hand and her left hand holding the elephant's foot. Raised in a dance rhythm The heads of lions and elephants hang down, spitting out the garland, splitting into arcs on both sides. The end of the garland is rolled into a pattern like a three-headed serpent head. The top head spit out a bunch of buns that are rolled up to the top of the lintel. Under the garland, a leaf pattern is made in two circles, similar to the number eight. This lintel is in perfect condition. Beautifully carved.

Pieces 2 It is a lintel carved with images of Lord Krishna fighting elephants and lions as in the first piece. The composition is similar. In the middle of the lintel carved a picture of Lord Krishna holding the lion's foot with her right hand and the left hand holding the elephant's foot raised in a dancing rhythm. The lion's head and the elephant's head hang down and spit. The steering wheel splits into a circle on both sides. The tip of the steering column on the right is broken. The left part is obliterated. It looks like it hasn't been carved yet. Above the garland is a triangular leaf pattern, while the inside of the curved circle is a leaf curl pattern.

Fine Arts Department excavated and renovated the landscape between 1985-1991.

Age and other details

In the year 1929, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Krom Phraya Damrong Rajanupap visited the ancient artifacts Nakhon Ratchasima and came to this castle, he judged that “At this Ban Ra-ngeng castle The pagodas, both large and small, are made of bricks. Prang jewelry the door frames and the lintels and the stone spires the same with the low city It is created in Buddhism. It can be known by the lintel of the large prang door, there is an important image of the Bodhisattva Lokeswara. And the inscription on the door frame of the small prang under it said that Sita Maka Ramanat Chat Phiromaya Somdej Rajachao Priest along with the relatives built in Buddhism.” (Luang Boriban Buriphan 2531:39), but it appears that such opinions Inaccurate errors, which Professor Supatradit Diskun has expressed conflicting opinions. in the introduction of the letter book of the event of the King inspecting the ancient relics Nakhon Ratchasima Province of Somdej Krom Phraya Damrong Rajanupab, 1929, saying that (Luang Boriboban Buriphan 1988 :12 – 13)

I understand that this brick castle of Ban Ra-ngeng Built in Brahmanism, Siva sect around 1650 BC. If we observe the pictures carved on the central prang stone lintel, then it can be seen that There are many portraits of people dancing behind them. Probably Shivanatraj or Shiva dancing instead of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in Mahayana Buddhism. This is because if we look at the image of an angel sitting in a row that goes down from the side. On our right hand we can see that there are images of Lord Ganesha, Brahma, Vishnu and Lakshmi respectively. when this is the case Where will Shiva, another supreme deity in Brahmanism, go to where? The image of an important deity, which is larger than the others. and on top of this Probably Lord Shivanatraj Certainly not Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.”

Concerning the era of the castle, N. Na Pak Nam commented that “Sikhoraphum Castle which was formerly known as Ban Ra-ngeng Castle in Surin In the past, it was based on the theory that It is the oldest brick castle. But after a thorough study of the masonry castle system I realize the fact that We have to take into account the shape and construction techniques. including lintels as diagnostic elements This Sikhoraphum castle The lintel of the central castle There is a figure in front of Kiat Muk, saying that it is a craftsman after Jayavarman II, descending with this reign, bringing the face of Kiatmuk or Nakkarn like this from Java. But when considering all the lintels and the Apsara images on the sides of the door, it is evident that it is the same art form as Angkor Wat during the reign of Prince Suryavarman II, which can be determined not to be any older than this. From the study of the top of the castle with a strange shape The general Khmer castle pattern was found. The upper part is something that was reinforced in later times without the skill of Khmer artisans may be added. in this Ayutthaya period.”

Smitthi Siribhadra and Elizabeth Moore (Palaces of Gods Khmer Arts Architecture in Thailand 1992:219) similarly commented that The style of the lintel and the sandstone carvings of Prasat Sikhoraphum It dates back to the Angkor Wat period around the early 17th Buddhist century, while the top of the castle was rebuilt by the Lao people in later times.

From the patterns on the columns and lintels of the main castle and the 4 family castles, there is a mix between the Khmer art forms of Bapuan (1550-1650) and Angkor Wat (1650-1700 A.D.).Therefore it can be said that This castle was probably built around the middle of the 17th Buddhist century or the beginning of the Angkor Wat period due to Hinduism and sectarianism. and would probably be converted to a Buddhist temple as evidence of restoration Around the 22nd Buddhist century in the late Ayutthaya period