Prasat Sila Leuk
| Native Name | ວັດສີລາລຶກ, ប្រាសាទសិលាលឹក |
|---|---|
| Alternative name | Huay Kadian, Huay Kadiene, Houay Kadian, Huay Kadien, Sinalay, That Kadien |
| BA# | L16029 |
| CISARK# | 5001 |
| K Inscription | K.1201 |
| Inscr. Location | In Situ |
| Size | Medium |
| Condition | Ruin |
| Type | Temple |
| Location | |
| District | Mounlapamok |
| Province | Champassak |
| Country | Laos |
| Coordinates | 14.40078, 105.62390 |
| History | |
| Founded | Late 7th Century |
| Builder | Jayavarman I |
| Material | Laterite |
Prasat Sila Leuk (ວັດສີລາລຶກ - Pronounced: Pra-saht Seela Lerk)
Remote, ancient sanctuary site located amid low, forested hills a few kilometres west of the main route leading south from Wat Phu and approximately equidistant between the Mekong and present-day Thai border. The temple today is in a highly ruinous state and consists of a collection of earth and laterite rubble mounds with just a single sandstone doorframe still standing. Nonetheless, it does appear that only a minimum of clearance work would reveal substantial vestiges which earns the site a place in our 'ruin' rather than 'tuol' category.
Discernable traces indicate a main, laterite, east-facing shrine with 2 probable 'library' buildings and an enclosing laterite wall. There are no obvious traces of a moat or associated reservoir.
We've come across reports of a carved lintel although it isn't visible on any of the available internet images of the site so if it did exist, we suspect it may have been transported elsewhere for safekeeping. Older photos (see below) also show a sandstone Buddha torso which again is not evident in recent images. Still in situ however are a broken sandstone (Vishnu?) statue and a lengthy Sanskrit and ancient Khmer inscription on the shrine's sandstone doorframe. The former is today in 2 sections with the feet remaining on the plinth and the body broken off at the ankles. It is otherwise in excellent condition apart from missing its hands. The latter includes the very specific date of 18th May 654 as well as a reference to a king Jayavarman residing at the site of Kurukshetra. (The latter is an alternative name for Shrestapura.) (1)
Since the laterite temple itself clearly dates to after the 7th century it appears that the inscribed block was a recycled one. Early temple sites generally keep close to the Mekong River and this sandstone block may have originated at any of several sites to the east. The Buddha torso confuses dating further although does hint at the site having been occupied over a considerable time frame.
(1) Jayavarman I is generally thought to have ruled at Sambor Prei Kuk from the year 657 which doesn't quite fit with the inscription so this could indicate a small error with either the translation or the standard king's list dates or, alternatively, could simply refer to a local ruler - a perhaps minor member of the royal family - who went by the name of Jayavarman and governed at Shrestapura.
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