Castle of Uthumphon Phisai District #Prasat Sakamphaeng Yai

Prasat Srakamphaeng Yai or Prasat Si Phrutthesuan is located in the area of ​​Wat Srakamphaeng Yai, Pradit Pracharat Road, Village 1, Tambon Srakamphaeng Yai, Amphoe Uthumphon Phisai, Si Sa Ket Province, near Uthumphon Phisai Railway Station and approximately 2 kilometers west of Uthumphon Phisai District Office. Prasat Srakamphaeng Yai was built in Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism to house idols. From the excavation and restoration of this castle by the Fine Arts Department in 1989, a large bronze sculpture was discovered, 140 centimeters high on the body alone and 180 centimeters high with the base. Professor Mom Chao Suphatdis Diskul commented that it was in the form of Nandikesuan or Nandikesuan. The special feature is that it is bronze with gold plating. It may have originally been placed in front of the castle. #VisitSisaket, in the middle of the castle's front porch because it is usually placed at the temple of Shiva. This sculpture is in the late Bapuan Khmer style. Very important, it is considered one of the masterpieces of sculpture found in Thailand. It is currently displayed at Phimai National Museum, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The history of Prasat Srakamphaeng Yai is still not certain when it was built or in which era. Although an inscription was found at this ancient site, the text in the inscription mentions the purchase of land to offer to the late lord, "Kamratengchakat Sri Phruttheswar". It does not mention the construction year 1585, which appears in the inscription, which is not the year the castle was built. That period in Cambodia was the reign of King Suryavarman I, but it does not mean that he was the builder. From studying various patterns in art and architecture, Prasat Srakamphaeng Yai should be in the Khmer style of Bapuan art, or around the middle of the 16th Buddhist century to the end of the 16th Buddhist century. Prasat Srakamphaeng Yai is a Khmer religious site, both in terms of art and architecture, including religious beliefs. From the evidence that appears, it is assumed that it was originally a Hindu religious site. Judging from the lintel carved with images of people telling stories related to Hindu beliefs. Later, when Buddhism became influential in this area, it was transformed into a Buddhist religious site, where a 1.33-meter-high image of the Buddha in the meditation posture was discovered.