Preah Pithu (Khmer: ប្រាសាទព្រះពិធូរ), or Prasat Preah Pithu, is a group of five temples in Angkor, Cambodia. In fact, they probably were not designed as a group. Despite its ruined state, the remains have a good decorative stake and its semi-arborized setting is attractive and peaceful.

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The temples are located at Angkor Thom, northeast of Bayon, across from Tep Pranam. The temples are near but were not built in the same period except for two of them, so there is no apparent order. They are identified by letters: T, U, V, W and X. "X" is a Buddhist temple, remained unfinished and probably the most recent. The others are Hindus. The five temples are in poor condition, the upper levels are ruined, but their sculptures are interesting and the place is quite peaceful, leafy and almost full. A moat, often dry, [2] involves some of the temples. They were first cleaned by Jean Commaille in 1908, then by Henri Marchal from 1918 to 1920.

Temples "T" and "U"

They were built together for sure as they are on the same W-E axis and are surrounded by a single moat. They are oriented to the west, having a cruciform terrace on two levels with balustrades nāgas as entrance. The temple "T" has a sandstone cabinet, which measures 45 by 40 meters and has two gopuras on the main axis W-E. The sanctuary, on an ornate platform of 3 levels of 6 meters in height, has a chamber that housed a long linga on its pedestal. The fragments of the west door lintel on the floor show a stylized representation of the "Churning of the Sea of ​​Milk", while the walls are decorated with devatas and floral motifs, Bayon style. The "U" temple is similar to the "T", but smaller and simpler. His office is 35 to 28 meters. There is no gopura. The lintel of the west door shows the Trimurti, with Shiva dancing on a kala head between Vishnu and Brahma. The inner walls are carved with dvarapalas and the blind arches at the base of the pillars are typical of the Angkor Wat period. In the north lintel there is another description of the "Churning of the Sea of ​​Milk".

Temple "X"

The temple "X" sits on a large terrace, 4 meters high, about 100 meters east of the temple "U". It is accessible from there if the moat is dry. It is similar in design to previous temples, but is larger and incomplete in its decorations. "X" is a Buddhist temple: on the walls of the sanctuary chamber there is a double row of sculpted Buddhas. Even the lintels show Buddhist motifs. However, the most interesting remains, which represent the haircut of the famous Siddharta, are not in place. To the east, the laterite terrace is surrounded by semas, [4] delimiting the sacred area.

Temple "V"

Outside the residual moat, to the north of the "U" temple, there is a "V" temple. It is orientated towards the East, where it opens with a double vestibule and has no cabinet. In the West there is a sidewalk that ends with a cruciform terrace 40 meters long, leading to the NE corner of the Royal Square. Its sanctuary chamber, standing in the two-level carved basement, is the largest in the group, with a square side of 3.80 m, and hosts a large 1.5 m sling. Its external decorations, in Angkor Wat style, are incomplete.

Temple "Y"

Temple "Y" has no basement or stairs and is on a dirt platform, north of "V". It was dated between Angkor Wat and Bayon. Orientated to the East, it has a long mandapa as entrance, connected by a vestibule to a sanctuary room 3.5 m by 3.0 m, which housed a 0.95 m high sling. The larger chamber has largely fallen, but on its western side there are two notable half-frontons, which depict the defeat of Asura Bana by Krishna to the north and the three giant steps of Vamana to the south.