This is a sandstone statue of Shiva, portrait as a hermit or ascetic. It originated from the second gate west of Prasat Thom at Koh Ker in Sro Yong commune, Kulen district, Preah Vihear Province. In 1959, it was taken from that location and registered into the collection of the National Museum of Cambodia.
Khmer experts have determined that it is in the Koh Ker style of the first half of the 10th century, Angkorian period, under the reign of the King Jayavaraman IV, from year 921 to 941 CE. The statue sits on the folded left leg with the right one raise.
The size of the head is well proportioned to the side of body. The hair is folded in a cylindrical style and adorned with beads. The face bears a calm smile. He wears a necklace made of beads with imagine decorated treatment for his armband. He wears a Sampot Chang Kben tied under a belt.
In reviewing mythology at Prasat Thom, Koh Ker, researchers believe this statue could represent Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers and a character from the Mahabharata story.