This is a sandstone inscription decorated with sculpture. It originated from Samrong Temple, Samrong City, Oddar Meanchey province, from where it was taken to registered into the collection of the National Museum.
Khmer art experts have determined that it was sculpted in the 11th century, Angkorian period, under the reign of King Udayadityavarman II, from the year 1050 to 1066 CE. On the top edge of this inscription stela, there are caved figure of Shiva, riding on his bull Nandin, pledged by two guardians.
To the left is a figure of four-armed of Vishnu riding on his vehicle, Garuda, with a moon on the pedestal. To the right there is a figure of four-faced to Brahma seated on a pedestal, with an image of the sun on a chariot. On both edges we have stick wheeling human figures who could be guardians.
This piece of stone has inscriptions in ancient Khmer and Sanskrit on both sides. The beginning of the text is in ancient Khmer and talk about the date and name of seven divinities and their homage. Next is the text in Sanskrit which describes the worship of Shiva, Umavakawati, Vishnu, and Lakshmi.
The text goes on to praise King Surya Varman I and the history and good deeds of Shri Lakshmi Bhatti Warman, he was the supreme commander overseeing the present western territory of Siam, which formerly belonged to the Morn Kingdom.
This was where the commander had defeated a rival army. Later, this commander will be put in charge of Preah Klean and received the additional task to set up a district named Matiaté, where he built a linga with carved images of Shiva and Vishnu with their respect of consorts, Shiva and Kauri, on the bull Nandin and a dancing Shiva.
Lower, at the front and right side, the ancient Khmer text describes a list of assets in the names of those who had dedicatedly to the key divinities in Matiate, namely the Shiva Linga, Shiva, Vishnu, and Shiva with Kauri. The text also includes the names of the people and slaves who were brought to serve them. The list was inscribed in the year 1014.
The other side of the stela have another ancient Khmer text in 57 rows. It reads that “On 10 of November in the year 1014, King Suriya Warman I ordered officials at all levels to take part in a ceremony to erecting this inscribed stone at Matyate.”
The text continues and mention the purchasing of many pieces of land in Matiaté and other places in the years 1009, 1010, and 1014 by commander Shri Lakshmi of Bhatti Warman. The purchases also include details about the boundaries of the properties involved in the transactions. In summary, this inscribed stela provided the great deal information related to religion, politics, economics, and law.