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3. The symbolism of water in Khmer culture |
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Tonle Sap: Source of Lives
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Why do Water and the Mountain oppose each other? The classic opposition between "water" and "mountain" derives from the Indian concept of the universe. Have you heard of Mount Meru? This holy Himalayan mountain supposedly shelters the home of the gods and is surrounded by an endless ocean. Jayavarman II, the first Angkorian king, was also the one to establish
the devaraja, i.e. the cult of the god king, around 802. This way, the
king himself became a god. There are some high pyramid-shaped "temple-mountains."
Sometimes surrounded by water, they are the representation on earth
of Mt Meru. |
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What do Lingas represent? You're probably wondering what lingas are. They are phallic stone monuments which are worshipped as symbols of Shiva, the god of fertility. Water poured over a linga is said to become sacred. It is caught in a yoni, a stone representation of female sexual organs placed beneath the linga. By having his own linga built, each king would become identified with Shiva and therefore be a guarantor for the fertility of the soil. Once upon a time, the river of a thousand lingas Kbal Spean, literally "the head of the bridge," is known as the river of a thousand lingas. This is because innumerable lingas really are sculpted on the river bed! The site, located in the Kulen mountains, was discovered in 1968. Yet these lingas and bas-reliefs were carved around 1054! The Siem Reap river running down from the Kulen is blessed by contact with the sacred lingas. Therefore it is pure water, which then flows into the royal bath and city of Angkor. |
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The mythical serpent... Naga is a divine serpent. Visitors to Angkor will notice them guarding the entrance. This serpent is endowed with fan-shaped multiple heads, always in uneven numbers from 3 to 9. Naga is the symbol of water and therefore fertility. It belongs to the lunar dynasty, yet is said to live in the ocean or underground, and therefore it links water and land. It's believed to be the first inhabitant of Cambodia and is often depicted sheltering Buddha while he meditates. |
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...vs the divine bird Garudu is a divine being: half human, half bird. Often looking ferocious, it is the vehicle of Vishnu, the creator of the universe. As a winged creature, it is considered to come from the air and belong to the solar dynasty. As expected, its sworn enemy is Naga, the water-serpent from the lunar dynasty. Garuda is often portrayed ridden by Vishnu or digging its claws into Naga, over whom he is usually victorious. [next] |
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