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Agni God of the fire, guardian of the Southwest, riding on a rhino Airavan, Airavata, one- or three-headed white elephant, mount of Indra amrita magic potion of immortality. Ananta an endless Naga angkor, nokor, Pali/Sanskrit nagara, Thai: nakhon, nakhorn , 'city'. Angkor - The central area of the Angkor region. - The whole Angkor region, ca. 30 km diameter. - The ancient Khmer empire and civilization. Angkor Conservation (CA), the former French archaeological institute, now a depot of Angkor artefacts in Siem Reap Angkor Thom “big city”, royal quarter in Angkor. Angkor Wat “city of the monastery”, main temple of Angkor. Original name Preah Pisnulok, 'Sacred place of Vishnu'. State temple of King Suryavarman II (1113-1148/50) antefix a carved stone standing on a cornice antarala corridor connecting the cella to the mandapa. Aniruddha grandson of Krishna, persecuted by Bana. Apsara celestial dancers see: Devata asram ashram, place of meditation asura anti-gods, demons. Avalokiteshvara the bodhisattva of universal compassion, see: Lokeshvara avatar ‘descent', temporary incarnation of Vishnu to restore the harmony of the world. avenue route of the royal procession to the state temple Balaha incarnation of Avalokiteshvara as a flying horse Bali demon king, deceived and killed by Vishnu, see Three strides Bana son of Bali banteay “fortress”, a temple enclosed by stately walls or galleries barang “Franconian”, Western foreigner barangsay French, France. baray huge water basin Bayon State temple of King Jayavarman VII Bodhi ‘the Awakening' bodhisattva “enlightened being”, 1. the future Buddha, 2. a Buddhist god Brahma a Hindu god Brahmins priests, highest Hindu caste Buddha “Enlightened”, “Fully Awakened” cakra circle, discus, the world cella central room of a temple churning of the sea (of milk) Gods and Demons churn the sea to win amrita. colonnade long hall, covered with beams and tiles, opening to a long side by pillars colonnettes “small columns”, flanking a door columns are a stone imitation of wooden piles. cosmology teachings of the origins and the entity of the world devaraja ‘god who is king'. Devata goddesses or deities; in Angkor wrongly mixed up with Apsara Durga “The Great Goddess”, consort of Shiva, in her terrible aspect. Also called: Kali, Chandi or Bhairavi. Durga kills the buffalo monster – who could not be defeated by any god. dvarapala male guardians, gods or demons EFEO Ecole Française d'Extrême Orient, French archaeological institute elephants symbols of stability enclosures walls or galleries framing a tower or a group of towers; enclosures are counted with Roman numerals (I, II, III) from inside to outside. fire shrine sheltering the Holy Fire, or a fire for ritual sacrifices. Wrongly called library flying palaces reliefs of palaces of gods at temples' walls, supported by a frieze of flying hamsa GACP German Apsara Conservation Project gajasimha 'elephant lion', a mythical beast, shaped like a lion, with an elephant's trunk Ganesha son of Shiva, with an elephant's head, lord of Shiva's troops, sets up or removes obstacles, god of knowledge, patron saint of educated persons and voyagers. His mount is a rat. GAP Greater Angkor Project Garuda king of the birds, mount of Vishnu gopa, gopi cowherd or shepherd gopura gate tower or gate pavilion Grand and Petit Circuit Out-of-date routes in Angkor. Grand Hotel d'Angkor The first big hotel in Siem Reap, opened 1929. Great Departure The future Buddha leaving his palace. hamsa sacred wild goose, mount of Brahma Hanuman white faced monkey general in the Ramayana Harihara Hindu god, half Shiva, half Vishnu. Hariharalaya ancient capital in Roluos HeritageWatch an NGO safeguarding the cultural heritage of Cambodia Hinayana ‘the small vehicle', a Mahayana Buddhist misnomer of Theravada Buddhism. Indra god of the weather, riding on Airavan. Indradevi and Jayarajadevi Queens, in succession spouse of King Jayavarman VII Kala head of a monster, representing the terrible aspect of Shiva Kama the god of love Kambujadesa land of the descendants of Kambu (a legendary founder of the Khmer kingdom), Cambodia. Kesin an asura. Ketu comet, the tail of Rahu. Khmer Cambodian Krishna incarnation of Vishnu Kubera god of wealth, lord of the yakshas and guardian of the North. |
Lakshmana brother of Rama Lakshmi consort of Vishnu, Goddess of luck, also called Sri (the beauty). Lanka capital city of the demon king see Ravana laterite soil of non volcanic origin, a mixture of clay, loam, and bauxite 'library' in Angkor fire shrines are wrongly called ‘libraries' lingam, linga “ symbol ”, phallic symbol lintel sandstone block above a door lions more mythical figures than animals; guardians Lokeshvara ‘lord of the world' ; title of Shiva , and of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Mahabharata Sanskrit epic of ancient India, containing myths of Krishna Mahayana ‘the great vehicle', later form of Buddhism, the Buddha and bodhisattvas are worshiped like gods Mahendraparvata temple site of King Jayavarman II at the Phnom Kulen. Makara deity of the water, half a fish and half a crocodile, with a short trunk. The month January is called makara in Khmer. mandala image of the cosmos mandapa antechamber Mara god of death, lord of the demons, enemy of the Buddha. His tail is Ketu. mebon ‘supreme place for ceremonies or offerings', temple on an artificial island. Meru see Mount Meru moats are enclosing temples or capitals; they are square, rectangular or U-shaped Mount Mandara The pivot at the churning of the sea. Mount Maniparvata summit of Mount Mandara Mount Meru abode of the gods in the centre of the world Muchalinda a Naga king Mukata conical hairdo of gods and kings Naga cobra-shaped snake with multiple heads; symbol of nature, water, and the earth Nandi sacred bull, mount of Shiva neak ta tutelary spirits of ancestors neriphal 'women-fruit' NGO non government organisation Nirrti god of misfortune, death, destruction, corruption, guardian of the Southwest, riding on a yaksha pagoda see Vihear. 'palace' four halls forming a rectangle with interior courtyard, the function is unknown. Petit Circuit see Grand Circuit. phnom hill, mountain, in Cambodia generally not of volcanic origin. Prajnaparamita female bodhisattva of universal wisdom Pralamba a demon who wants to seduce boys, killed by Krishna prasat temple, tower, sacred site preah , brah sacred, holy preah ang name of the Buddha; kings, royalties; venerated chiefs are addressed ‘preah ang' Preah Thorani or Dharani, Goddess of Earth. quincunx five towers arranged like the five points on a dice Rahu off-putting, grotesque face of a monster, with two hands, transformed into the demon of eclipses; often placed in the centre of a lintel and topped by a sitting god holding a danda, a sceptre. rakshasa demon Rama incarnation of Vishnu Ramayana Hindu epic, telling the story of Rama and Sita Ravana powerful King of Lanka, friend of Shiva; see Ramayana reachisey sea monster redent gradation rishis hermits, sages, gurus Roluos temple site in the Southeast of Angkor Shiva a Hindu god, national god of the Khmer shrine chapel, small temple, sanctuary as a part of a temple complex Sita consort of Rama; see Ramayana Skanda god of war, son of Shiva, his mount is a peacock. snanadroni gargoyle Sokha Hotel Company a private company, selling Angkor tickets state temple central place of worship, centre of the kingdom stele inscription stone steung river, stream stupa a Buddhist monument, stone or brick representation of a burial mound, shelters relics or ashes. Sugriva king of the monkeys in the Ramayana Theravada is the Buddhism based on the teachings of the Buddha Three Strides Vishnu re-conquering the world cheating Bali. Tonlé Sap large lake in the South-West of Angkor, connected to the Mekong by the Tonlé Sap river trimurti “ trinity”: Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma tuk-tuk, the Khmer ‘tuk-tuk' is a motorbike trailer without breaks Uma consort of Shiva Valin brother of Sugriva, king of the monkeys, killed by Rama in the Ramayana -varman 'he who is protected by the God...', ending of names of kingsVaruna god of the ocean, the rain, guardian of the West Vasuki a Naga king Vayu guardian of the Northwest Vessantara Prince, a figure of Buddhist legends vihear Buddhist temple, vulgo ‘pagoda'. Vishnu a Hindu god wat Buddhist monastery WMF World Monuments Fund Yaksha semi-divine guardian of treasures, in the entourage of Kubera Yama god of death and judgement, guardian of the South, riding a water buffalo Yasodharapura capital founded by King Yasovarman I, now called Angkor 'Yoni' see lingam |
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