Glossary
Cubit - measure of distance based on the length between the elbow and fingertips; used in Mesopotamia and India earlier than in Cambodia
Phyeam - measure developed by Khmer equal to 4 cubits
Bas-Relief - carved sculpture linga or lingam - idol representing the phallus of Shiva, as a symbol of his creative power.
naga - water spirit in the form of a serpent, generally many-headed.
Devarja - cult of the God-King
sampot - short garment worn draped around the hips and knotted together at the front.
devas - gods; associated with the north
asuras (apsaras) - antigods; associated with the south
devata - feminine divinity.
apsara - celestial dancer.
yuga - periods of sacred time. There are four periods - the kali yuga, dvapara yuga, treta yuga, and krta yuga.
bodhisattva - in the Buddhist religion, "destined for enlightenment".
Lokesvara - in the Buddhist religion, the bodhisattva of compassion, lord of the world.
Theravada Buddhism - Teaching of the Elders". Earliest form of Buddhism, also named "Lesser Vehicle".
Ramayana - one of India's two great epics (along with the Mahabharata), relating the adventures of Rama. Allying with the King of the monkeys, Rama struggles to recover his throne and his wife Sita, abducted by the demon Ravana.
Mahabharata - one of India's two great epics (along with the Ramayana), narrating the rivalry between the five sons of Pandu, the Pandavas, and their cousins, the 100 Kuaravas. In their struggle, the Pandavas were asisted by Krishna, an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu.
garuda - divine bird (half-eagle, half-man), enemy of the nagas and mount of the god Vishnu.
Battle of Kuruksetra - This is a battle that is the climax of the epic Mahabharata. The battle waged for 18 days leaving but a few individuals who were allowed to climb Mount Meru and enter the realm of the Gods.
Indra - the king of the devas, the god of lightning and thunder and rain. He is associated with Thursday and the planet of Jupiter. (similar to Zeus, Thor, Jupiter)
Varuna - God of water
Kubera - God of wealth
Venus - According to the Mahabharata is the guardian of treasure and the Lord of Riches
Agni - described as black and malevolent; the eater of corpses in cremation
Nirrti - guardian of the southwest
Skanda - the god of war
Ravana - was one-half raksasa and one-had god (his father was Vaisranvan, the god of the north, and his mother a raksasi)
Brahma - a nocturnal diety
Visnu - a "daytime" diety