Deities Carved on Rriver Rocks, Kabal Spean, Cambodia (photo)

Deities carved river rocks. Kabal Spean. Kbal Spean is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site in the jungle on the south side of Kulen Mountain aroid 1 hour drive from Siem Reap. Kbal Spean means Bridge Head; referring to the rock arch at the head of the river It is commonly known as the valley of a 1000 Lingas; due to the presence of the over a thousand lingas (phallic symbols). This Hindu Pilgrimage site predates Angkor Wat by some 200 years; making it one the most ancient sites in the region. The lingas in Kbal Spean were carved in the riverbed between the 11th and 13th centuries. They were believed to fertilize the water of the Siem Reap River. These Hindu phallic symbols are normally represented standing on the Yoni or female organ. This takes the form of a square with a protrusion with a channel carved into it. Holy water is poured over the phallus which flows into the receptacle that surrounds the linga and flows out through the drainage channel. They are always oriented with the drainage channel of the Yoni facing north. At Kbal Spean These Hindu phallic symbols were carved in the riverbed during the dry season; they look more like buttons or in some cases bullets;the largest of the lingas is two metes across. Lingas are always aligned to the compass; with some arranged on the Yoni as shown here. This is another representation of the 5 peaks of the mythical mount Meru with additional lingas surrounding it. Photographed in 2013