Khmer Linga (Mukhalinga)

Cambodia, Vat Bodhi Metrei, 8th century.

Yet, the worship of Vishnu found far less acceptance than that of Śiva among the Khmer. Many stone inscriptions bear vivid testimony to the predominance of Śaivism and to the great popularity of the śivalinga, the sculpted stone phallic symbol through which the god was mainly worshipped. During the ninth-century reign of Jayavarman II, linga worship gained a strong political character with the introduction of rites of the Devarāja or "divine ruler." From that time forward, the rites of Devarāja and the consecration of the king's royal linga became the main sources of royal legitimacy. Popular worship of the royal linga also became supreme. Such phallic representations of Śiva were placed throughout the Khmer Empire. They were normally installed at the summits of pyramidal temple-mountains representing Mount Kailāsa, the navel of the universe.

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