The Phnom Kulen range of mountains is found 30 kilometre northerly from Angkor Wat. Its name means that "mountain of the lychees. there's a sacred brow web site on high of the vary.
Phnom Kulen is taken into account a holy mountain in Kingdom of Cambodia, of special spiritual significance to Hindus and Buddhists World Health Organization return to the mountain in journey.
It additionally has a major symbolic importance for Cambodians because the birthplace of the traditional Khmer Empire, for it had been at Phnom Kulen that King Jayavarma II declared independence from Java in 804 cerium. Jayavarman II initiated the Devaraja cult of the king, 99–101 a linga cult, in what's dated as 804 cerium and declaring his independence from Java of whom the Khmer had been a thraldom state (whether this is often really "Java", the Khmer chvea wont to describe Champa, or "Lava" (a Lao kingdom) is debated, additionally because the legend that he was earlier command as a ransom of the dominion in Java. See Higham's The Civilization of Angkor for additional info concerning the debate). throughout the Angkorian era the relief was called Mahendraparvata (the mountain of nice Indra).
Kbal Spean is thought for its carvings representing fertility and its waters that hold special significance to Hindus. simply five cm below the water's surface over 1000 little linga carvings area unit inscribed into the arenaceous rock river bottom. The waters square measure considered holy, provided that Jayavarman II selected to bathewithin the stream, and had the river amused in order that the stone bed may be sculpted. Carvings embody a stone illustration of the Hindu god Hindu deity lying on his serpent Ananta, along with his adult female Hindu deity at his feet. A lotus flower protrudes from his navel bearing the god Brahma. The stream then ends with a body of water and a pool.