Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cambodian - and also the name of their language.
Koh
Island.
Kompong
Village on a river or lake.
Krama
Cambodian checked scarf.
Krishna
The eighth incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu.
Often shown playing a flute.
Kurma
Second incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu, when he
appeared as a giant turtle to support Mount Mandara
during the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.
Lakshmi
Wife of Vishnu, and the goddess of good
fortune and beauty.
Laterite
Soft, porous rock that hardens in the sun to a
hard, resilient stone.
Leahng
Cave.
Linga
Phallic-shaped stone representing Shiva.
Lokesvara
Cambodian name for the bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara, often called “the compassionate”.
Mahabharata
Hindu epic dealing with the rivalry
between the Kaurava and Pandava families.
Mahayana
One of the two principal schools of
Buddhism, along with Theravada Buddhism.
Makara
Mythical sea monster with the body of a
crocodile and the trunk of an elephant.
Mandapa
Antechamber attached to the central
sanctuary tower of a Hindu temple.
Matsya
The first incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu, during
which he appeared as a giant fish.
Mount Meru
Mountain home of the gods, at the
centre of the universe in Hindu cosmology.
Mudra
Traditional Buddhist poses, widely depicted
in Buddhist art, and also in Cambodian classical
dancing.
Naga
Sacred multi-headed snake, seen as a protector
and often depicted along staircases or across
causeways.
Nandin
Sacred bull, and mount of Shiva.
Narasimha
Fourth incarnation (avatar) of Vishnu, as
half man-half lion.
Nirvana
A state in which desire ends and the cycle of
birth, death and rebirth is broken.
NRP
Norodom Ranariddh Party.
Pagoda
Cambodian wat/temple.
Parvati
Hindu goddess and wife of Shiva.
Phnom
Mountain or hill.
Phum
Village.
Pinpeat
Cambodian “orchestra”, usually comprising
around ten instruments, mainly wind and
percussion.
Prasat
Sanctuary tower.
Preah
A title of spiritual respect, used for gods and
holy men; also means “sacred”.
Psar
Market.
Quincunx
Arrangement of five objects with one
at the centre and the others at each corner of a
Avalokitesvara
See “Lokesvara”.
Avatar
Incarnation of a Hindu deity.
Banteay
Citadel or fortified enclosure.
Barang
Slang term meaning French, and often applied
to foreigners in general.
Baray
Reservoir or Lake.
Bodhisattva
One who has attained enlightenment but
forgoes nirvana to help others.
Boeung
lake.
Brahma
Hindu god, often referred to as the Creator.
Brahman
Hindu priest.
Buddha
One who has achieved enlightenment.
Cham
Major ethnic group living in Cambodia and
Vietnam, and forming the majority of Muslims in
both these countries.
Chedi
Structure in which cremated ashes are interred;
also called a stupa.
Chunchiet
Generic term for the minority hill-tribe
groups.
CPP
Cambodian People's Party.
Cyclo
Three-wheeled bicycle rickshaw.
Deva
Male deity.
Devaraja
Literally “god who would be king”; the
Khmer king, according to the devaraja cult, would
fuse with a deity upon his death.
Devata
Female deity.
Dvarapala
Temple guardians - usually carved figures
found flanking entrances to shrines.
FUNCINPEC
Front Uni National pour un Cambodge
Indépendant, Neutre, Pacifique et Coopératif - the
royalist political party.
Ganesh
Elephant-headed Hindu god of good fortune
and success.
Garuda
Mythical creature associated with Vishnu,
having the body of a man with the head and feet
of a bird.
Gopura
Entry pavilion/gatehouse to the sacred area
of a temple.
Hamsa
Sacred goose associated with Brahma.
Hanuman
Monkey god and right-hand man (or, rather,
monkey) to Krishna in the
Ramayana
.
Harihara
God created from the union of Shiva and
Vishnu.
Heng
Mythical bird.
Hol
Method of weaving; pattern of silk fabric.
Indochina
Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
Indra
Hindu god of the sky.
Jataka
Tales recounting the past lives of the Buddha.
Kala
Mythical creature with bulbous eyes, claws and
no lower jaw.
Khapa
Chunchiet basket with shoulder straps, worn
on the back.
Khmer
The principal indigenous people of Cambodia
- the term is often used interchangeably with