mountain sanctuary dedicated to the god Shiva where the mysteries of the heavens join with the earth.
On a hot afternoon on May 29th, 2004 I was bowing before a Cambodian buddhist monk as he sprinkled holy water over my head and chanted ancient pali scriptures. The blessing took place in the Bhavalai (house of god), of the central sanctuary, inside the antechamber (mandapa) of the sacred Khmer site known as Preah Vihear or Sri Sikharesvara the "supreme being of the mountain" which is Shiva.
The Khmer King Yasovarman began construction of this abode to the gods in the late 9th century (893AD) on top of the Dangrek range of mountains in northern Cambodia also referred to as the Dangrek Escarpment (a high cliff overlooking Cambodia). A succession of KIngs of the Khmer Empire would continue to add to the monastery most noteably King Suryavarman I.
Preah Vihear is a very sacred site and the sanctuary's original name was Bhavalai (sacred ground).