a). Siva’s wife From the outset of Khmer art, during the Nokor Phnom period, Umá, Siva’s wife, is symbolized by the yoní, the female reproductive element, while Siva is symbolized by the linga, the male reproductive element. Photo 23: Yoní (Ka. 1747) We have not found any female deities from this period. During the Phnom Da style, Siva and his wife are still not depicted in human form. Some research studies indicate that the birth of the universe comes from the union of the forces of the sun and the earth. In this case, the light of the sun on contact with the earth would foster the birth of life, creation and the development of human, animal and plant life. Other documents present the linga as the power behind the birth of the universe while the yoní would simply represent the field of creation or support the linga, which is called Snánadroni. But both yoní and linga play the same important role in the birth of the univ...