Prasat Phimai

Prasat Phimai is one of the rectangular temple constructed during the 11th century and is one of the finest Khmer temples and constitutes a testimony to the civilization, prosperity and wealth, and the power of the Khmer Empire during that time.

This temple is currently in Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) Province of Thailand, which is one of the big cities in North-Eastern (in Thai, Issan). It locates about 260 km from Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia. To go there, it takes about 5 hours drive from Bangkok.

I visited this temple on February 07, 2009. It was the first time of my trips around Thailand to North-Eastern region of Thailand. I found that the architecture of the temple is very similar to those temples in Cambodia. However, I got shocked when I saw a statue of the Greatest King Jayavaraman VII positioned over a "Yoni" (see the attached picture on the right handside), which is ususally found with a Linga of Shiva. [Yoni is a representation of the female sexual organ and feminine generative power, the symbol of the goddess Shakti. Yoni is often associated with the phallic "Linga" represents the symbol of the god "Shiva". The linga is depicted in art as resting in the yoni, their union representing the eternal process of creation and regeneration.] Is there any other meaning behind?

References:
1. Phimai, its Cultural Route and the Associated Temples of Phanomroong and Muangtam
2. Yoni definition