Editing Angkor (section)

=== Pre-Angkorian religion ===
[[File:Baksei Chamkrong 3.jpg|thumb|right|Dedicated by [[Rajendravarman]] in 948&nbsp;AD, [[Baksei Chamkrong]] is a temple-pyramid that housed a statue of [[Shiva]].]]
The religion of pre-Angkorian Cambodia, known to the Chinese as [[Kingdom of Funan|Funan]] (1st century AD to ca. 550) and [[Chenla Kingdom|Chenla]] (ca. 550 – ca. 800 AD), included elements of Hinduism, Buddhism and indigenous ancestor cults.{{sfn|Chandler|1992|pp=19-20}}

Temples from the period of Chenla bear stone inscriptions, in both [[Sanskrit]] and [[Khmer script|Khmer]], naming both Hindu and local ancestral deities, with Shiva supreme among the former.{{sfn|Higham|2001|p=46}} The cult of [[Harihara]] was prominent; Buddhism was not, because, as reported by the Chinese pilgrim [[I Ching (monk)|Yi Jing]], a "wicked king" had destroyed it.{{sfn|Coedès|1968|p=73f}} Characteristic of the religion of Chenla also was the cult of the lingam, or stone phallus that patronized and guaranteed fertility to the community in which it was located.{{sfn|Chandler|1992|p=20}}