Mayan, Aztec, and Cambodian Pyramids

The similarities between the Cambodian pyramids at Prasat Thom, Koh Ker 

And the Mexican pyramids, this one at La Cañada de la Virgen, Guanajuato...

are striking.

Anyone who has seen pyramids in Mexico cannot fail to note the remarkable similarities. Did the Mexican temples derive from some strange form of Shiva worship?

Pyramid Temple in Cambodia

Pyramid Temple in Tikal Mexico

The resemblance is uncanny. Was there communication between these ancient peoples?

Tikal, Mexico

Koh Ker, Cambodia

And what relation if any, exists between the giant carved heads at Bayon,

Giant Head at Bayon, Cambodia

And the huge, carved Olmec heads made by the ancient civilizations fo Mexico?

Olmec Head, Mexico

Olmec

Cambodian

Were these mysterious civilizations linked somehow?

Temple of Shiva at Koh Ker

Perhaps what is at work here is what's called, "independent parallel development." When people have the same environment, knowledge, and tools, they create similar buildings and styles without ever having been in contact with each other. Both Cambodia and Mexico have tropical forests. The Yucatan peninsula is very similar to the areas around the Tonle Sap lake. 
The jungle is similar with similar vines. Bananas, mangos, and coconut palms grow well in both areas. Both places had a powerful heirarchic civilization, well-advanced in social structure. Cambodians knew the use of iron, bronze, silver, and gold. Mayans were not as advanced in terms of technology, but they were close. The Mayans made advanced astronomical calculations of eclipses stretching for thousands of years. Their pyramids were exactly aligned to the cardinal points. The temple at Angkor is off by about 2 degrees. So with the same technical skill sets they set out to build a stairway to heaven, a tower to the stars. The best structural form available for sustaining heavy stones was the pyramid. Perhaps it is no wonder after all. Simply a marvelous set of coincidences.

Here's prominent Professor of Anthropology, Dr. Coe, discussing differences and similarities between ancient Khmer and Mayan civilizations. 

Some anthropologists believe in what's called, "cultural diffusion." That is that some communication must have existed between the different civilizations of the past. That this is not impossible was investigated by Thor Heyerdahl in his famous Kon-Tiki expeditions where he sailed by raft across the Pacific to prove a relation between Polynesian groups and South American societies. 

http://www.history.com/news/thor-heyerdahls-kon-tiki-voyage,

Thor Heyerdahl

Different theories abound. Here's a website on the "Hidden Pyramid Code."

 http://www.ancient-code.com/the-hidden-pyramid-code/

Perhaps we will never know how these parallel structures came to inhabit both sides of the Pacific, so long ago. As a truth-seeker, I'm struck by the idea that perhaps vestiges of the Vedic Civilization and its temples may have penetrated the Americas in a distored form, so long ago. Thanks for checking in.

Photos of Cambodia

Here are some photos of Cambodia from my friend, Arindam Prabhu. I'm adding these in no particular order so you can have an idea of Siem Reap, Tonle Sap, and Angkor.

Entrance to Mahabharat Bas Reliefs at Vishunu Temple of Angkor Wat

Mysterious corridor in Angkor Wat

Interior of Vishnu temple at Angkor Wat with "library"

Strangler vine in action

View from atop inner sanctum housing Vishnu deity at Angkor Wat

Unusual strangler vines

Apsara heavenly dancers bas relief at Angkor Wat

Steps in the Jungle

Snake girl on Tonle Sap Lake

Devotees filming with Birchandra

Marketplace in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Curious Cambodian Boy

Funeral Processsion near our hotel

Naga Snake girl on Tonle Sap lake

Forest of sunken trees in Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia

Getting around on Tonle Sap lake

Leader of Buddhist Monastery

Bridge in Park

Floating Church on Tonle Sap Lake

Buddhist Shrine

Getting around town in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Thanks to Arindama Prabhu for all the great photos. I'll post more later.

Thanks

 In our Angkor movie,

 I play the role of a professor, searching for truth in the ancient ruins of a lost civilization.

Back in Mexico, I play the professor for real. It's time for a game of chess and a cup of tea with my old friend, the mathematics teacher, Jaire. Who will win this battle of wits?

Chess with Maestro Jaire.

I just spent a year, traveling around the world, having amazing adventures. Now I'm enjoying a brief rest so I can catch up on my reading, play the ukulele, paint a bit, and do some teaching. This is a good time for me to say "thank you" to the friends who made my adventure so perfect. My guru didn't much like the expression, he felt it implied separate interest, but Govinda Maharaja observed commonplaces, so thanks to all the friends in Ukraine, Russia, Mexico, Thailand, Cambodia, China, and Los Angeles, California who helped me. I'll have to do this in parts, so today is Thailand, 2013-2014.

Thanks everyone

Thanks to Aurora for letting me spend two months on a hair-raising roller coaster ride around the world.

Thanks to my friend and mentor, Bhakti Sudhir Goswami Maharaja, who saw my ukulele video

 and invited me to Thailand at the end of 2013.

With Goswami Maharaja at Bamboo House

Thanks to Bhakti Bimal Avadhuta Maharaja, Mastermind of the Russian-Thailand Mission

Exchanging the Dragon Robe

Accepting Dragon Robe from Avadhuta Maharaja

Initiated as Dragon Master

Thanks to the devotees in Chiang Mai who made it happen

Lalita Devi Dasi guided our tours of Chiang Mai

Indulekha Devi Dasi demonstrating yoga

Talking shastra with Gopa Kishore das Brahmachari at the new land

Touring Chiang Mai with Rajeswhari and Lalita

 Thanks to Goswami Maharaja for his rapier wit and brilliant sense of humor

Dueling Umbrellas

Thanks to Bhakti Lalita, whose calm spiritual guidance is appreciated by all...

Bhakti Lalita

Ajita Krishna, Rama Kanta, Indulekha

 Thanks to the folks at Theistic Media Studios and Fulldom productions for involving me in their projects and allowing me to work with them.

Indulekha, Amiya Sindhu, me, Rama Kanta

Ananta Dev, the sound guy.

The hari bol patrol on nagar kirtan in Chiang Mai, with Yuvati and Sulakshana

 Thanks to the Hari Bol Patrol and all the street joy on Nagar Kirtan in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Bringing the holy name of Krishna to Old Town, the night market in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Jan. 2014

Happy Hare Krishna People

The drum lesson

A roaring "old school" kirtan

Leading the kirtan at the night market in old town Chiang Mai, Thailand, last year.

I want to thank everyone who made this such a memorable adventure. I'll post more photos from 2014 tomorrow. Adios, muchachos. Mahayogi