Phimai has large and small ponds to represent the oceans. The central sanctuary is enclosed by narrow corridor galleries. Cruciform entrances [ or Gopuras ] are installed at cardinal points. Carvings of Hindu Gods ornament the pediments and lintels of these entrances. Within the sacred area the central tower [ or prang ] culminates in a lotus bulb shaped finial and represents Mount Meru. This is built of sandstone. The Prang is many tiered and rests on a base, which is a tall re-dented cube like structure which itself is set on other re-dented and ascending sandstone platforms. Below the tiers of the tower and set in the cube re-dented base was placed the linga, or phallic emblem of the God Shiva and later a Buddha image.