the lost hindu empire of cambodia

7/20/2014 The Lost Hindu Empire of Cambodia

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A visit to Cambodia is recommended or may

even be de rigueur for any Indian with an

interest in the erstwhile history of India. For

nowhere in the world outside India one can see

the glory of its p...

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The Lost Hindu Empire of Cambodia

Published on Jun 21 2014 09:24 AM | Posted by Dr. Neria H. Hebbar | Articles on Hinduism | 17,401 views

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A visit to Cambodia is recommended or may even be de rigueur for any

Indian with an interest in the erstwhile history of India. For nowhere in

the world outside India one can see the glory of its past splendor so well

exhibited as in Cambodia. There are several hundred Hindu and Buddhist

temple ruins throughout the countryside, especially around the town of

Siem Reap near the large lake Tonle Sap. Siem Reap is the heart of the

country. Here is where the splendid temple Angkor Wat has stood for

nearly nine hundred years.

Mostly neglected for centuries and then ransacked and looted by

occupying forces, the treasures of Cambodia are scattered all over the

world now, mostly taken by Europeans. Smuggling of artifacts continues

to this day. Cambodia has a very checkered history of war and

destruction. It is only in the last one hundred years that attempts have

been made to preserve, excavate and study the chronology of history, first

by the French, and now by the rest of the world community. Indian and

United States governments are also assisting in refurbishing and

preserving the temples.

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Many of the temple ruins appear like they are right out of pages of

Rudyard Kiplings books. Many with crumbling walls and roofs have seen

better days. Giant trees hover over many temple walls, threatening their

very foundations. Large roots of Kapok trees twine around the temples

like giant mythical birds gripping them in their talons. Yet there is an

indescribable charm that one immediately imbibes at first sight. Many

ruins may look similar but one is drawn to see more. Those, which are

preserved, demonstrate exquisite works of art and sculpture.

The people of this impoverished country are graceful and charming. They

are simple, honest people, (mostly fishermen and farmers. There are not

many towns outside a few larger cities. Once you leave the city limits of

Phnom Penh there are not many homes or buildings of significant

magnitude. Two-wheelers are the main modes of transportation, often

attached to trailers that are used to transport families and goods. The

vendors selling books, shawls and skirts are mostly beautiful children at

temple sites, who surprise the tourists with better English than one would

expect them to speak. These children are not scrappy, but not pushovers

either and they can drive a hard bargain.

The scattered temples are mostly deserted reminders of the former glory

of the Khmer people, the dominant people of the region. Their kingdoms

waxed and waned, to include parts of Thailand (Siam), Vietnam (Champa)

and Laos at various times. There have been wars and skirmishes between

the Khmer people and their neighbors for centuries. The most recent

involvement of Cambodia in the larger war in Vietnam, when the country

was carpet bombed by the might of the American military, was just one of

several wars in its history to cause much death and destruction. Following

the American exit, civil war had kept the country impoverished and

desperate until the year 2000 when it gained independence and now has a

nascent socialist democracy.

The early history of Cambodia is best studied as Pre- Angkor era and



Angkor era. Angkor is a Khmer-ization of the Sanskrit word Nagara,

meaning city.

Pre-Angkor History

Pre-history of Cambodia starts with the legendary Khambujaraja, a

Brahmanical king of India, who had come to the region and faced

adversity from a beautiful lady on the mountain. After a brief fight

between them, a truce was drawn and the beautiful lady, Mero by name,

married Khambuja. The country they jointly ruled was called

Khambujadesa and their descendants were called the Khmer people.

Khambujadesa later became Kampuchea and then Cambodia. The original

language spoken was Mon-Khmer. Later in the 6th century the Mon

people moved further west to Thailand and the Khmer remained in current

day Cambodia.

Indian influence in the region began in the first century C. E. They traded

goods with Khmer by way of sea, when spice and silk trade had

flourished. Both Indians and Chinese exerted their influences on the local

people but Indian culture took a firm foothold, perhaps through the efforts

of Brahmin priests. The rulers of the time had a suffix of Varman to their

names, similar to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. Whilst the Cholas of

Tanjavur in India eventually defeated the Pallava Varmans in the 8th

century, the Khmer kingdoms flourished well into the 14th century.

Though all the rulers of Cambodia bore the name Varman, they did not

necessarily belong to the same dynasty. At various periods in their

history, the rulers and usurpers came from Siam (Thailand) or Champa

(Vietnam) as well as Khambujadesa (Cambodia or Kampuchea).



There are historical references suggesting that Cambodia had been

inhabited in the 3rd millennium B.C.E. Chinese travelers later chronicled

the first established kingdom. The first kingdom was called Funan (an

alteration of the word bnam or mountain in Khmer language). A certain

Kaundinya, inspired by a dream, traveled from India and married a local

princess Soma, belonging to the naga (cobra) tribe. He established the

first Kaundinya dynasty of Funan. Later in the 5th century a second

traveler from India - Kaundinya Jayavarman (478-514) arrived and focused

on re-establishing the Indian culture. He established a more defined

Funan kingdom and was later followed by Rudravarman in the sixth

century. He was responsible for the first sculptures, mostly of Vishnu.

After the decline of Funan kingdom Khmer people established Chenla

kingdom, where the names of kings Shrutavarman and Sheshthavarman

are mentioned. They established their capital in Shreshthapura. Later

Ishanavarman, from the Khmer kingdom of Bhavapura, defeated the

remnants of Funan, and established his capital in Ishanapura.



Jayavarman I followed him and then his successor Pushkaraksha again

united the splintered principalities in the year 716. His capital was

Shambhupura (currently Sambor). His heirs maintained control over the

kingdom until the end of 8th century, when Malayans and Javanese

(Jayavarman II) gained dominion over many Khmer principalities. During

this pre-Angkor period many temples were built, though they did not

demonstrate the same style of architecture or the confidence of the later

builders.

The Golden Period

The glory of Cambodia and its temples began in earnest during the rule of

Jayavarman II beginning 802 C. E. It is thought that he came from the

royal court in Java to conquer smaller Khmer states. He declared a

unified and sovereign Khambujadesa, independent of Javanese influence.

This was when the Angkor era in the history of Cambodia was born. He

named his capital city Hariharalaya and introduced linga-cult. to his

kingdom. The cult of Devaraja or the God King (the terrestrial counterpart

of the celestial being) was also introduced by Jayavarman II. The capital

stayed around the large Lake Tonle Sap, in and around the city of Siem

Reap (until the 15th century, well after the demise of Hindu empires,

when it was moved to Phnom Penh).

Thirty years after Jayavarman IIs death, his successor Indravarman I

constructed the first major temple in his honor (one of the so called

Rolous group of temples). From then on the rulers busied themselves in

building temples using bricks, sandstone and laterite. Often they were

painted in bright colors. They also built large water reservoirs called

barays. Following Indravarman I, his son Yasovarman I built many more

temples and barays.

Rajendravarman in the 10th century was a ruler busy building another half

a dozen temples, the best preserved and an architectural masterpiece at

Bantay Srei.

During the rule of Udayadityavarman II, several lingas were carved in the

riverbed on Phnom Kulen (called Mahendraparvata at the time). Today it is

known as the River of thousand lingas and is a tourist attraction in its

own right. It was believed that the water that flowed over the countless

lingas of the river would fertilize the rice fields below. A short hike up the

mountain will take a visitor to the place of thousand lingas at Kbal Spean.

The first inscriptions found on temple walls, dating back to 5th century,

resembled the script used by Pallavas of South India. Later, the Khmer

developed their own unique script and carved them into the walls mostly

describing the temple and its deity but sometimes the inscriptions were

just mundane details like a list of inventory. There are as many

inscriptions in Sanskrit language as in Khmer language.

The first decade of 11th century witnessed the ascent to the throne of a

powerful king Suryavarman I (1010-1050), who unified almost all of



Khambuja and southern Thailand. He was also a busy builder of temples

and royal palaces. Following his rule, Suryavarman II (1113-1150) further

expanded the kingdom. He also built the glorious temple Angkor Wat

(from the Indian words Nagara Vata - City Temple), the pinnacle of

temples built in Cambodia.

The sprawling temple spreads over a one square mile area. Long walls

with stories of Hindu mythology are sculpted as bas-reliefs. It is a

magnificent temple complex, constructed in the form of mythological

Mount Meru - the Hindu center of the Universe. The temple is surrounded

by a large moat, representing the ocean surrounding Mt. Meru. The

brilliant paint used to enhance the reliefs has faded but the architecture

and beauty are still preserved. The sheer magnitude of the temple

complex is impressive.

All the gods of the Hindu pantheon are represented in temple sculpture.

Shiva and Vishnu were held in high esteem. Ramayana and Kurukshetra

war are depicted on entire walls of stone sculptures. A masterpiece bas-

relief is that of the legendary churning of the ocean by the gods and

demons.

Sculptures of Vishnu on the back of his vessel Garuda or reclining on the

serpent Ananta and Shiva with his consort Parvati are repeated in many

temples. Also seen are Hanuman and Ganesh, along with many seductive

figures of Apsaras - reminiscent of Dev-dasis, the consorts of the Gods.

Another colorful king Jayavarman VII (1181-1220) followed Suryavaramn

II. The kingdom had briefly fallen into the hands of the Chams of Champa,

but the warrior-like Jayavarman VII reclaimed it and united Khambuja

once again. He expanded his kingdom to include southern Malaya and

northern Laos as well as Champa. Burmese kingdoms including Java

became subsidiaries.

Jayavarman VII was married to a Buddhist woman and later became a

Buddhist himself. Builder of dozen or more significant temples and

palaces including the great Angkor Thom, he built many Buddhist



monasteries and converted many Hindu temples into Buddhist shrines.

The elephant terrace and the statue of the Leper King are in Angkor

Thom. The statue when first found with blunted fingers, was first thought

to be of a leper (the French mistook the weather damaged fingers to be

that of a leper), but in fact is that of Yama, the king of death. The

Elephant Terrace is a ceremonial altar in facing the Royal Square,

supported by beautifully carved figures of elephants and mythical

creatures. At the entrance to Angkor Thom is a large tower, large enough

to admit elephants. On either side of the road near the entrance are rows

of large statues, with angelic face on one side and the scornful evil face

on the other.

Jayavarman VII declared himself to be Bodhisattva (as opposed to

Devaraja - God-king - introduced by Jayavarman II). His delusions of

grandeur are evident in the sculptures of colossal facial images of himself

on temples, especially at the towers of Bayon. Thus Mahayana Buddhism

(higher vehicle) had been introduced to Khambuja, which in turn marked

the beginning of the end of a glorious Hindu era.

Following Jayavarman VIIs death, skirmishes arose again both within the

kingdom and in its bordering regions. Brahmins tried to reassert their

authority with the help of Jayavarman VIII and tried to usurp Buddhist

power. However, their influence did not last too long. Soon after his death

Buddhism returned once again, though it was the Hinayana Buddhism

((Theravada or lesser vehicle) that took final foothold and still remains

the dominant religion of Cambodia today. The advent of Buddhism

effectively put a stop to the building spree in Cambodia. Some of the

existing Hindu temples were converted to Buddhist temples and

monasteries. Gods of Hindu pantheon were removed and replaced with

statues of Buddha.

Statues of Buddha had already appeared in the pre-Angkor period. These

were mostly ushnisha Buddha (with the knot in the head, denoting

enlightenment and Nirvana) in the standing position. Later Buddha

statues appeared in many other positions of the hands of giving,

preaching and blessing. Bodhisattvas and Avalokiteshvara Lord of the

World (Lokeshvara in Khmer) also are seen.



The last king of record from the lost empire is Jayavarman Parameshvara

(1327 - ?). In the meantime, the first large Thai state, Sukhothai, had

occupied much of the northern and western territories of Khmer empire. In

1430 a Thai king, Paramaraja II of Ayuthya laid siege on the capital and

conquered it in seven months. From then on the decline, abandon and

decadence set in. Discussion of the upheaval and the tumult in the

ensuing history of the kingdom in the following centuries is beyond the

scope of this article.

During medieval times the capital was moved to Phnom Penh. Today it is

a city with orderly traffic with clean air and streets, with none of the

typical hustle and bustle of a mega-city in South East Asia. There are

many Pagodas and Buddhist monuments with larger than life sized

statutes of Buddha (including the Emerald Buddha), adorned with gold

and decorated with diamonds. The use of jewels on the statue of Buddha,

who had taken a vow of poverty, is curious. This is explained by the

desire to emphasize the pre-eminence of the Enlightened one, who is the

chakravartin - a sovereign of the Universe - worthy of jewels and riches.

There is an interesting story about Phnom Penh. The word Phnom means

mountain. Penh is a Khmer word, meaning woman. This is where a

beautiful woman sitting on the mountaintop had confronted the wandering

king from India, and eventually became his consort. The place came to be

known as Phnom Penh - mountain woman. Interestingly the word Penh (or

Pen reflexive n) means a woman in the Tamil language as well.

The epic story of Ramayana plays an important part in the philosophical

and cultural life in Cambodia. The Khmer version, referred to as Reamker,

is carved into the walls of Angkor Wat. Reamker follows the characters

depicted in the Indian Ramayana with some of its own twists. It is a

philosophical allegory that combines Hinduism with Buddhism. Though

written in the 16th or 17th century, a full half a millennium after the

sculptures of Angkor Wat, it formed the basis of Khmer life and

philosophy from the time of its origing. It is the foundation of the Royal

Ballet repertoire and classical theater and dance.

The protagonist of the story is Preah Ream whose wife is called Neang

Seda. His brother is Preah Leak and his antagonist Ravana is called Krong

Reap. Hanuman even has a love interest in a mermaid princess called

Sovanna Maccha (translates to Golden Fish). Interestingly the Thai version

of Ramayana (called Ramakien) is actually an adaptation of Reamker

rather than the Indian original.



Conclusion

More than a million people lived around the region of Angkor Wat (Siem

Reap) during its peak. Today, the Hindu population of Cambodia

(population approximately 14 million) is not even measurable. The

majority belongs to the Buddhist religion. Though mainly based on

Hinayana (lesser Vehicle), a unique potpourri of Buddhism that is currently

practiced. Its pantheon of gods includes many Hindu idols. They have not

forgotten their history and still pay their obeisance to god Vishnu and

Shiva as well as worship Buddha.

The lost Hindu empire of Cambodia is marked by hundreds of temples. It

is the product of sweat and blood of devoted subjects of many rulers with

a passion for building. Many of the temples have crumbled from neglect

and vandalized. Many have not withstood the onslaught of centuries of

harsh weather.

But the memory of the glory of the empires left behind by its temple-

building rulers is lasting. Its vibrant former civilization and culture are

firmly etched in stone sculptures, and in their ancient scripts. The

beautiful bas-reliefs depicting Hindu puranas are delicate as well as

delightful. The sculpted figures of lovely apsaras on its temple walls, with

their modern appearing hairdo and dresses are esthetically pleasing to the

eyes. The neglected temples of Ta Prohm and Preah Khan, with their

overgrown roots of Kapok trees are sights to behold. The rooftops appear

to be strangled by giant talons of some mythical birds in a vise-like grip.

Tree roots snake around the temple walls like Anacondas lazily bathing in

the sun.

Palace city of Angkor Thom with its Elephant Terrace and the Leper King

(which actually is a sculpture of Yama with blunted fingers - due to

damage - and so it came to be known as the Leper King), and the rows of

giant statues at the entrance with the large gate are majestic. Angkor



Ashok Jun 21 2014 10:10 PM

Highervedic Jun 22 2014 12:47 AM

white40Jun 22 2014 02:01 AM

A.H.Srinivas Jun 22 2014 02:57 AM

Wat is awe-inspiring by its sheer magnitude and architectural finesse.

To see all the ruins will take many trips to Cambodia but a student of

history and anyone with curiosity about the eastward spread of the Indian

Diaspora in yesteryears must pay at least a visit to Cambodia.

Please help spread hinduism by sharing these articles on facebook:

Author's

Name:

Dr. Neria H. Hebbar

24 Comments

Beautiful. Looking beyond religion what is amazing is that these kings promoted art,

peace and harmony so that world becomes humane. We would not be having

environmental problems. Alas, this materialistic world has not learnt anything how to

live in peace. These are reminders of our forefathers telling us to stop destroying self

and the surrounding. My book "Beyond the boundaries" by Ash Malho has the same

theme. If every individual becomes positive the world will become a paradise. These

monuments are benchmark of what is possible if humans decide to become positive.

Very nice. India divine is doing an excellent job. Thanks.

Beautiful, thank you for a great article and amazing pictures!

Excellent an exhaustive article, bringing out the glory of Cambodia and its rule by

Indian Kings.

G.Vaidyanathan

I was in Cambodia while in military service. I have visited famous Angkor Wat several

times. Even after completing 3 hours we could not complete. It is more than Indonesia,,

Nepal or Bhutan. Wherever we see its Hindu culture. Cambodian army battalions were

named after Hindu Gods.Phonphen was clean city. Cambodia it is said, suffered

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