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Background Information
The Khmer empire used to reside in the area now known as Cambodia. It had grown out of the former Kingdom of Funan and Chenla, existing through years 802 to 1431 A.D. Jayavarman II, who had lived in former Chenla, and founded Khmer in 790 when he conquered a series of kings.
Much like in Funan, rulers blended Hinduism with their own beliefs to expand the influence they had. The founder of the Khmer empire, Jayavarman II, formalized the worship of Shiva. He built the principal temple at the center of the royal capital on a mountaintop to worship regional deities.
The greatest legacy of this empire would be Angkor, which was the capital city during the empire’s peak. Monuments such as Angkor Wat bear testimony to the empire’s great strength and power it had over time.
The Khmer empire used to reside in the area now known as Cambodia. It had grown out of the former Kingdom of Funan and Chenla, existing through years 802 to 1431 A.D. Jayavarman II, who had lived in former Chenla, and founded Khmer in 790 when he conquered a series of kings.
Much like in Funan, rulers blended Hinduism with their own beliefs to expand the influence they had. The founder of the Khmer empire, Jayavarman II, formalized the worship of Shiva. He built the principal temple at the center of the royal capital on a mountaintop to worship regional deities.
The greatest legacy of this empire would be Angkor, which was the capital city during the empire’s peak. Monuments such as Angkor Wat bear testimony to the empire’s great strength and power it had over time.
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Indianization in Funan (predecessor of Khmer)
When trades had increased between the East and West, Indian traders had sailed to Funan to establish trading ports. By physically coming to this empire, they had brought their culture, philosophies, religions and ideologies. These aspects were appreciated, and somewhat adopted by the people living in Funan at that time.
Unlike colonization, the interaction between the Indians and natives in Funan did not involve the politics of empires at that time, but they were more concerned with the trading and economic opportunities Funan had to offer.
Evidence from a port lying in the current South Vietnam area has shown that this region had been a prominent transitory point for trade between East and West. Trading connections between the two continents was well established here.
It is not a surprise to see that people of Funan had accepted the ideas of Indian travellers. After all, they were far less civilized, and automatically accepted what they thought to be better and beneficial.
It is also here where people believed the theory of Brahmins came into place. Some found that Brahmins were invited to help in administration from the 1st century – 613 A.D. (before the Khmer empire).
The Khmer empire inherited several elements from Funan, as well as ideologies that Funan adopted from Indian travellers. Therefore, there is concrete evidence showing the influence India had on Khmer.
When trades had increased between the East and West, Indian traders had sailed to Funan to establish trading ports. By physically coming to this empire, they had brought their culture, philosophies, religions and ideologies. These aspects were appreciated, and somewhat adopted by the people living in Funan at that time.
Unlike colonization, the interaction between the Indians and natives in Funan did not involve the politics of empires at that time, but they were more concerned with the trading and economic opportunities Funan had to offer.
Evidence from a port lying in the current South Vietnam area has shown that this region had been a prominent transitory point for trade between East and West. Trading connections between the two continents was well established here.
It is not a surprise to see that people of Funan had accepted the ideas of Indian travellers. After all, they were far less civilized, and automatically accepted what they thought to be better and beneficial.
It is also here where people believed the theory of Brahmins came into place. Some found that Brahmins were invited to help in administration from the 1st century – 613 A.D. (before the Khmer empire).
The Khmer empire inherited several elements from Funan, as well as ideologies that Funan adopted from Indian travellers. Therefore, there is concrete evidence showing the influence India had on Khmer.
![Picture](/uploads/5/1/4/8/51487689/482706749.jpg?350)
Concept of Devaraja
For one, it was the founder of the Khmer empire who implemented the idea of “deva-raja” or “god-king” in the 7th century. This idea is one that started in the Hindu/Buddhist religion India, and his rule looked more or less like a replica of the Indian monarchy.
This concept allows the king of the empire to have divine authority over the sphere of influence he has. The devaraja is much like the center of a mandala, the king, the living god, who radiates charismatic power and keeps social order.
This king was seen as of a separate league from mortals. He did not involve himself in administrative goings of his people but rather spent time doing god-like things such as praying. This segregation between him and his people emphasizes the idea that he is not mortal - he is greater than mortal. He is god.
The legitimizing of this king had to be one that the people believed. The king should not be receiving rebellion from his people, under his influence. His people on the other hand should rightly agree that he is divine - he is king. This is probably where the theory of Brahmins had speculated. Brahmins, as priests, were the people who legitimized the power of this king. They did rituals, convincing the people that this king was god’s representative.
During the rule of Jayavarman II, the devaraja cult was used as a form of political integration. Jayavarman II was said to have been proclaimed as Shiva’s, the Hindu God’s, representative.
“By associating himself [Jayavarman II] with Shiva and the royal mountain, the king symbolized his ability to guarantee the flow of life-power from the spirit realm to his subjects. His establishment of the devaraja cult also tied Jayavarman spiritually to his supporters.” –Kenneth R. Hall
With this establishment, the Hindu-Buddhist concept of mandalas and devarajas came into play in Southeast Asia. Being the center of this political mandala, the king thus had the divine devotion of his people. This concept holds great importance, as it is one, which laid the foundations for the miraculous project: Angkor Wat.
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Angkor
Background
Angkor was the capital city of Khmer. Between 900 and 1200 occurred what some would call architectural miracles. Architecture projects were set up and masterpieces were built. They were commonly concentrated in an area 24km east to west and 8km north to south. About 72 major temples or constructions are found here, and remains of several hundred temple sites are found beyond.
Researchers believe that Buddhist and Hindu texts heavily influenced the people of Angkor, which explains the many temples built to their faith. Recent discoveries suggest this was the greatest city in the ancient world.
Due to the dispersed nature of the Khmer empire, there are no fixed boundaries determining the specifics of where Angkor resides. However, at least 1000km2 beyond major temples, there are systems of infrastructure that showcase connectivity and integration with the core.
This makes Angkor the largest urban area in history before the Industrial Revolution.
Indianized?
Since the implementation of the political mandala by Jayavarman II, the people of this area have been keeping to this way of governance. Clearly, this is a sign of influence from India, where Southeast Asians have adopted their ideologies. But is there concrete evidence, such as artifacts, to support this?
Background
Angkor was the capital city of Khmer. Between 900 and 1200 occurred what some would call architectural miracles. Architecture projects were set up and masterpieces were built. They were commonly concentrated in an area 24km east to west and 8km north to south. About 72 major temples or constructions are found here, and remains of several hundred temple sites are found beyond.
Researchers believe that Buddhist and Hindu texts heavily influenced the people of Angkor, which explains the many temples built to their faith. Recent discoveries suggest this was the greatest city in the ancient world.
Due to the dispersed nature of the Khmer empire, there are no fixed boundaries determining the specifics of where Angkor resides. However, at least 1000km2 beyond major temples, there are systems of infrastructure that showcase connectivity and integration with the core.
This makes Angkor the largest urban area in history before the Industrial Revolution.
Indianized?
Since the implementation of the political mandala by Jayavarman II, the people of this area have been keeping to this way of governance. Clearly, this is a sign of influence from India, where Southeast Asians have adopted their ideologies. But is there concrete evidence, such as artifacts, to support this?
Angkor Wat “Angkor Wat is, quite literally, heaven on earth.” The building of Angkor Wat, the Hindu temple, shows the economic ability of this empire on a huge scale. This temple was built by King Suryavarman II and is the temple of the capital. The temple itself is a magnificent structure, but the story of how it was built is even more awe-worthy. This temple is one of the largest structures ever built, and is ten times the size of any European cathedral. Often, people look at Angkor Wat as the work of the Gods. Angkor Wat is famous for the levels of detail put into the structure. There are about 3000 heavenly nymphs carved into the walls of the structure, each of them unique, with about 37 different hairstyles altogether. Not only that, but some see the structure as a perfect balance, proportion and composition. One would imagine that such intricate work would take years after years of construction, but Angkor Wat only took 30 years to build. How is that physically possible? There has been speculation and discussion on how Angkor Wat was built. Some see this phenomenon as a tribute to the king’s power. They believe that it was as king, with his influential power and the devotion of his people that allowed the temple to be built in the short frame of time. |
This theory pays tribute to the king’s powers, exemplifying the concept of ‘power’ held by the kings in the center of the political mandala. It takes a great deal of influential power, from the king himself, to be able to order his people around. His people must have the divine devotion to him to follow his orders.
Being a Hindu temple, it is, in itself, evidence of the influences India had brought. But it isn’t just the religion itself that serves as evidence. The concept of mandalas had been clearly imprinted in the city of Angkor. Other than the concept of power, the mandala is literally seen in this structure. Angkor Wat, is physical replica of a mandala. The central tower of Angkor Wat symbolizes the center of a mandala. It rises from the middle as representation of Meru, a mythical mountain. The gates of the temple are similar to those in a mandala. The Indian epics such as Ramayana are also depicted in the temple by bas-reliefs. “A study has shown that when Angkor Wat was laid out by the Khmers originally, the distance between certain architectural elements of the temple reflected numbers which were related to Hindu mythology and cosmology. The positions of the bas-reliefs were regulated, for example, by solar movements. Scenes on the east-west sides reflect those relating to the rising and setting of the sun.” –Angkor Travel Guide |
Structure of Angkor
Let’s take a closer look at Angkor Wat itself. This map shows the view of Angkor Wat from the top down. The structure itself is made of concentric squares, which radiates outwards. This magnificent structure is just one of many temples built this way. |
Since the architecture of Angkor Wat represents the mandala itself, the people of Khmer had the idea that the king would become one of the gods after his death.
For Angkor Wat, the many bas-reliefs illustrating the gods portray the strong Hindu beliefs the people had at that time. One example is the scene of “churning of sea milk” craved into the east wall. This talks about the myth in which gods tried to create the elixir of immortality out of milk of time. On the north wall, it shows “a day of the gods” and on the west wall, a battle scene is portrayed. Finally, on the South wall, it shows the kingdom of Yama, the god of death. “It has been suggested that the choice and arrangement of these scenes was intended to tie in with the seasons – the creation scene of the east wall is symbolic of the renewal of sprint, the “day of the gods” is summer, the great battle on the west wall may represent the decline of autumn and the portrayal of Yama might signify the dormancy, the lifeless time of winter.“ Researchers have studied the structure of Angkor Wat itself, looking at how it is similar to a mandala. According to a study, there is less than 0.01 percent difference between the structure and a mandala. Angkor Wat consists of 5 rectangular enclosures that are inter nested. The short dimensions are aligned to north south, with close to no deviation. The long dimensions are oriented to an axis “diverted 0.75 degrees south of east and north of west”, with also close to no deviation. |
The great thought put into the building and planning of this structure just goes to show one thing: the strength of influence that India had on Southeast Asia at that time was great.
From here, you would have seen that the influence India had on Southeast Asia not only changed the religion in Southeast Asia itself, but the social way of life in Southeast Asia had also changed. Political systems were adopted, not fully but beneficial aspects were used. Do you think this makes Southeast Asia unique in it’s very own way? |
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