Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 23

“Ancient Indian Religions in Cambodia" with special reference to its Sanskrit Inscriptions
Prasiachandra Parikh*
Bharati Shelat + Introduction :
Kambuja was the old name of the country which comprised Canbodia, cochin china and parts of Laos and Thailand ( Siam) of modern tias, The establishinent of Indian Settlement in Kambaja is a fascinating story of marvellous achievements of early Indians.
Cambodia has made unique contributions to Sanskrit Literature especially in the field of poetry through inscriptions. The inscritpions of Kanbuja present an age as they refer to spiritual consciousness and intellectual attainments and P ride us with several important particulars elucidating literary, religious, social, political and cultural history.
testifies to simultaneous use of Sanskrit and old Khmer languages. The Cambodian people considered Sanskrit to be very sacred. Sanskrit was used for writing roval genealogies, panegyrics of the founders of monuments and donors.
Inscriptions of Kambuja are written in beautiful and flawless kavya style. They exhibit a thorough knowledge of different metres and most developed rules and convention of rhetoric and prosody. Vat Thipedi inscription of Isanavraman II dated Śaka 832 (A. D. 910 ) provides a very good specimen of Gaudi riti. The author of the inscription is believed to be an inhabitant or a resident of Gauda Country for a long time. It is seen from the study of the inscriptions of Kambuja that progress of Sanskrit language and achievements in its rhetoric and prosody are unique. Though the excistence of other colonial Vernaculars cannot be denied. serious literary works were composed in Sanskrit and beautiful style. The composers were conversant with various branches of literature. They had intimate knowledge of Indian epics. Kavya, philosophy and also Indian spiritual outlook. Rulers Like Vadovarman (A. D. 889-910) took keen interest in sanskrit language. A. commentary
Mahabh sva is said to have been written by him. His minister was an expert in Horašastra.2
• Director, B. J. Institute, Ahmedabad + Reader, B. J. Institute. Ahmedabad
“Ancient Indian Religions in Cambodia"...]
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