Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

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

Page 27

2. Establishing phallus at some elevated place. 3. Worshipping ancestors and installing their statues.
Śaivism in Cambodia united the nation and the religious institutions. In the temple of Bayon, there are statues of rulers alongwith the statues of Gods.
King Indravarman installed the statues of Lord Siva and three other gods in Saka 801(A.D. 879). A saint named Amrabhāva who was a favourite of king Indravarman and Yasovarman is also referred to have prepared a ceremonial golden image of Lord Siva which used to be carried in procession. Inscriptions refer to the installation of the statue of Uma-Mahesvara by Yajnavaraha and the statues of Śiva and Durga. In the Mebon Inscription of Rajendravarman dated Saka 874 (A.D. 952),8 description is contained about the phallic and statues of Parvati, Vişnu, Brahma and another phallic named. Rajendreśvara representing the king.
The Pasupata sect has been referred to in Phnom Prah insiription of Bhavavarman I (A.D. 580-598)9. A government official named Vidyapuspa is said to be an Acārya of the Pasupatas. The Pasupatas had their asrama in Ten Pranam not far from the capital city of Angkor. The Sambor Prei Kuk inscription of Tsanavarman dated Śaka 549 (A.D. 627)10 and the Bayon Temple inscription refer to Pasupata sect. Śiva is generally represented in the form of linga. The inscriptions mention various kinds of lingas such as Jagalinga, Mukhalinga, Svayambhuvalinga, Suvarna linga, Hemalinga, Ratnalinga etc. The rulers, priests and scholars like Jayavarman, Il, Süryavarman IT, Sivasoma (the preceptor of Indravarman I), Amrabhāva (the sage) and Jayendra Pandita (scholar of Siddhanta) were considered to be believers and exponents of Śaiva doctrines
Vaişnavism :
The cult of Visnu known as Vaisnavism flourished side by side with Brahmanism and Saivism in Cambodia. The Chief Queen of Jayavarman and one of his sons were fervent worshippers of Vişnu. The legend of Visnu is mentioned in the early inscriptions of Chenla period (i. e. 5th to 8th cent A. D.). The Sister of Bhavavarman I was married to an Indian Brahmana. They made gift of the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Puranas to a temple situated on the bank of river Mekong. Vişnu was worshipped with siva by the name of Hari-Hara, Hari-Samkara and Sankar Nārāyana. He was also worshipped indepndently in Chenla under the name of Puşkarakşa, Puspavata Svāmi and Trailokyeśvara.
This sect flourished much under Jayavarman II (A.D. 802-814) and his son Jayavarman III (A.D. 854-877). On the Mahendra parvata the early capital of
"Ancient Indian Religions in Cambodia"..]
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