Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

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

Page 28

Jayavarman II many monuments were dedicated to Vişnu. Two of the queens of this king are believed to be Vaişņavites, while Queen Bhāsasvāmini was the daughter of a Vaişnava Brāhmaṇa.
Vaisnavism had its golden age in Cambodia during the reign of Săryavarman II (A.D. 1112-1150) who cabraced this sect and received the posthumous name Vişnuloka.
In an inscription of Angkor Thom, mention of the establishment of a Vişnugrha has been made. This Vişnugrha was constructed for the reception and accomodation of the Vaisnavas. The foundation of Prasat khana was laid during the reign of Süryavarman I, who was a Buddhist king but the temple was dedicated to Krsna. In an inscription of Saka 850, Vişnu worship is mentioned. Prasat Pram Loven inscription of Gunavarman, 11 refers to the foundation of a new realm and a vaisnavite sar.ctuary named Cakratirthasvamin in which the footprints of Visnu were installed. The Baset stele inscription of Jayavarman 1 (middle of the 7 th cent. A.D.) records the concecration of an image of Vişnu under the name of Acyuta by a Bhāgavata named Dharmapala. The Prasat kok Po and Trapan Run inscriptions12 show that Bhagavatism flourished during the reign of Jayaviravarman. In Cambodian inscriptions we find that Visnu has been called by the names like Vasudeva; Madhava, Hari, Narayana, Krişna, Padmanabha, Trivikrama, Pundarikākşa etc.13
The Pancaratra sect was patronised by Suryavarman I (A.D. 1002-1049), the Buddhist king. The kuk staket inscription refers to a person who was well versed in the Pancaratra. During 9 th-10 th cent. A.D. this Pañcaratra sect become powerful.
Besides the important sects, there are numerous references to Aditya, Brahma, Ganesa, Saligrāmasvam, Yama, the nine planets, skanda-Kärttikeya, Indra etc, in the Cambodian inscriptions. References of Goddesses like Sarasvati, Durga, Gauri, Mahalaksmı, Uma, Bhagavatt, Indrāni, Ganga and Caturbhuja have been found in the inscriptions.
Devaraja Cult :
In the Angkor period (A.D. 802-1432), the Devaraja cult seems to have been the original religion. It is generally believed to have been introduced in Cambodia by Jayavarman II, the founder of the Angkor dynasty of Cambodia. It is called 'Kamraten Jagat ta Raja' in Khmer language. Jayavarman II invited a Brahmana named Hiranyadama from Bhāraţavarşa for teaching Tantric Vidya to his royal priest Sivakaivalya.
In the sclok Kak Thom inscription of Udayadityavarman dated Saka 974 (A.D. 1052) it is stated that Jayavarman II installed the royal God (Devarāja) in the town of Sri Mahendra Parvata. Devaraja denoted not merely a particular linga but a ritual mainly tantric in character. 14 Devarā ja cult played a very important role in the Cambodian state polity. The king was considered to be divine. He was apotheosised
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| Samipya : April, '91-March, 1992