Suryavarman II of Cambodia, Seen From India

[CEOCambodiaNews]

An Indian view of a part of Cambodia's history.

Suryavarman II of Cambodia
April 8, 2019, 5:00 pm IST Nikhil Chandwani in Desires of a modern Indian | World | TOI

Let us take a ride back to the 11th century to look at the journey of a great ruler and earnest devotee, Suryavarman II, and take a plunge to know our legacy.

King at 17

Suryavarman II was a King of the Khmer Empire at an era when the empire was weakening and control was being lost. It is remarkable what he has been able to achieve and spread in such a tumultuous period. Even as a young prince, he sought to gain power as a rightful heir to the throne. With competition from the lineage of Harshavarman III and the distant royalty, he assumed power in 1113 CE. This was a king educated in sacred rituals and combined knowledge of our heritage with practical tactics. One could predict that great things were lying ahead. His name “Suryavarman” is a combination of the Sanskrit words “surya” and “varman” which stand for “the sun” and “the protector” respectively. He was seen as the protector of his folks for the times to come.

The Vaishnav Emperor

He had to wear the hat of the Khmer Emperor at the age of 21. His efforts were to consolidate and reunite the empire. He organized massive military activities in order to acquire the same. There were massive attacks against the Chams. More than twenty thousand soldiers were marched with seven hundred vessels into the coast. Even though these attacks did not see any benefits for the empire, they were a remarkable demonstration of an organized and strenuous military effort. He tried to assume good relations with the neighbouring regions of China. In his reign, art and architecture saw a tenfold growth...
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