Angkor's Collapse: The Theravada Buddhist Schism That Broke the Devara

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a pivotal but often overlooked factor in the Khmer Empire's decline: the religious schism between the Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya orders of Theravada Buddhism. As Theravada supplanted the Hindu-Buddhist devaraja cult at Angkor, a power struggle emerged—not just among monks, but between the king, the sangha, and the encroaching Tai kingdoms. Drawing on the chronicles of the Lankan Buddhagosa and the inscriptions of King Indravarman III's reign, we trace how this schism mirrored the empire's fragmentation. Listeners will learn about the role of the Mon monk Sumana, the founding of the Dhammayuttika order by King Mongkut's predecessor, and how Ayutthaya exploited the divide during Borommaracha II's sack of Angkor in 1431. A deep, specific dive into the religious politics that unraveled a civilization. #KhmerEmpire #Angkor #TheravadaBuddhism #MahaNikaya #Dhammayuttika #devaraja #IndravarmanIII #BorommarachaII #Ayutthaya #Sumana #Buddhagosa #Mon #Lanka #SoutheastAsia #ReligiousSchism #Collapse #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo