The Chakravartin Ideal: Khmer Kingship Beyond Devaraja

This episode explores the concept of the chakravartin, or 'universal monarch,' in Khmer political and religious ideology. While the devaraja cult has been widely discussed, the chakravartin ideal shaped Khmer kingship from Jayavarman II through Suryavarman II and beyond. Lucas and Luna delve into how Khmer kings modeled themselves after the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, combining military conquest with Buddhist piety. They examine the inscriptions of Sdok Kak Thom, the role of the Trībhuvaṅadeva title, and how the Bayon's face-towers reflect the all-seeing gaze of a chakravartin. The episode also discusses the influence of Indian political thought, including the Mandala system and the Cakravartin concept from the Mahabharata, and how Angkor Wat itself was conceived as a cosmic statement of universal rule. Listeners will learn about the seven gems of the chakravartin, the symbolism of the Bayon's central sanctuary, and the contested legacy of Jayavarman VII as both a Buddhist and a universal monarch. #Chakravartin #KhmerKingship #Devaraja #JayavarmanVII #SuryavarmanII #SdokKakThom #Bayon #AngkorWat #Mahabharata #Ashoka #BuddhistKingship #MandalaSystem #UniversalMonarch #TrBhuvaAdeva #KhmerEmpire #CambodiaHistory #FexingoHistory #History #JayavarmanII #AngkorThom Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo