The Queen Who Defied the God-King: Indradevi of Angkor

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable story of Indradevi, the Khmer queen who rose from royal concubine to become the most powerful woman in the Angkor Empire. Indradevi was not just a queen consort; she was a scholar, a poet, and a devout Buddhist who challenged the traditional devaraja cult. Lucas delves into her early life as a teacher at a royal ashram, her marriages to kings Jayavarman VII and his son Indravarman II, and her role in commissioning the construction of Buddhist monasteries and hospitals. He discusses her surviving Sanskrit inscriptions, including a rare eulogy she wrote for her sister Jayarajadevi, revealing the intimate struggles of court life. The conversation touches on the political and religious tensions of the era, the role of women in Khmer society, and how Indradevi's legacy was nearly erased from history. This episode offers a fresh perspective on Angkor's golden age through the eyes of a queen who wielded influence with intellect and faith. #Indradevi #JayavarmanVII #Angkor #KhmerEmpire #QueenConsort #Buddhism #Devaraja #Sanskrit #Epigraphy #TaProhm #PreahKhan #Jayarajadevi #IndravarmanII #12thCentury #SoutheastAsia #History #FexingoHistory #WomenInHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo