For a person who has lived in the Indian main land and has experienced sanatanic lifestyle to the fullest, a mere visit to the Cambodian monuments will convince beyond doubt, the connection this far off settlement must have had with India. It is also evident through the sculptures found in the country that the roots of both the form and the content lie in India. Thus, a few pointers and examples will suffice to reaffirm the thesis.
In the...
Prevalence of Dharmaśāstra-Purāṇa–Itihāsa Traditions in Cambodia
7th Century CE
There is ample evidence to show that the Hindu colonists in Kambuja set up an administrative system on the Indian model (Majumdar 1943: 58). There are references to the study of Arthaśāstra in many inscriptions, and it is likely that Kauṭilya’s treatise on the subject was the most popular one. An inscription found during the rule of Jayavarman I (circa 667 CE) refers...
The current article is an enlarged version of a talk presented by Arjun Bharadwaj on 5th June 2018 at the National Seminar on Dharmashastra - Theory and Practise - RC Puducherry. The article derives its inspiration from a paper titled "Vedic Cambodia" written by Dr. R Nagaswamy.
Abstract
The current paper attempts a critical examination and appreciation of the works of Dr. R Nagaswamy, with special focus on his thorough research on the South...