Jayavarman Kaundinya

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Jayavarman Kaundinya was a ruler of Funan, who died in 514 CE.

Biography[]

According to the Chinese annals, he reigned over a prosperous kingdom influenced by Shaivism, but at the same time other religions were equally well represented in his kingdom. An inscription was also attributed to his wife, Queen Kulaprabhavati, who laid the foundation of Vaishnavism^[1] in the kingdom.

On the other hand, two events confirm that Buddhism was also well established. The first concerns the demand made in 484 CE for military aid to the emperor Wudi against the Kingdom of Champā, guilty of boarding and looting the merchant ships of the country. Even if the request was rejected, the copy preserved by the Chinese archives shows a perfect knowledge of the Buddhist canon that only a thorough study can allow.^[2] The second index relates to the sending to China of two Buddhist monks, Mandrasena in 503 CE and Sanghapala in 508 CE.

Jayavarman Kaundinya sent two more embassies in middle empire in 511 CE and in 514 CE, the year of his death. His eldest son, Rudravarman, born of a concubine, then murdered the legitimate heir, Gunavarman, to seize the throne and was the last ruler of Funan, that is mentioned in the Chinese annals; until at least 517 he was involved in a power struggle with his step mother, who was supported by his oponents. ^[3]

References[]

Sources[]

• COEDES 1948 lEHdIedI P57-60

George Cœdès (24 February 1992) [1948]. The Hindu States of Indochina and Indonesia. History of World (in French). Editions De Boccard. pp. 57–60. ISBN 9782701800462.

• PELLIOT BEFEO 1903 lFN P270-271

Paul Pelliot (1903). "The Fou-nan". Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (in French). 3 (1): 270–271. ISSN 1760-737X.

• DAGENS 2003 lK P25

(Khmer | chapter number = I | title chapter = The Khmer Country. The story | passage = 25)