Latest / The Khmer Empire: The Lost Civilization Behind Angkor Wat — Fexingo History
Theravada Buddhism and Angkor's Transformation
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Theravada Buddhism reshaped the Khmer Empire in its final centuries. They discuss the gradual shift from Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism under Jayavarman VII to the rise of Theravada, which brought simpler monasticism, Pali scriptures, and a new focus on merit-making. The conversation highlights the role of forest-dwelling monks known as araññavāsī, the translation of the Tipitaka into Khmer, and the political implications as Theravada monasteries gained influence at the expense of the state-sponsored devaraja cult. Lucas explains how this religious…
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