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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…
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