Tamils Constructed Angkor

People
don’t believe that Angkor wat was constructed by a Tamil king
Dr Uday Dokras
because it wasn’t built by a Tamil king. Khmers and Tamils had friendly relations through trade,
so there might have been some Tamil influences in the architecture, but :
Angkor wat was built by a Khmer king : Suryavarman II in the 12th century.
Most southeast Asian Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms had kings from various dynasties who used the
Surname : Varma - this has given rise to a misunderstanding among Tamils that the Khmer
kings were Tamils. Varma is a Sanskrit title popularized by Pallavas, Later Cholas , Pandyas and
SE Asian dynasties followed suit and started using the title.
SuryaVarman II :
Who were Khmers ?
Khmer empire or Kampuja was an ancient empire of Cambodia. It was established by a Khmer
- Jayavarman II (Rule: 802AD –835AD)who overthrew the Shailendra Dynasty.
The language they spoke was : Old Khmer
Since they followed Hinduism (and later Buddhism), they used both Old Khmer and Sanskrit in
their inscriptions.
Sdok Kok Thom
The architectural design of this temple is linked with the great khmer empire which ruled for
about 700 years. At the center of the temple is a sandstone tower, which served as the main
sanctuary, probably sheltering a linga , symbol of Shiva. The tower's door is on the east,
approached by steps; the other three sides have false doors. A few meters to the northeast and
southeast are two sandstone structures known as libraries, with large side windows and laterite
bases. Enclosing the tower and libraries is a rectangular courtyard measuring roughly 42 by 36
meters and having galleries on all four sides. On the court's eastern side is a gopura , or gate,
reflecting the temple's orientation to the east. Central sandstone tower of Sdok Kok Thom,
viewed from north. Photo c. 1980 In various places in the temple, there is extensive carving on
stone, including floral decoration, Nāga serpents and a figure that appears to be the reclining
Hindu god Viṣṇu . A moat, likely representing the Hindu Sea of Creation, lies beyond each of the
courtyard's four sides. An avenue leads east from the gopura. A laterite wall standing
approximately 2.5 meters high and measuring 126 meters from east to west and 120 meters south
to north provides additional enclosure to the entire complex. The midpoint of the eastern side of
this wall has an elaborate gopura, standing on a laterite base. About 200 meters to the east of this
gopura, along a laterite-paved avenue with free-standing stone posts on either side, is a baray , or
holy reservoir, measuring roughly 200 by 370 meters. Court's eastern gate, or gopura, exterior
view. Note carved Naga heads at base of doorway. Holy image at left is from a later period.
Photo c. 1980 The inscription (classified K. 235) is a 340-line composition, in both Sanskrit and
ancient Khmer, carved on a gray sandstone stele 1.51 meters high that stood in the northeast
corner of the temple's court. Dating to 8 February 1053, it recounts two and a half centuries of
service that members of the temple's founding family provided to the Khmer court, mainly as
chief chaplains to kings. In laying out this long role, the text provides a remarkable and often
poetically worded look at the faith, royal lineage, history and social structure of the times.
Northeastern library. Photo c. 1980 The Sanskrit text opens: "Homage to Śiva whose essence is
highly proclaimed without words by the subtle Śiva, His form, who pervades (everything) from
within and who activates the senses of living beings." [2] The inscription is perhaps most useful
to historians in providing an account of twelve Khmer kings who ruled over the course of the
two and a half centuries. It recounts monarchs' spiritual and martial virtues and basic events of
their reigns. “As a teacher zealously impels his disciples or a father his children, so did he, for
the sake of his duty, zealously impel his subjects, rightfully securing them protection and
nourishment,” says the inscription of Udayādityavar
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sdok_Kok_Thom#Inscription
Old Khmer is an Austroasiatic language. Old Khmer gave rise to the Khmer language - official
language of Cambodia.
The Script used by Khmer language is derived from Tamil-brahmi. There was extensive trade
between Tamil kingdoms and Southeast Asia.
So the script must have had travelled through the Maritime Silk Road.
Maritime Silk Road :
Tamil and Khmer relations :
The Khmer king Suryavarman I (Reign : 1006AD - 1050AD) established friendly relations

with Cholas. It is said that he even sent a Chariot to Chola king Rajaraja Chola as a gift.
Later during king Rajendra Chola’s rule (Rajaraja’s son) the Khmer king requested aid from
Cholas against Tambralinga kingdom.
Tensions were already raising between the Cholas and Srivijaya ( As, Sri Vijaya failed to curb
the pirates attacking Chola Vessels transporting goods to China and forcing them to make a stop
in Srivijayan ports)
On top of this Sri Vijaya came to the aid of Tambralinga. Tambralinga was a vassal state to
Srivijaya, so it’s obvious they would come to their aid.
Tambralinga vs Khmer :
This culminated into the Chola invasion of Sri Vijaya.So, in short :Tambralinga Vs Khmer
conflict becamenChola vs Sri Vijaya conflict
Chola invasion of Srivijaya - Wikipedia
In 1025 , Rajendra Chola I , the Chola Emperor from Tamil Nadu in South India , launched naval
raids on the city-state of Srivijaya in maritime Southeast Asia , [1] Rajendra's overseas
expedition against Srivijaya was a unique event in India's history and its otherwise peaceful
relations with the states of Southeast Asia . Several places in present day Indonesia and Malaysia
were invaded by Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty . [2] [3] The Chola invasion furthered
the expansion of Tamil merchant associations such as the Manigramam, Ayyavole and
Ainnurruvar into Southeast Asia . [4] [5] [6] [7] The Cholan invasion led to the fall of the
Sailendra Dynasty of Srivijaya and the Chola invasion also coincides with return voyage of the
great Buddhist scholar Atiśa from Sumatra to India and Tibet in 1025. [8] The expedition of
Rajendra Cholan I Cholan rule or influence on Srivijaya would last until 1070. Background Edit
Throughout most of their shared history, ancient India and Indonesia enjoyed friendly and
peaceful relations, therefore this Indian invasion is a unique event in Asian history. In the 9th and
10th centuries, Srivijaya maintained close relations with the Pala Empire in Bengal , and an 860
Nalanda inscription records that Maharaja Balaputra of Srivijaya dedicated a monastery at the
Nalanda Mahavihara in Pala territory. The relation between Srivijaya and the Chola dynasty of
southern India was friendly during the reign of Raja Raja Chola I . In 1006 CE a Srivijayan
Maharaja from Sailendra dynasty — king Maravijayattungavarman — constructed the
Chudamani Vihara in the port town of Nagapattinam . [9] However, during the reign of Rajendra
Chola I the relations deteriorated as the Cholas attacked Srivijayan cities. [10] The Cholas are
known to have benefitted from both piracy and foreign trade. Sometimes Chola seafaring led to
outright plunder and conquest as far as Southeast Asia . [11] While Srivijaya that controlled two
major naval choke points; Malacca and Sunda Strait ; at that time was a major trading empire
that possess formidable naval forces. Malacca strait's northwest opening was controlled from
Kedah on Peninsula side and from Pannai on the Sumatran side, while Malayu ( Jambi ) and
Palembang controlled its southeast opening and also Sunda Strait . They practiced naval trade
monopoly that forced any trade vessels that passed through their waters to call on their ports or
otherwise being plundered. [ citation needed ] The reasons of this naval expedition are unclear
with Nilakanta Sastri suggesting that the attack was probably caused by Srivijayan attempt to
throw obstacles in the way of the Chola trade with the East (especially China ), or more
probably, a simple desire on the part of Rajendra to extend his digvijaya to the countries across
the sea so well known to his subject at home, and therefore add luster to his crown. [12] Another
theory suggests that the reasons for the invasion was probably motivated by geopolitics and
diplom
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chola_invasion_of_Srivijaya
So it is far fetched to claim Angkor wat was built by Tamil kings.

Angkor wat was built by Khmer kings.
Khmers maintained a very good relationship with Tamil kings.
This is how Khmer kings looked :
Jayavarman VII:

Tamils Constructed Angkor

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Who built Angkor Wat?

What was the relationship between the Khmers and Tamils?

People

Who were Khmers ?

The language they spoke was : Old Khmer

Maritime Silk Road :

Tamil and Khmer relations :

The Khmer king Suryavarman I (Reign : 1006AD - 1050AD) established friendly relations

So it is far fetched to claim Angkor wat was built by Tamil kings.

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