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Archive through June 02, 2002

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We sincerely pray to our LORD that a better sense prevails upon Pakistani and Indian politicians and our respective dear motherlands and their people are saved from the destructive consequences of the pending war.

So be it!

WORD KHMER/KHMU PROBABLY HAD EVOLVED FROM STANDARD SANSKRIT TERM KAMBOJ/KAMBUJ UNDER LOCAL EFFECTS/REQUIREMENTS OF THE OLD KAMBUJANS:

It is not surprising that standard Sanskrit name KAMBOJ/(=KAMBUJ) is also found written or spoken as KHAMBOJ/(=KHAMBUJ). This is not surprising at all. The “K” and “KH” sounds in Devanagri and most others Indian languages of Indo Aryan group approximately belong to similar level sounds and many people very often pronounce “K” as “KH”. This is also true for when we Indians from the north India speak English and they very often pronounce the words having usual “K” sound as “KH” in English speech. Even in many Punjabi words, the ancient “K” sounds is found wriiten/spoken as “KH”. Just example, the “kUAN” (well) of Sanskrit is wriiten/spoken as “KHU” in Panjabi…sound ”K” has been changed to “KH”.

Just type Khamboj (for Kamboj), Khumboj (also for Kamboj), Khambhoj (for Kambhoj), Khambodi (for Kambodi), Khambhodi (Kambhodi), Khamboji (for Kamboji), Khambhoji( for Kambhoji) etc words on search engines and you will come to know that it is indeed true. These words are found written as such for Kamboj/Kambhoj in Gujarat as also by some by southern Indians. So much so, you will find the name Kambhoj(a) (for Cambodia) written by some writers as Khambhoj(a).

Just for a glimpse:
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=khamboj&hc=0&hs=0
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=khamboja&hc=0&hs=0
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=KHAMBOJI&hc=0&hs=0
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=KHAMBhOJI&hc=0&hs=0
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=KHAMBOdi&hc=0&hs=0
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=KHAMBhOdi&hc=0&hs=0
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=khambhoja&hc=0&hs=0
http://search.lycos.com/main/default.asp?lpv=1&loc=searchhp&query=khamboja&x=10&y=10

The ancient great grammarian of Prikritic languages, Acharya Varruchi (200 c AD) has authoritavely stated the following:

K, G, CH, J, T, D, P yavan prayao lope:

[ref:Cowel E. B., The Prakrata Prakasa, preface, pp II-IV; Pra. Pra. 2/2// also see Translation by E. B. Cowel, P 11; Ancient Kamboja, People & the Country, 1981, p 34, Dr J. L. Kamboj]

The above expression of Vaaruchi conveys that:

‘All the above consonant sounds where they are found sandwitched in-between two vowels or swayras, they will most often get elited’.

Hence, in “Khamboj”, the last consonant “J” is sandwitched between two vowels or swayras. Hence, “J” has got to get elited as per statement from great Grammarian Acharya Varruchi.

Hence KHAMBOJ == > KHAMBO.

Also sound “mb” easily becomes “m” in Prakrit Indo Aryan languages. In English also we prounounce the cluster “mb” as “m”. For example, comb, bomb, dumb etc words though written as such but are pronounced as com, bum, dum. Similar way, the word Khamboj came to be pronounced as “Khamo”. Later it might have started to be wriiten as “Khamo” just like it was pronounced.

THUS, to all probability:
KAMBOJ == > KHAMBOJ == >KHAMBO == >KHAMO== > KHMO

The change from “Khamo” to “Khmo” seems to be a further change under local effects i.e.

KHAMO == > KHMO

Now we had started with Sanskrit word “KAMBOJ” and got KHMO. If we start with term “KAMBUJ” [usual for Kambodia], we will similarily get KHMU.

KAMBUJ == > KHAMBUJ == >KHAMBU == >KHAMU== > KHMU

Otherwise also, change from KHMO to KHMU does not seems to be a problem at all.

KHMO == > KHMU

Change from KHMU to KHMER may also be a change necessitated by local effects/local requirements.

This “KHMU” is also a well known word found in northern Laos as Serge has stated in his article.
Serge Thion writes: “As for the word Khmer, there is no certain origin. Another Mon-Khmer speaking people, living in Northern Laos in an area quite close to that of the ancestors of the Khmers, call themselves the Khmu………….….”

http://www.nectec.or.th/thai-yunnan/20.html

Thus probably, the word KHMER (in Cambodia) & KHMU (Northern Laos) etc are the local evolutions from the Sanskrit word KAMBOJ/KAMBUJ itself.

As we have already stated, the Word KHMER is probably found written after 9th c AD. But Kamboj/Kambuja is ancient word. Thus evolution of KHMER from SANSKRIT KAMBOJ may sound reasonable.

COMMENT: Some people claim that ancient Kambodian name KAMBOJA/KAMBUJA was coined from the term KHMER. Or in other words, they say Kamboja/Kambuja had evolved from Khmer. But, per George Coedes and others scholars, the mythical union of Svayambhu Kambu and nymph Mera was coined to show the origin of the name 'KHMER" (KAMBU + MERA == > KHMER) This shows that name Kamboja was not Sanskritized from 'Khmer' but 'KHMER' is shown as originated from term KAMBU or KAMBOJ through this interesting mythical fusion/union of Kambu/Kambo (=Kambuja/Kamboja) and a local name Mera. But important to remember that the word KHMER appeared for the first time in record probably in 9th century Cambodian inscriptions. We do not find any record of name “Khmer’ in other the written records or inscriptions of Kambodia prior to this.

SOME MYTHS REGARDING TRADITIONAL ORIGIN OF KAMBUJA/KHMER

There are many myths/legends with numerous versions preserved in Cambodian traditions about the origin of Kambuja kingdom.

VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE:

http://www.theangkorguide.com/cgi-bin/MasterFrameReunion.cgi?http%3A//www.theangkorguide.com/text/part-one/chapter_1.htm

[For other legends/myths, please refer to our earlier write-up dated Saturday, July 28, 2001 - 09:57 pm: PART I on this web page]

We can easily see from above, there are different versions of different legends and no two of them agree. Myths are created to wishfully relate the present with past when we are ignorant about actual historical facts. Myths are just myths. We need to go beyond that to have an unmythical view of the past cloaked under mist of time and antiquity.

We would however, like to produce the following two Myths from works of well known authors.

i)As per Kang Tai and Chu ying, Chinese missionaries of 3rd century AD who attended the courts of Funanese Hindu kings:

Kanudynia (Huntieu) + Nagi Soma ------ > Origin of Kings of Funan. (line of Solar kings)

(ref: Pelliot "Le Founan" p 303, Indianized States G. Coedes p37).

(ii) Per Cambodian Dynastic legend preserved in 9th century inscription, the origin of Kings of Kambuja is shown to be due to the union of:

Svayambhuva Kambu +Mera nymph ---------- > Origin of Kings of Kambuja

(ref: Louis Finot, Sylvain. Levi)

Cf: Par le nom encore inexpliqué de Tchen-la, les Chinois ont de tout temps désigné le pays khmèr, le Cambodge. D'après l'épigraphie cambodgienne du X° siècle, les rois des "Kambuja" prétendaient descendre d'un ancêtre mythique éponyme, le sage ermite Kambu, et de la nymphe céleste Mera, dont le nom a pu être forgé d'après l'appellation ethnique "khmèr". Le centre du pays des Kambujas semble avoir été primitivement la région voisine de la rive nord-est du Grand Lac (C-C: la région de Kompong Thom).

http://www.refer.org/cbodg_ct/tur/hist/chenla.htm

As seen above, per George Coedes and others scholars, this mythical union of Svayambhu Kambu and nymph Mera was coined to show the origin of the name 'KHMER". This shows that name Kamboja was not Sanskritized from 'Khmer' but 'KHMER' is shown as originated from term KAMBU or KAMBOJ through this interesting mythical fusion/union of Kambu (Kambuja/Kamboja) and a local name Mera. Thus the word Khmer appeared for the first time in record in the 9th century Cambodian inscriptions. We do not find any record of name “Khmer’ in the written record or inscriptions of Kambodia prior to this.

This sage-king Kambu finds mention in Shloka 22: EKAATMATA STOTRA- UNITY HYMN [ref: The Integral Spirit of Bharat: An Eulogy] see below:

“AGASTYAH KAMBU SWAYAMBHUVA KAUNDINYAU RAJENDRAS COLA VAMSAJAH ASOKAH
PUSYAMITRASCA KHARAVELAH SUNITIMAN” [Shloka 22: EKAATMATA STOTRA]

SAGE KAMBU
”The country that is known as Cambodia today was known earlier as Kambuja on the name of the great man Kambu. Kambu had initially been an Indian king who led a campaign, an expedition of victory of direction ( digvijaya ) in the East and entered an area having jungles that was being ruled by a Naga-worshipper ( Snake-worshipper ) king. Defeating him he married his daughter and developed that area. The beginning of the Kambuja empire can be traced to emperor Shrutavarma of Kaliyuga's 32nd century ( i.e. the 1st century A.D. ). Shrutavarma and his descendant kings carried aloft the flag of Sanatan ( Hindu ) Dharma and culture in the Kambuja empire. Later, from Kaliyuga's 38th to 46th ( i.e. 7th to 15th A.D. ) centuries the kings of Shailendra dynasty ruled over Kambuja.”

http://www.hssworld.org/all/great_people/SHLOKA_22.HTML

Scholars like Casey suppose that name Kambuja evolved from KAMBU: KAMBUJA == > KAMBU + JA == > descendent of KAMBU.

“ANGKOR VAT………. The kingdom of Angkor has many myths surrounding its beginnings, which serve as rich illustrations of the start of the height of Khmer culture.

"The myth of Angkor centers around a story called "King Kambu and the Snake Lady." This story, according to Robert Casey, is a kind of reverse "Beauty and the Beast." He also speculates that Khmer culture of the Mekong Delta region has Indian origins.

"Long ago a young Indian prince traveled to Southeast Asia to found a kingdom for his own. He found Arya Deca, a small kingdom recently ravaged by drought and famine. This prince, Kambu, meets a native and asks him to take him to the king of the land. The native, Dak, takes Kambu to the King of the Nagas (snake king). Kambu tells the Naga King that he wishes, with the King's permission, to settle in his land. The Snake King agrees and gives his daughter to Kambu in marriage, a kind of symbolic melding of the Indian and early Khmer culture. (Casey, 88-100)

"Casey interprets Kambu as an archetypal figure, which may represent a movement of people from famine stricken India to the land of plenty in the Mekong Delta. This migration, at least in Casey' s eyes, brings an "intellectual conquest" by Brahman missionaries. The Khmer then grafted Hindu/Indian thought on top of their existing culture. This resulted in the development of a priestly class, seen as somewhat divine, and a written language built upon Sanskrit. The marriage of Kambu and the snake lady represents a kind of symbolic melding of the Indian and early Khmer culture. Supposedly, "Kambujas" meaning "sons of Kambu," is the original name of the people, which through many translations by outsiders, changed to "Cambodian."…………………”

http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/khmer/city.html

Also Compare:
“The original ancient Hindu name of the people was Kambuja, meaning children of Kambu (Ebihara, 1964; Hopkins, 1996).

http://www.khmerinstitute.org/research/thesis1/t1c.html

According to this interpretation, the term Kambuja is analyzed as KAMBUJA == >KAMBUJAS == >KAMBU + JAS ==SONS or DESCENDENTS OF KAMBU.

i.e. the name KAMBUJA supposed as an eponymic name derived from prince-scholar KAMBU.

Sage Swambhava Kambu is described in tradition as a sage-prince or a scholar king from North India. He married Nymph Mera…a local princess and created the Kambuja kingdom in Indo-china. Commenting on this tradition, Dr J. L. Kamboj (a specialist in Kamboja history), Delhi University, opines:

“This tradition probably conveys a hint that one adventurous scholar- prince from north Indian Kamboja royal family had ventured into Indo-China and had laid the foundation of Kambuja kingdom. The term Kambu & Kamboja are corruptions or variations of Sanskrit Kamboja” [Ancient Kamboja, People & the Country, 1981, p 259-260, Dr J. L. Kamboj).

It is also interesting to note that Kamboja tribe of north-west India is also written as Kambuja in ancient Sanskrit literature. In Parsakar grahasutram, the Kamboja is written as Kambuja. See evidence below:

Kulacharachhach Bahudha , tad yatha laugakshi:.
tritysaya vatasarasya bhuyishathe gate chudan karyet.
Dakshinat: KAMBUJA-NAM, Vashisthana, ubhyatoAtriKashypanaam, mundah Bhrigu:,
panchchuda Angris:, Bajasneynameka, manglart shikhinoanyai”

[Parsakar Grahasutram 2/1/21: commented by Pandit Harihar].

Further, also the Tatha-gata Sutra of Ratanakuta collection mention Kamboja as kieu-feou == >i.e. Kambu of the Chinese).

Chinese traveller, Hieun Tsang (7th c AD) writes Kaofu or Kambu for the Kamboja of north-west frontier (ref: Magasthenes & Arrian, p 180, Alexandera’s Invasion of India, p 39 Mccrindle J. W.; Ancient Kamboja, People & the Country, 1981, p 118; These Kamboj People, 1970, p 57, K. S. Dardi, Chander Gupta Maurya & his Times, 1943, p 280, Dr R. K. Mukerjee, Political & Social movements in ancient Punjab, pp 254-255, Dr Buddha Parkash; also see Problems of Ancient India, 2000, 223-224, by K. D. Sethna).
Ashoka’s Rock Edicts at Shahbaz Garhi write Kamboy instead of Kamboja (Yona-Kamboya-Gandharanam…Ashoka’s Rock Edicts V; Yona-Kamboyesu… Ashoka’s Rock Edict XIII). This Kamboy is Prikritic version of Kamboja. Similarrly, Kambu is undoubtedly also a Prakritic version of Kamboja.

The name Kamuia [< == Prikrit name Kambuia < == Kambuja or Kambujiya or Kamboja] is also verified from Mathura Lion Inscriptions, where the tribe of king Moga, his brother Arta, princess Ayasi, (daughter of prince Khroshta) and of Khroshta (son of Arta) has been spelt in Prikritic form as Kamuia (Kamuia=Kambuia=Kambuja=Kamboja :cf Achamenian Kambujiya).

THUS KAMBU indeed is the corrupted or Prikritic form of Sanskritic KAMBUJA or KAMBOJA or Kambujiya as are the above referred to names like ‘Kamboy’, ‘Kambuia’, ‘Kamuia’ etc and thus we can see that the scholar king KAMBU indeed was from KAMBOJA TRIBE of north-west Indian ethnicity if this KAMBU-MERA Myth has to be believed AT ALL. Also the fact that this scholar king KAMBU came from north Indian territory, further ratifies the most probable historical fact that he, indeed, might have been from KAMBOJA tribe of north-west India.

To give further strength to this myth, we have already seen that ancient Kambojas were not only well known for their warrior qualities (KASHATRYAS), but also were they famous for their learning and scholarship (BRAHMANICAL LEARNING). Mahabharata (7/112/43-44) especially styles the Kamboja soldiers as ‘scholars & warriors’.

ye tvete rathino rAjandR^ishyante kA~nchanadhvajAH/
ete durvAraNA nAma kAmbojA yadi te shrutAH// 42
shUrAshcha kR^itavidyAshcha dhanurvede cha niShThitAH/
sa.nhatAshcha bhR^isha.n hyete anyonyasya hitaiShiNaH//43
(Mahabharata 7/12/43-44)

Cf: “ ……Kambojas were not only famous for their furs and woolen blankets embroidered with threads of gold, their wonderful horses and their beautiful women, but by epic period, they had become especially renowned as VEDIC TEACHERS and their homeland as a seat of Brahmanical learning….”.[ Hindu World’ Vol I, Benjamin Walker , p 520]

Cf: “The earliest mention of Kambojas occurs in Vamsa Brahamana of Samveda where a teacher Kamboja Aupamanayava is referred to. The sage Upamanu mentioned in the Rigveda (i.102,9) is in all probability the FATHER of this Kamboja teacher. ………….The fact that the KAMBOJA TEACHERS were reputed for their Vedic learning shows the Kambojas to have been Aryans. So the Kamboja was an Aryan Settlement” (History and Culture of Indian People, The Vedic Age, p 259-60, Dr A. D. Pusalkjar, Dr R. C. Majumdar)

For more details about North-west Indian Kambojas/Kambujas being a scholarly & warrior class of people, please refer to the following webpage.

http://indiaculture.net/talk/messages/128/9368.html?1021756152

Another important correlation which is also very relevant here is that surname VARMAN which at least 31 Kambodian/Khmer kings used after their names was a well known Kamboja surname of ancient Kamboja kings of Indian traditions. For example, we have Chandervarman Kamboja of Mahabharata (1/67/32)
Chandervarmayat vikhyat: Kamboja-na nradhip:/ (MBH 1/67/32; also see Chander Varmain brahatakshataram che naishdham/ MBH 7/32/66).

Further, we have Kamboja Raja Yasho Varman of ancient ‘Rath Saptami’ traditions who again carries ‘Varman’ surname after his given name.

Besides the above, in Panchtantra traditions/fictions,also, the Indian Kamboja kings have shown carrying Varman as their last names. Even till date, Varma/Verma (Verman/Varman) is the Kamboja surname still used by the Kambojas of north India.
This fact again links the Indian Kambojas of north-west division with the Khmer Kambuja kings of ancient Kambuja kingdom og Indo-China.

Hence it is more logical, scientific and historical to say that name KAMBUJA is the reflection of the Sanskrit KAMBOJA, the name of a well known north-Indian Kashatrya/Scholar tribe of Pre-Christian era whose descendents we still find in the that geographical region, though numerous Kamboja clans are known to have moved to as far as Gujarat, Central India, Sri Lanka, Bengal/Bihar/Orissa, Tibet/Assam and even beyond over the ages. Few Rajput families continued to rule in Central India, around Saurashtra and Bengal as late as 16th c AD. Thse facts are documented by south Indian Inscriptions and hence are indisputable.

COMPARE ALSO:
"CAMBOJA, n.p. An ancient kingdom in the eastern part of Indo-China, once great and powerful: now fallen, and under the ‘protectorate’ of France, whose Saigon colony it adjoins. The name, like so many others of Indo-China since the days of Ptolemy, is of Skt, origin, being apparently a transfer of the name of a nation and country on the N. W. frontier of India, Kamboja, supposed to have been about the locality of Chitral or Kafiristan. IGNORING THIS, FANTASTIC CHINESE AND OTHER ETYMOLOGIES HAVE BEEN INVENTED FOR THE NAME. In the older Chinese annals (c. 1200 B.C.) this region had the name of Fu-nan; from the period after our era, when the kingdom of Camboja had become powerful, it was known to the Chinese as Chin-la. Its power seems to have extended at one time westward, perhaps to the shores of the B. of Bengal. Ruins of extraordinary vastness and architectural elaboration are numerous, and have attracted great attention since M. Mouhot’s visit in 1859; though they had been mentioned by 16th century missionaries, and some of the buildings when standing in splendour were described by a Chinese visitor at the end of the 13th century. The Cambojans proper call themselves Khmer, a name which seems to have given rise to singular confusions (see COMAR)........"

http://www.bibliomania.com/2/3/260/1270/19908/1/frameset.html

Compare also:
A review of the history of Cambodia reveals how it was named. Kambujadesa or Kambuja is a Sanskrit word that derives from a tribe in northern India and is associated with Kambu Svayambhuva, the legendary founder of the Khmer civilization. Kampuchea, a modern version of that name, was part of the official title of the country as recently as 1989. The English transliteration of Kambuja is Cambodia.

http://www.trianglechurch.org/family/hope_cambodia01.htm

ALSO SEE the following website for more information:

http://punjabi.net/talk/messages/1/15318.html?1019962867

Dr SERGE THION/FRANCE:
(Department of Anthropology, Research School of Pacific Studies; printed at Central Printery; the masthead is by Susan Wigham of Graphic Design (all of The Australian National University).

The words Kambuja, Khmer….. (Views of Serge Thion)

"An old tradition explains the word Kambuja as the country of a venerable sage called Kambu, who is supposed to be the originator (mula) of the Khmer royal race. This is written in the Baksei Chamkrong inscription, dated 947 A.D.47 Descendants of Kambu were supposed to unite a 'solar' race and a 'lunar' one, maybe a coded way to describe the ruling families of Chen La and Fou Nan, two Hinduized kingdoms occupying, at the beginning of our era, the lower course of the Mekong. The story is obviously related to the need of legitimacy of the kings of what was, at the time of the inscription, Kambuja, which was the successor state after the disappearance of both Chan La and Fou Nan.

"Kambu is given as a descendant of the founders of Fou Nan, an Indian brahmin called Kaundinya and the daughter of the king of the Ngas (water spirits with snake bodies), a quite interesting union indeed. The trouble for the Khmer story is that it also appears in Cham inscriptions. It seems to be a local adaptation of an Indian legend, given as explaining the obviously mythological origins of the powerful Pallava dynasty of South India (3rd-9th centuries). But Cds thought this legend was created before the first century A.D., at the beginning of Indianization. The myth was maybe an explanation of it.

"There is nothing to support the existence of a historical character called Kambu, a word which does not look very Khmer either. The myth should be overturned. From the name Kambuja, the name of a man Kambu was invented. At the time countries were often called by the name, or the title, of the rulers. Hence the need to give a meaning to the word Kambuja that Khmers could not understand, thus providing a political etymology.

"But no Kambu is known in Indian literature whereas Kambuja or Kamboja are well attested, and a long time before Indians set foot on the shores of Indochina (an area which was neither Indian nor Chinese before the second or the first centuries B.C.).

"Kambuja is not a Khmer word but it obviously comes from Sanskrit. In fact Khmers do not use this word very much in a casual, non-political way. They rather speak of 'srok khmer', the land, the territory inhabited by Khmers. The Arab navigators who sailed in this area a long time ago used to call the country Kumar, an obvious rendering of Khmer and not of Kambuja.

"As for the word Khmer, there is no certain origin. Another Mon-Khmer speaking people, living in Northern Laos in an area quite close to that of the ancestors of the Khmers, call themselves the Khmu, which means 'the men'.48 It is quite possible, but not proven that, the Khmer also means 'the men'. On the other hand, Kambuja is the name of a people known in Indian texts, for instance in the Edicts of Ashoka (3rd century B.C.). Curiously enough, it seems to belong to the same area as the Yona. The fifth Rock Edict mentions them together. The king says he is sending his emissaries of the Law (dhammamahamatta) to 'yona kamboja ghandaranam...' French Indianist Alfred Foucher said that the Kohistan, a mountainous area near Kabul might be the land of the Kambojas, of which we know very little, except that they were more Iranian than Indian and raised fine horses. It seems from some inscriptions that they were a royal clan of the Sakas better known under the Greek name of Scyths.49

"Historians tend to believe Kambojas were in fact an Iranian tribe. (Old Iranian and old Sanskrit are very close languages. All these people called themselves Aryan, from which comes the name Iran). Panini, the Indian genius of grammar, observed50 that the word kamboja meant at the same time the tribe and its king. Later historians identified the same word in the name of several great Persian kings, Cambyse (Greek version) or Kambujiya (in Persian).51 Cambyse the Second is famous for his conquest of Egypt (525 B.C.) and the havoc he wrought upon this country.
It seems, ironically enough, that Yonas and Kambujas lived quite close to each other in the Kabul area, (although some authors would place them further north in Kashmir) in a cold mountainous country, using furs and wool garments, living, as a lot of Afghans still do, from agriculture, horse trading and the manufacture of weapons.52

"But, seen from the point of view of the orthodox brahmans, these people did not act in a proper manner. The Buddha himself is reported as saying53 that among the Yonas and Kambojas there was no caste, or only two, masters and slaves. Slaves could become masters and vice versa, which was anathema to the Indian social thought of the time. And the Jataka say the Kambojas have savage and horrible customs.54 La Valle Poussin concludes from what Panini says: 'These are people who do not observe the laws regulating food and marriage'.55 Panini also says Kambojas and Yonas shave their heads, which seems a bit odd. But who knows the fashions of the time ?

[reproduced with due gratitude from: Department of Anthropology, Research School of Pacific Studies; printed at Central Printery; the masthead is by Susan Wigham of Graphic Design (all of The Australian National University, by Dr Serge Thion:].

http://www.nectec.or.th/thai-yunnan/20.html

COMMENT:
Serge Thion seems quite right in some of his analysis of name Kambuja, but apparently he has goofed in his final conclusions as to why Cambodia got its ancient name ‘Kambuja’. I have conducted some personal emails & other correspondence with Serge Thion (France) in concern with some of his research stuff regarding above research article as well as regarding his final conclusions. After two emails, Serge stopped responding to my emails.

Probably, he did not have answers to some of my genuine queries about the Kambojas (north-west India), Kambojas (Bengal, Assam. Tibet, Loshai Hills and beyond), Kambujas (of Indo-China) and Kabojas (of Sri Lankan Inscriptions) and the inevitable inter-relationships between these various Kambojas……. He apparently got silent probably (answerless) in face of some my very genuine questions about his write-up and the evidences he quoted about ancient Kambojas and their political relationships and connections with ancient Kambujas of Indo China.
After my correspondence with Serge Thion, it became apparently clear to me that some international researchers intentionally bias their research findings probably for political reasons rather than bringing out genuine historical facts.

Serge Thion has, otherwise, done an excellent job as you can see from the text reproduced above.

JAI HIND
JAI KAMBUJA DESHA
LONG LIVE INDIAN KAMBOJA-KHMER KAMBUJA HISTORICAL RELATIONSHIP.

We, the Indian Kambojas, collectively & individually value our ancient historical, cultural and ethnic connections with our Khmer Cambodian brethren, the proud sucessors of one of the most wonderous civilazions of yester years. We proudly recognize that we both people do have the same ancient proud Indian/Kamboja blood coursing through our respective veins. We learn through the very informative writings of our learned friend Prof Jim Yost that our Cambodian-Khmer brethern are fighting a grim battle of survival to keep alive their proud ancient Kamboja/Kambuja heritage and their ancient connections with mother India. In this critical struggle, we assure our Khmer brethren that we all Indians Kambojas and in fact all Indians stand solidly behind them and pledge our full moral support to them in their struggle against the forces/powers, whatever they be, which are at work to wipe out their proude, distinct ancient Indian/Kamboja identity. Also, we strongly appeal to our Indian brothers & sisters, the intellectuals, as well our Indian government to come to the aid of the Khmer Cambodians and give them all possible political and moral support in their righteous struggle to maintain their prestigious Khmer/Kamboja cultural indentity.

God bless our Khmer Kamboja brethern.

Victory to the Khmer Kambojas,
Long live Kambuja Desha (Kambodia/Kampuchea/Kamboja),
Long live Khmer/Kamboja---Indian/Kamboja historical relatiships,
Long Live Ancient Kamboja,
JAI HIND,
JAI KHMER-CAMBODIA.

Prof Jim Yost writes:

“The Kamboj-Indian -- Khmer-Cambodian connection is legitimate, but it is just one of several of the probable confluences of "Indianized" peoples that made Southeast Asia their home”

I would like to complement the above statement of Jim by adding the following statement from Dr Radha Kamal Mukerjee, a distinguished Indian Historian and scholar of the 20th c (ref: Culture and Art of India, 1959, p 221).....

“…..The far-famed ancient regions of India such as Gandhara, Kamboja, Kalinga, Dasarana, Malava, Sriksetra and Ayudhya etc had transplanted themselves across the seas, into Indo-China………………..”

And, I further add that not only the Kambojas and other related people from north such as Sakas, Kushanas etc had transplanted themselves into Mekong Basin but other Indians (Aryans/Dravidinas) from central and southern India had also found their way into the land of the gold (Swaranbhumi). The process of migration seems to have spread over centuries…..The name Mekong is evidently derived from Ma Ganga (Mata Ganga/Mother Ganga), which is the name of presitigious Indian river Ganges. Even name ‘Angkor wat’ is derived from the Sanskrit term ‘Nagar’.

Kambodia/Khmer civilization is the proud heritage of us all…the Khmers, the Kambojas, as well as the northern, central & southern Indians…

Our great ancestors had played excellent roles in raising the Khmer civilization of yester years to its glorious heights. The Khmers Cambodians are indeed our blood brothers and sisters. We are proud of our historical, cultural and ethnic connections with the Khmer Kambodians/Kambojas.

Victory to Khmers Cambodians
Jai Khmer Kambodia
Jai Hind

Contrary to the purport of "Cambodian's" post, ... "From the third century B.C. ..." the "Indianization," as it is often referred to - of Southeast Asia - reaches much farther back than the relatively recent "third century B.C."

One only has to take into consideration the specific notations and references to, and about Suvarnabhummi (several spellings) in the Vedas to back-date a familiarity with, if not in fact an intimacy with the region, to some 8,000 years ago. Douglas, a researcher on the history of pre-denominational belief systems (tantric, animist,etc.), noted that indeed what is often referred to as the "Monsoon culture," which included the geographical arc from Sri Lanka, up the Indian coast, around the Bay of Bengal, and down to the western reaches of Indonesia, ... this area was, for its time, about as homogenous as pratical, given the modes of transport available.

Other reseachers allude to the very plausible suggestions that there was a give-and-take of various aspects of these shared belief systems that went a long way towards the evolutions that eventually gave rise to the more organized faiths, including the various strains of proto-Vedic orientations.

There is apparently also genetic evidence which provides indicators that suggest that until the most recent centuries, when the Sinic tribes began moving south into the "Monsoon culture" sphere, the peoples of that aforementioned "arc" more or less formed what is referred to as a "genetic block," based on DNA components.

As such, peoples such as the ethnic Khmer of Cambodia are justified in claiming more than just some mere "cultural" influence "from" India. Just as India itself is an amalgam of cultures today, there was a time when indeed, as history records, the Khmer of Kambudesha were a part of Greater, or Farther India.

The Kamboj-Indian -- Khmer-Cambodian connection is legitimate, but it is just one of several of the probable confluences of "Indianized" peoples that made Southeast Asia their home.

It is apparent that there may be a concerted effort on the part of certain elements from non-Indianized cultures (China as a prime suspect) - to attempt a virtual "morphing" of the Khmer, FROM their more natural umbilical attachment to India, ... TO a recent concoction of some sort of cultural Frankenstein.

One only has to look to history to see that until about the past 50 years or so, when Cambodia became of strategic interest, ... China, the Hegemon of the East, the Middle Kingdom, ... historically regarded (and still does) the area on her southern perimeter as one inhabited by "barbarians" and "savages."

I would strongly encourage the Khmer of Cambodia to do some research into who their ancestors were, (DO NOT RELY ON ONLY CHINESE SOURCES!) - specifically including those of "Indian" origin, North and South. Now, that does not mean that the Sinicized Cambodians should necessarily be ostracized because they are what they are, but neither should a Khmer, who rightfully proclaims a degree of "Indian-ness" be forced to suppress that fact in the name of
getting along, especially considering the tremendous loss of Khmer historical documentation, chronicles and journals since the days of the Siamese sacking of Angkor, the Vietnamization attempt by Emperor Minh Mang, the Chinese-inspired de-culturization under the Khmer Rouge, and the subesequent attempt at Vietnamization by the Vietnamese faux "liberation" of Cambodia in 1979.

Seemingly, the most "clear and present danger" to the Khmer culture is that being perpetrated by the Chinese, which is detailed in the U.S. Army War College periodical called "Parameters." One only has to read "China's Cambodia Strategy" to be moved to tears as you can almost see the extinction of the Khmer and their culture on the near horizon unless they are provided a historical and cultural lifeline that will permit them to retain their identity, and that includes a component of undeniable symbiosis with Mother India.

Jai Kambudesha, ... Jai Hind

The spread of Buddhism in the centuries before the Christian era and in the early centuries of it in the East, in Tibet, Burma, Nepal, Cambodia, Annam, China, Japan,, without spilling a drop of blood is well-known. Its appeal to the modern mind is remarkable.

From the third century B.C. there were conquests of culture in the regions of Indo-China and Indonesia and familiar Indian names like Campa, Kambhoja, Amaravati, names which we find in the Buddhist texts, were given to the places in Indian colonies even as European names like Boston, Cambridge, Berlin are taken over by settlers in America from their European homelands. Brahmanical and Buddhist faiths prevailed in this Farther India and came to terms with each other as in India. Harsa, the last great ruler of Northern India (A.D. 606- 647) dedicated temples to Siva and the Buddha.

http://shikshanic.nic.in/cd50years/n/75/7Y/757Y0304.htm

Kamboj History is truly a inspiration to Mankind.

COEDES WRITES: (ref: ‘The second Indianization of Indo-china (The Indianized States of South-east Asia (Original Text: Les Etats Hindouises d’Indichine et d’Indonesie), 1964, p 46-47):

“In 357, for reasons that are still unknown to history, Funan fell under the domination of a foreigner from India. In the first month of 357, Tien Chu Chan t’an, the king of Funan is stated to have offered tamed elephants as tribute to this new victorious Foreigner. (Dynastic History of the Chin and the Liang). This Tien Chu in chinese means Indian. And the expression Tien Chu Cha-t’an means Indian Tien-chu. Dr Sylvain Levi (France) has shown that Chan t’an of the Chinese means Chandan of the Indians. This Chandan was a royal title among the Yueh Chih (Yuches) or Kushans of the Indian texts. “Tien Chu Chan t’an or Indian Chandan was thus a royal personage who originally had come from India. His title Chanda seems to connect him to same Stock as Kanishka. [Le Founan, BEFEO, III, pp 252, 2155, 269, by Paul Pelliot; Le Lin-Yi , Han-Hiue, II, 1947, pp 257-58, n 277 by R Stein; Kanishka and Satvahnas, Journal Asiatique, Jan-March, 1936, pp 61-121, 82; The Indianized States of South-east Asia (Original Text: Les Etats Hindouises d’Indichine et d’Indonesie), 1964, p 46-47 by Gorge Coedes.].”


.................................................................

I HAVE THE FOLLOWING NOTEWORTHY COMMENTS TO MAKE ON THE ABOVE INTERPRETATION of CHA T’AN = CHANDAN BY G. COEDES/PROF. SYLVAIN LEVI:

The modern Indian Kambojas of northern India still have a well known clan name called ‘CHANDAN/CHANDANA’. Rather than following G. Coedes’ interpretation of the Chinese Cha-t’an =CHANDAN=A ROYAL TITLE AMONG THE YUCHES, it is more likely that this CHAN T’AN =CHANDAN represents the well known CHANDAN or CHANDANA clan name of the Kamboja family to whom the above said king, to all probability, belonged.

THE MODERN KAMBOJS OF INDIA STILL HAVE WELL KNOWN CLAN NAMES called CHANDAN/CHANDANA, CHANDI, CHAND, CHANI, CHAN etc. AND TO ALL PROBABILITY, THE CHINESE NAME CHAN T’AN=CHANDAN refers only to the last name/clannish name (CHANDAN/CHANDANA/CHAND etc) of the KAMBOJA KING OF FUNAN.

Moreover, the tribal name Kamboja itself and several other Kamboja related pointers strongly qualify the Kambojas of north India as being the ancestors of the Kambuja/Kamboja kings of Indo-China.

Note: Counter comments on my above comments from the educated readers are most welcome.


THIND:

This has been very interesting. I have been writing articles on white conquerors, expecially those who went through Afghanistan on their way to India
http://www.delphi.com/truthseekers23
http://www.delphi.com/nordichistory3

PART I:

(1)Kampuchea…….Khmer language pronunciation of the Sanskrit place name Kambuja, usually tanslated into English as Cambodia. The name Kampuchea was first used in 19th c AD obviously to commemorate a North Indian tribe (Kamboja) but perhaps also because the word was relatively close to Cambodian people’s name themselves, the Khmer. Under French protectorate (1863-1954), Cambodia was known as CAMBODGE (i.e. KAMBOJE) but following the brief period of independence in 1954, the local officials insisted that the term appear as in European languages, as Kampuchea. A similar rejection of imperialist transliteration was made by Pol Pot’s democratic Kampuchea (1975-79) & the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1975-)


Kambuja….. is Sanskrit name of Khmer or the Cambodian/Kamboja people by which they designated themselves in the inscriptions from the Zhenla (Chenla) period onwards. Literally born out of race Kambu, the term refers to the original myth according to which the Cambodian Solar dynasty from which the Kambuja rulers traced their origins mythically began from the union of holy sage Svayambhuva Kambu with mythical nymph Mera who had been sent by the god Shiva.

A legendary line of kings also leads to rulers of Sresthapura in what now is Laos. According to myth of Indian origin, kingdom of Kambuja was created and the name Kambuja was adopted by the founder Kaundynia (Hun-Tien or Chia-Chen-Ju) who married a she snake (Nagini) spirit.

In the olden Sanskrit Inscriptions of Cambodia, the name appears as Kambuja (Inscriptions Sanscrites de Champa et du Cambodge ). But the modern day most prevalent name now is Kamboja, the same that appears in the numerous Ancient Sanskrit literature of India.

[Encyclopedia of Asian History 1988 by Ainislie T Embree, p 258, 259, David P Chandeler]

COMMENTS:
Kambuja ==> Kamboja== > Cambodoge== >Kampuchea (name of Farther India in ancient Sanskrit Texts)

(2)“……A review of the history of Cambodia reveals how it was named. Kambujadesa or Kambuja* is a Sanskrit word that derives from a tribe* in northern India and is associated with Kambu Svayambhuva, the legendary founder of the Khmer civilization. Kampuchea, a modern version of that name, was part of the official title of the country as recently as 1989. The English transliteration of Kambuja is Cambodia…”.
[By Dr. Bob Wilkins]

*i.e KAMBOJA TRIBE OF UTTARAPATHA (NORTHERN INDIA)

http://www.trianglechurch.org/family/hope_cambodia01.htm

********************************************************************************

PART II

FEW WORDS REGARDING KAMBUJA/KAMBOJA TERMINOLOGY:

This Kambuja is another version of the Standard Sanskrit term Kamboja. The same name is also found as Kambysis or Cambysis in Greek classics, Kambujiya/Kambaujiya of the Old Persian Inscriptions, Kambuzija in Akkadian and Kanbuzija in Elamite hierogliphic writings (vgl. Hinz: RLA, 328; Kent, 303, Kaboja/Kabojiha/Kabojhiyana in Sri Lankan Inscriptions(ref: Archaological Survey of Ceylone, Inscription Register No 1049, 1050, 316, 1118 etc; History of Sri Lanka, Vol I, Part I, p 88 by Dr S. Paranavitana etc), Kamboja in Ashokan Edicts (Yon-Kamboj-Gandharaam…Ashoka’s R.E. V, Yon-Kambojesu…R.E. XIII etc); Kaambhoja/Kaamboja in Mahabharata/Ramayana, also Kapisha in some Sanskrit writings, Kabush in Mahamayuri (Tibetan Translation), Kophen, Kapicene (Greek writers), Kipin (Dr D. C. Sircar & others), Karpis of Pliny’s writings, Kaofus/Kadfus/Kadphizes of Solinus, Kaofu or Kieu-feou as in some Chinese writings; Kampoce/Kampoji of Tibetean chronicles, Kampochih/Kampuchih of Burmese chronicles, Komdei/Comdei of Ptolemy (Dr Buddh Parkash), also Tambuzoi (Ptolemy’s Geography, according to Dr S. Levi etc) and Ambautai (Ptolemy Geography 6.18.3, according to Dr Michael Witzel of Harvard Univ**); Kumi of Tang (Chinese) Kiumoche of Wu-K’ong (Chinese); Kumiji/Kumijo of Mkidisi; Cambothi, Kambuson & Komedon of some other Greek writers, Kiumito of Hiun Tsong (Chinese) [ located in east of Khotlan]; Kumadadvipa of Vayu-Purana (Dr Buddha Parkash, K. S. Dardi and others etc etc…….

**SEE BELOW

“……The Kamboja (AV, PS) settled in S.E. Afghanistan (Kandahar); cf. O.Pers. KambujIya (or KambaujIya?) 'Cambyses'; however, their name is transmitted as Ambautai by Ptolemy (Geography 6.18.3), without the typical prefix)…..” (Ref: Dr Michael Witzel, Sanskrit Department, Harvard University)

http://www1.shore.net/~india/ejvs/ejvs0501/ejvs0501a.txt

ALSO SEE:
Ptolemy’s Tambuzoi=Kamboja ( Journal Asiatique, 203, 1923, p 54, cf Mcgrindle, Ptolemy’s Geography, p 268, Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 44 Dr J. L. Kamboj, Problems of ancient India, 2000, p 1; Location of Kamboja, Purana, Vol VI, No1, 1964, K. D. Sethna ; Indian Antiquary, 1923, p 54, Dr S Levy etc)

ALSO SEE:
KAMBYSES, Name von zwei altpersischen Königen, die sich griechisch KambushV, persisch Kambuhiya, akkadisch kam-bu-zi-ja, elamisch kán-bu-zí-ja, hieroglyphisch [kmbjjt] schreiben (vgl. Hinz: RLA, 328; Kent, 303).
Verlag Traugott Bautz www.bautz.de/bbkl

http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/k/Kambyses_I.shtml

SEE ALSO:
According to Dr Michael Witzel (Sanskrit Department, Harvard University, USA): “Sanskrit Kamboja is equivalent to the Old Persian ka(n)bujiya or perhaps ka(n)bUjiya, cf. Elamite Kan-bu-zi-ia and Akkadian Kam-bu-zi-ia…….”(for details see M. Mayrhofer, Altiranisches Namenbuch, Wien 1979.
p. II/23.)

FURTHER SEE:
[cf ZII 2. p 151, Mayrhofer., Et. Wb. I 161, and now Bailey in Iran & Islam, Edinburg 1971, p 65, sqq Mayrh., Et Wb. III 665; Early Eastern Iran & the Atharaveda, in Persica –9, fn 81, pp115-15, Dr Michael Witzel & Dr Leidon]

ETC ETC………

Dear Editor:

I am done with my noting. I have collected all the information contained in Parts I, II, & III from various sources which I have duly acknowledged. Let our educated readers read this and offer their intelligent comments.

Thanks for letting me post this stuff about Kambojas on your this invaluable website.

INDIAN KAMBOJA PRINCES RULE IN CAMBODIA (KAMBUJA)
.....CONTD......

PART II

DR. FERGUSSON ON SAKAS, KUSHANAS AND KAMBOJA IN KAMBUJA:

James Fergusson states that the Kambojas who founded Kambuja kingdom in Indo-China had come from Kamboja via Kabol, Gandhar , Kashmir and the hind side of Himalayans. There is an evidence of an occurrence of some political disturbance in Kashmir and west India around 319c, during the reign of Tuzing. This fact is further confirmed by the political happenings that occurred in Indo-China around this period.

There is an evidence of a historical land route existing between the Kabul valley and Mekong valley (c 100AD-500AD). This land route was used to be followed by traders and colonists to bring in the Romans and Greek elements from Kabul/Peshawer to Kambuj or Mekong valley. Based on some historical evidence, it is supposed by some scholars that some clans of the Hephthelites and the Kedars (Kushans of Indian texts) of Kabul valley and Kashmir had suddenly receded back from Kabul valley into trans-Himalayan territory, during Harsha’s time (606AD-648AD) or even before Harsha, during his father Parbhakarvardhana’s times (590AD-606AD). After retreating back from Kashmir, these clans had first moved into Tibet. It were these Turko-Iranian people who had later militarily supported Srong-jon-Gamboh/Kambo (640Ad-698AD), the founder of Tibetan kingdom. This ‘Gambo or Gamboh, Kambo’ of this Tibetan chronicle has been identified with term Kamboj of the Sanskrit texts for obvious reasons (Dr Jiya Lal, in Kambuj and Kamboj, p 363, op.cit). King Srong jon Gamboh or Kamboh was indeed a pioneer king of Tibet who had wrought utter havoc in Tarim valley in the last part of 7th c AD. In 8th c AD, the successor of Srong Jon Gamboh called Don-Srong, proved a formidable king who expanded this Tibetan Kamboja kingdom to Bengal. The effect of this victory of Tibetan Kambojas is stated to be so powerful that for two centuries that followed, bay of Bengal was addressed as sea of Tibet.

In 9th c AD, the Kedaras and Hephthelites tribes who had supported king Srong Jon Gamboh had spread to north Burma. The documentation left by Marco Polo and Rashidudin of 13th c AD also proves them to be Kedaras and Hephthalites, living in Yunnan country located to the south-east of Tibet, during this period. (Bombay Gazetteer, Vol I., Part I, pp 500-501). We have established else where that a Kamboja country is documented to be located in the south-east of Tibet, north-east of Lushai Hills, in between Assam and Bengal some where (ref: Brahma Purana 53/16, For further ref: Critical Study of Geographical Data in the Early Purana, p 168, by Dr M. R. Singh, Some Tantrik Texts Studied in Ancient Kambuja, IHQ, VOL IV, No 1, 1930.3, by Dr P. C. Bagchi, History and Culture of Indian People, Imperial Kanauj, 1964, p 323, Michael Vickery in his thesis (Phd Thesis, Yale University, U.S.A); Tibetan text: Pag Sam Jon Zang, quoted by Dr H. C. Ray in New Light on the History Bengal, Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol XV-4, 1939, p 511; History of Bengal, I, p 125 Dr R. C. Majumdar; Ancient Kamboja’ People and the Country, p 328 Dr Jiya Lal Kamboj). Thus we find evidence that from 1ist c AD onwards, several north-western tribes like Kedaras (Yueh chih=Yuches, Hephthalites, Kambojas and Sakas etc had migrated towards east India from behind the Himalayas and had set up their principalities in these territories. We find documentary evidence of Kambojas, Yavanas, Gandhara principalities existing in the upper Indo-China territories around 4/5v AD. From here, later, these tribes had spread further into Mekong valley of South-east Asia and must have founded their respective principalities. (op. cit.,362-363, Dr Jiya Lal, History if Indian and Eastern Architecture, p 665 by Sir James Fergusson , p 665- 666, Dr Fergusson, Bombay Gazetteer, Vol I, part I, PP 500-501)

Note: The above referred to Kedaras, like the Tuchchars, were a clan of the Yueh-chih (or Kushans of Sanskrit literature).

PROFESSOR GEORGE COEDES (FRANCE) ON KAMBOJAS/SAKAS/KUSHANS IN KAMBUJA:

In his observations on ‘The second Indianization of Indo-china (from the middle of 4th c AD till middle of 6th c AD)’, the famous researcher, Prof G. Coedes states:

“In 357, for reasons that are still unknown to history, Funan fell under the domination of a foreigner from India. In the first month of 357, Tien Chu Chan t’an, the king of Funan is stated to have offered tamed elephants as tribute to this new victorious Foreigner. (Dynastic History of the Chin and the Liang). This Tien Chu in chines means Indian. And the expression Tien Chu Cha-t’an means Indian Tien-chu. Dr Sylvain Levi (France) has shown that Chan t’an of the Chinese means Chandan of the Indians. This Chandan was a royal title among the Yueh Chih (Yuches) or Kushans of the Indian texts. “Tien Chu Chan t’an or Indian Chandan was thus a royal personage who originally had come from India. His title Chanda seems to connect him to same Stock as Kanishka. [Le Founan, BEFEO, III, pp 252, 2155, 269, by Paul Pelliot; Le Lin-Yi , Han-Hiue, II, 1947, pp 257-58, n 277 by R Stein; Kanishka and Satvahnas, Journal Asiatique, Jan-March, 1936, pp 61-121, 82; The Indianized States of South-east Asia (Original Text: Les Etats Hindouises d’Indichine et d’Indonesie), 1964, p 46-47 by Gorge Coedes.].

“The above connection is not surprising at all since a century earlier, king of Funan had sent embassy to India to a sovereign Mou-luan (Murunda) who reigned on Ganges and in return, Murunda king had sent four horses of the Yuche breed as a present to king of Funan. And we also know close lines united Murundas with Yueh Chihs. It has been maintained that Murunda was the dynastic title of Kushans. [Dr K. P. Jayswal, History of India c 150 AD to 350 AD; Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society, XIX (1933), pp 287-89, 303-303; Murunda=Kushanas according to G. Coedes, Murunda=Saka title according to Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, PHAI, 1996, p 381; see also Corpus II, p xx for Murunda)].

“In 357, under the great Gupta Emperor Samudragupta, all of the northern India had submitted to the Gupta dynasty. The Saka invaders had been driven back. It is possible that a branch of the Kushans family, driven from the banks of Ganges, sought its fortunes beyond the Bay of Bengal, in the Land of Gold (Suvarnabhumi or Chryse), which had been opened to adventurers from India. The reign of this foreigner coming after the exchange of embassies with Murundas (Kushans) accounts for some connections between Funan and ancient Cambodia on the one hand and the Iranian world on the other. At the end of 5th c AD, one servant of king of Funan bore the name or title of Chiu-ch’ou-lo, which is identical with Kujula in use among the Kushans. A little later, in 7th c, AD, we see a Saka Brahman arriving from Daccan and marrying the daughter of king of Ishanvarmana I. The pre-Angkorian iconography of images of Surya, with their short tunics, short boots, and sashes similar to those of the Zoroasterans, is clearly of Iranian Inspiration. [Les Images de Surya de Kamboje, Victor Coloubew; Cashiers EFFEO, no, 22 (1940), pp 38-42 Kamleshwer Bhattacharya; Les Religions Brahmaniques dans l’ncien Kamboje (Paris 1961, pp 128-31, see also Louis de La Vallee-Poussin, dynasties et histoire de l’inde )Paris, 1935), p 350]. These images represent the Sun considered a Magian or Scythian Brahmans, who is designated by the name Sakabrahmana in Angor epigraphy. (La date du Bayon, Bulletin de E’cole Francaise, d’extreme orient (BEFEO), XXVIII, p 105, Les capitales de Jayvarman II, BEFEO, XXVIII, p 116, n.1, Inscriptions de Cambodge, I, p 195, by G. Coedes).

“A Brahman from Sakadvipa bears a name Magus, i.e Sun worshipper. (see also Louis de La Vallee-Poussin, dynasties et histoire de l’inde; Les Religions Brahmanique, pp 128-131 by Dr Bhattacharya). Even the Cylindrical coiffure of Pre-Angkorian images of Vishnu can be regarded as showing marked Iranian Influence (Vishnu mitres de l’indochine occidentle, BEFEO, XLI, p 249, Pierre Dupont). It is also interesting to note that the immediate model for this hair style is found in the Sculptures of the Pallava kings. But it is also true that numerous scholars are convinced of the northern origin of the Pallavas i.e. maintaining that they are the descendents of the Iranian Pahlvas or the Parthians (see refernces in R. Gopalan: History of the Pallas of Kanchi (Madras, 1928), Chapter II; Administration and Social Life under the Pallavas (Madras, 1938), by Cadambi Minakshi, reviewed in BEFEO, XXXVIII, p 331-32).

“And finally, even the name of the Kambujas (Chenlas), the heirs of Funan, should be connected with that of the Iranian Kambojas [(Sylvain Levi, Pre-aryen et pre-dravidien dans l’inde, Journal Asiatique (Jan-March, 1926) p 53; On the Kambojas see B. C. Law, Some Kasatrya tribes of Ancient India, Indian Culture, I, p 386; Sten Konow, Notes on Sakas, Indian Culture, II, p 189; B. R. Chatterjee,’A current Tradition among the Kambojas of North-India relating to Khmers of Cambodia or Kambuja’, Artibus Asiae, XXIV (1961), pp 17, 37].

“All these above facts are worth noting and pointing out, especially because the discovery at Oc Eo ( op cit pp 17, 37) in western Cochin China, of an intaglio representing a libation to the fire and of a cabochon with a Sassanid effigy ( L’archeologie du delta du Mekong (Parias, 1959-63), III, 294, 304).”

“The reign of above Indian prince (Kushan prince) Chan t’an constitutes a sort of interlude in the history of Funan. The date 357 is the only one we know for his reign, and we hear nothing more of Funan before the end of 4th c AD or the beginning of following century” (The Indianized States of South-east Asia (Original Text: Les Etats Hindouises d’Indichine et d’Indonesie), 1964, p 46-47 by Gorge Coedes).

NOTE:
The above text is taken from “The Indianized States of South-east Asia, (Les Estats hindouises d’Indochinee et d’Indonesie) 1964, p 46-47, by Professor G. Coedes, an un-disputed authority on Kambuja. Here prof. Coedes discusses the presence of Kushans/Sakas and Kamboja in Indo-China. But the Kambojas he refers to are the Kambojas of Iranian affinities; the ones living beyond the Trans-Oxian region and falling under cultural and linguistic influence of the ancient Iranians, rather than the Vedic Indians.

Dr Buddha Parkash on Kambuja:
Based on the Cambodian legends, the legends available in Indian literature, as well as in the light of traditions prevalent amongst the Kambujas of Cambodia and the Kambojas of north-west India, Dr Buddha Parkash concludes as follows:

“Viewed in the light of Cambodian legends as well as the traditions of people of Kambuja (Cambodia) and the Kamboja People of India, it becomes certain that the Kambujas of Cambodia were indeed the Kamboja people of north-west India who had transplanted themselves into the land of Mekong valley and founded the Kambuja kingdom in later centuries. Though the conclusive evidence of this historical and political connection between Indian and Indo-China Kambojas is still lacking some what, and we are not yet in a definite position to give our final verdict on this connection, yet the striking similarities of the names and the contents of the legends and traditions between these two people are so strong that they can not be easily ignored”. (India and the World, p 155 by Dr Buddha Parkash).

"The author of Vayu Purana uses Kumudha dvipa for Kusha dvipa. This Kumudha dvipa is a variant of Ptolemy's Komdei which represents an ancient Kamboja tribe with Iranian affinities living on the frontiers of India and Iran, especially in Badakshan and Pamir area in ancient times and which later settled in Indian plains of UP and Panjab. It is believable that these Kamboja people went to south-east Asia around the start of Christian era and gave their own name to Cambodia. They went to other places also.” (Ref: India and the world 1964 p 71, 155 by Dr. Buddha Parkash)

From above observations of Dr Buddha Parkash and Dr G. Coedes it follows that the Kushan Prince Chan T’an and some of his Kushans clans had established in Indo-China around 357 c AD.. Also we find evidence of the presence of Sakas people and the Magian Saka Brahmanas in Indo-china, who had followed in the footsteps of the Kushaana and Kambojas from north-west India and Iranian territories.

From James Fergusson and some other scholars, we learn that some clans of Kedaras (Kushans) and Hephthalites might also have found their way into Indo-China. Thus from Prof. G. Ceodes, Dr. James Fergusson, Dr Buddha Parkash, Dr Jiya Lal and many other distinguished scholars of modern history, we learn that some clans of Kambojas, Sakas, Kushans, Kedaras and Hepthalites had transplanted themselves into Indo-China. Each one of these tribes had their individual settlements initially. Later, in the wars of survival and supremacy that followed, some of these tribal lands were taken over by the more dominant of the settlers. The final picture that seems to have emerged in 6th c AD was the establishment of a dominant Chenla kingdom (of the Chinese chronicles) under Kamboja chief Chittersen (Tehe-tosseu-na of the Chinese). This kingdom was founded by ancestor settlers of this Kamboja kings Chittersen.. Prof G. Coedes and many researchers have identified the name ‘Chenla’ of the Chinese as Kampuchia or Kambuja (ref: Les Estats Hindouises d'Indochine et d'Indonesie 1964 by Prof G. Coedes …Translated as Indianized States of South-East 1964, page 213) This Kamboja principality was located to South-East of Lin-Yi and the Vamsa or clan of its king has been described as Cha-li which means Kashatrya

Dr B. R. Chatterjee on KAMBUJA/KAMBOJA:
Dr B. R. Chatterjee has produced a tradition prevalent amongst the Kambojas of Uttar Pardesh in one of his article on Cambodia(Ref: A current Tradition among the Kambojas of North-India relating to the Khmers of Cambodia" AA, XXIV (1961), Page 253 by Dr B. R. Chatterjee. This reference has also been quoted by the famous French researcher, Prof G. Coedes, an authority on Cambodian history, in his book 'Les Estats Hindouises d'Indochine et d'Indonesie 1964' …Translated as Indianized States of South-East 1964, 47n 12 . Also ref to The Kamboja People and the Country 1981, p 357 by Dr. Jya. Lal). According to this traditions, there are numerous sub-castes of the Kambojas of 84-Gotra classification, taken after the name of lord Siva. One of them is Kamare sub-caste. According to Dr Chatterjee, the Kambuja colonists of the yore probably belonged to the Kamare sub-caste of these 84-Gotra Kambojas. This further explains as to why there they call these Kambuja people by the Khmer. This Khmer is time-modified corruption of Kamare sub-castte of 84-Gotra Kambojas. (ref: op cit; also ref: Kamboja People and the country 1981, p 359).

Note: On the other hand, some Indian writers from Tamil and Bengal have tried to derive word Kambuj and Khmer from mythical union of sage Kambu and nymph Mera [i.e. Kambu+Jas=Kambujas ( i.e Jas=sons, descendents), Kambujas=sons or descendents of king Kambu: also Kambu+ Mera => Khmer). Note that this princess Mera was the first wife of Swayambhuva Kambu (possibly Kambuj or Kamboj). As is obvious, this claim of the Tamil/Bengalese writers seems to be very ridiculous and an exercise in futility which does not have any historical documentation or evidence, behind it, to support this claim of these writers. (ref: Dr S. Thion).


ALBERUNI ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
According to Alberuni, the “Kumair (Khmer) people of Kambuja are of fair colors and have the body structures like those of the Turks. They are fond of wearing ear-ring”. Interesting that this custom of wearing ear-rings was prevalent amongst the ancient Indian Kamboja and had been much prevalent among them un till 20th c AD. But this custom is now slowly getting out of vogue. (Dr Jya Lal in Ancient Kamboja, People and Country, 1981, p 359).


DID KAMBUJAS REACH KAMBODIA VIA SEA FROM SURASHTRA & GUJRAT COASTS?.
Ancient Kamboja Janapada was located in the Pamir/Bdakshan are of Central Asia. Over the time, some clans of these people crossed Hindu Kush and not only did they spread into Kabul, Gandhar and Kashmir but also in whole of north-west India including Punjab and UP (India and the World, p 154 Dr Buddha Parkash). There is ample historical evidence of the migration of the numerous clans of the Uttarapatha Kamboja along with Sakas and Parthas etc into the far lands of Gujrat, Kathiawad, Rajasthan, Punjab, the east and as well west coast of India. Some clans of these Kamboja people must have reached Indo-China, some time after the start of AD era..( Bombay Gazetteer, Vol I, Part I, p 490; Kamboja People and the Country 1981, p 360, 298-309).

BOMBAY GAZZETTER ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
Per Bombay Gazetteer Vol-I, the Indian colonists from north India (Kamboja, Gandhara, Romadeisha, Taxila) had reached Kambodia via Sea Ships, launched from Suarashtra /Gujrat sea coasts of western India. Gujrat/Kathhiawad legends and anecdotes relating to Java and Kambodia are still prevalent in these areas which justify that the Gujrat/Kathiawad coasts were indeed the launching pads for this sea-adventure. These legends further shed light on the trade relations between Java/Kambuja and the north-west India during first few centuries of AD era. (Bombay Gazetteer, Vol I, Part I, P 490). This fact is further substantiated when we see there occurred a historical mass migration of some clans of Central Asian Kambojas towards west India who had finally settled down in Gujrat/Kathiawad during 2nd/1ist c BC. It is not surprising if some section from these migrant Kambojas of Saurashtra and Gujrat later had found their way into Indo-China. (For details, ref op. cit p 298-309).

DR SIR JAMES FERGUSSON ON KAMBOJA AND KAMBUJA:

James Fergusson has established that: “There is a marked similarity in the ARCHITECTURE of Kambuja and that of north west Indian regions like those of Kabul, Kashmir and Taxila. Further, the ART OF WOOD-CARVING of these two regions also has also a marked resemblance. Besides, there is also a MARKED SIMILARITY between these people in the matters of religious beliefs and the customs like SNAKE WOSHIP. There is special stress on snake worship both in Uttarapatha India and Kambuja regions. It is known fact that the Uttarapatha India including Kabul, Taxila and Kashmir was the home of snake worship. This custom of snake worship in Kambuja was undoubtedly carried by the Indian Kambojas from the Uttarapatha India into Indo-China”. (History if Indian and Eastern Architecture, p 665 by Sir James Fergusson ).

Sir J Fergusson further states that “Sri Lanka had always been a chief center of snake worship. Kambojas’ presence in ancient Sri Lanka is documentarily recognized from several epigraphic inscriptions found in Sri Lanka They are shown existing as a pre-eminent and predominant class of social and political tribe in ancient Sinhala, around 2nd c BC. Some Rock Edicts found in Polonoruva in Sri Lanka further mention that a gate of the famous Vishnu temple in Sri Lanka was named Kamboja Vasala or Kamboja gate, after the tribal name of the Kamboja people. Further evidence is available proving that there was indeed a snake temple in Polonruva. Besides, archaology has found several more snake-temple in Sri Lanka All this leads to strong probability that the Kambojas from north-west India had first come and settled in Sri Lanka, and that from Sri Lanks later, they had gone to colonize Kambuja in Indo–China” (Op Cit p 666, by Sir James Fergusson).

As stated above, alternatively, based on some historical evidence, James Fergusson had also suggested that the Kamboja people who had colonized Kambuja might have come via land routes from Kabul, Gandhar and Kashmir behind the Himalayans. Around 319 AD, there occurred some abnormal political disturbance in north west India including Kashmir. These historical incidences match very well with swelling in number of new migrants and the historical and political changes that occurred in phase with the above, in that far land of Indo-China around this time.( Op Cit p 665-666, by Sir James Fergusson).

Besides the Kambojas, we also find ample evidence of Sakas and Kushans’ presence in Indo-china from Cambodian Inscriptions and Chinese chronicles. There is mention of Saka Brahmanas in 4/5 epigraphic inscriptions in Kambuja. The daughter of Kambuja king Ishanvarman –II was married to a Saka Brahmana. These Saka Brahmans were probably those Magian Brahmans who had followed in the foot steps of Sakas and Kushans into Kambuja during ist c AD. (India and World, 1964, p 153).

*****WERE THE KAMBOJAS WHO WENT TO KAMBODIA A SRI LANKAN KAMBOJA********

Based on several Sri Lankan Epigraphic inscriptions as well as the researches of Dr S. Paranavatana and other scholars about the Kambojas, James Fergusson (as stated above) and some other scholars had alternatively suggested that the Kambojas might have reached Indo-China via Sri Lanka. Here are the salient portions of the Sinhalese Inscriptions regarding the ancient Kambojas in Sri Lanka. (The Ancient Sinhala being Prakritic form of Sanskrit, we find Kaboja in place of Kamboja in some of these inscriptions.

************PROOF OF KAMBOJAS’ PRESENCE IN SRI LANKA***************************
***SEE THE EPIGRAPHIC PROOFS OF ANCIENT KAMBOJA PEOPLE BEING IN SRI LANKA***

THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS FROM VARIOUS EPIGRAPHIC/CAVE INSCRIPTIONS AS FOUND FROM SRILANKA DURING 19th/20th CENTURY BY EROPEAN RESEARCHERS.

INSCRIPTION REGISTER No 1316.
‘Gote Kabojhiana Pramuka gopalah barya upashika chitya lenhai shagash’.
(ref. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon)

b. INSCRIPTION REGISTER No 1118
‘Kabojihia mahapugyana manpadashaney agal anagat chatudish shagash’
(ref. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon.)

c. INSCRIPTION REGISTER No 1149
Kabojha…………Gamik (ref. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon)
INSCRIPTION REGISTER No 1150

d. Kabojha………..Gamik (ref. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon)
The Historian have identified this term Kaboja appearing numerously in ancient Sri Lanka cave inscriptions as the prakritic/old Sinhala variant of the well known Sanskritic term Kamboja.

REFERENCES
(Archaological Survey of Ceylone Inscriptions, History of Celone Vol I, Part I Dr S. Paranavitana, The People of the Lion…Sinhala Identity and Ideology in History and philosophy by Dr R. A. L. H. Gunawardana, The People of trhe Lion: Ethnic Identity by K. N. O. Dharmadasa, Kambojas in Sri Lanka by Dr Jya Lal in Kamboja People and the Country, Epigraphia Zelonica by Don Martino De Zilva Wickermsinghe, Dr E. Muller JRAS., XV., p, 171;also ref to researches of Dr Burros , History of Indian Art and Eastern Architecture pp 665-666 by Sir Dr J. Fergusson etc).

e. Furthermore, one of the 12 Epigraphic inscriptions, discovered in 1887 by Dr S. M. Burros mentions
KAMBOJA VASSALA (i.e Kamboja Dawara/or Kamboja gate). This is the name of the main gate of the Vishnu Temple located in Polonaruva, Sri lanka built by great king Kalingalekshar Bahu Vir Raj Nishankmal Apritimal Chakravorty (JCBBRAS., Vol X., X No 34, 1887, pp64-67).

f. Yet another medieval age reference to the presence of Kamboja people in Sri Lanka has been found in an another epigraphic inscription ( No 13) found in Anuradhapura in Ruvanveki Dagba in Sri Lanka (Don Martino de Zilva Wickeremsinghe, Epigraphicia Zeylanka, Vol II., Part I & II., p 70-83; Rys David, JRAS. Vol VII., p 187, p 353f; Muller. E. AIC., No 145; JRAS., Vol XV., 1914, pp 170-71).

See below the wording of this inscription (No 13) is Sanskritic Sinhalese.

“Nuvarat hatpsin sat gavak pamanh tan haam satun no narya hakhya abhaya do ber lava dolos meh va tan masut abhaya de KAMBOJEEN ran pili aadibhu kamti vastu de paksheen no badan nyayen samat kot abhaya dee” (Epigraphia Zelanka Vol II., p 80).

The famous scholars like Don Martino de Zilva, Wickermsinghe, Burrows etc have described /identified these KAMBODEEN (Kamboja) people of Medieval era Sri Lanka as the Moslem converts of the Ancient Kambojas who during 8/9 c AD, had embraced Islaam and used to trade horses along the from Persian gulf to Sri Lanka including India. Burrows has relied on the classic researches of Dr Sir J. Fergusson’s researches of 19th c era in resolving the issue of these Kambodeen people of Sri Lanka.

TO BE CONTD........

INDIAN KAMBOJA PRINCES RULE IN CAMBODIA (KAMBUJA) KINGDOM:

PART I
HISTORICAL VIEW.
Kambuja/Kamboja is the ancient name of Mekong valley basin of Indo-China. This fact is abundantly confirmed from numerous epigraphic inscriptions which have been found in Cambodia over the years. During French/Dutch researches carried out during 19th c AD, it was discovered that this part of the world had deep historical and cultural connections with Indian sub continent. Ironically, before these findings of these French/Dutch researcher were made public, the Indians were totally unaware of this ancient historical connection. The researches these European scholars being originally in French and Dutch language, the Indian scholars could only lately and gradually exploit these researches to know about their grand past.

The first thing that struck the researchers most was the similarity of name Kambuja with the ancient Kamboja of North West India. Ferrand was of the opinion that the name Kambuja was derived from the name of flower called Samboj which is now abundantly found in Cambodia. (JA., II, 1919, p 158). But Dr. Sylvain Levi has shown that this flower Samboj is exotic to Cambodia. It was only brought to Cambodia during 14/15c AD from central America. This flower, actually called Plumeria acutifolia, is native to Central America. So this view was unacceptable and was soon dropped. (Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian in India, p 121 by S. Levi).

But Dr. S. Levi had suggested that the name Kambuja used for that part of Indo-china may be the corruption of the Sanskrit name ‘Shri-vijaya’. According to Dr Levi, the Sri Lankan and Tibetan writers later changed this Kambuj to Kamboj.. (op cit). But this view was also rejected in its entirety by other scholars.

Since the time the researches of 19th c revealed these cultural and historical relations of India with SE Asia, the scholars have come round to the view that the Indian people who had gone and settled in these far lands of SE Asia also took the names of the geographical regions from which they came from India. This is the reason we find names like Avanti, Gandhar, Varanasi, Ayudhya, Dravati, Kailash, Kusumpura, Mithila, Rajgriha, Utkal, Meru and Vaisali etc in legends and traditions of Java and Kambuja.

All these above names are taken after the people, Cities or the Janapadas of the then India. Thus, according to numerous scholars, it is reasonable to expect that the some clans of Kamboja who had also transplanted themselves in Indo China in 3/4c AD had carried the name from their Kamboja land and had lent it to the land they had colonized in Mekong valley.

Dr D. Spooner was the first to link the Kambuja/Kambodia name with the Kamboja people living on the north-west frontiers of India in ancient times. “May I not also surmise that the name Kambodia seems reminiscent of the Persian border land Kamboja people” (JRAS., 1915, p 447).

But the question which bothered the scholars in the case of all these names of North-west Indian regions including Gandhar and Kamboja for long time was the following:
“Do these geographical names of northern India indeed represent some historical and political connection of north-west Kambojas with Indo-china Kambuja? Or else, do they merely represent the ‘religious Sanskritization’ of these north-west names for some regions in Indo China, as few writers from Tamilnadu tend to think”?

Of course, we know that there are certain names like Ayudhya, Varanasi, Vaisali, Mithila, Kusumpura etc in Indo-China, which might have been named after the ‘religious cities’ or ‘sacred/holi places’ of the parental India, through the process one can call Sanskritization of these names. But what about Gandhara, Romdasha, Kamboja, Kabul and Peshawar lands of north-west India???????? These lands have always been unsparingly branded as the LANDS OF THE MLECHCHAS, DEGRADED PEOPLE. And its people have been unsparingly addressed as Mlechchas, Barbarians, Sudras or a Degraded People simply because they had stopped consulting the Brahminas and had ceased to follow the Vedic Hindu religion. Just see these examples from Mahabharata and Manusmriti respectively:

KAMBOJAS, YAVANAS, SAKAS ETC DECLARED AS MLECHCHA TRIBES BY ARYAVARTAN CLERGY.

EXAMPLE 1
Brahmanah yam parshansanti purush: ma parvadhartai:
Brahmanarya: prakrishat: Prabhuyaat kshanadhy Sa:
Saka-Yavana-KAMBOJAstasta: Kasatrya Jatyah:
Vrishaltam parigta brahmanahnamdrashnaat (MBH 13/33/20-22)

EXAMPLE 2
Uttarapatha-janmanh: Kirtayishyami tan api:
Yauna KAMBOJA Gandhara: Kirata: Barbaraih saha:
Aitey Paapkrittastaat charint prithvimimmam:
Shavpakbalgridharnhanm sadharmanho naradhip: MBH 12/207/43-44)

EXAMPLE 3
Shankaistu kiryalopad emah: Kasatrya jatyah: I
Vrishalatam gata lokai brahamanahdarshnayan ch II:
Paundarka-chodr-dravida: KAMBOJA Yavana Saka: I
Parda: Pahlava China: Kirata darda: Khasha II (Manusmariti 10/43-44)

Just because these tribes from north had started following the Buddhist way of life and had started consulting the Buddhist Srahmanas and neglecting the Vedic Brahmanas that the Madhyadesha people had started calling these Kamboja, Saka, Yavana, Parthian etc Kashatrya tribes as Mlechchas or Degraded Kashatryas, or the Fallen People. Not only this, even the great reformer Gautama Buddha and his Buddhist Bhikshus were also similarily branded as mlechchas by the Vedic Hindu clergy (Ref MBH III, 190, 65, MBH III, 190, 67). Adiparava of Mahabharata by implications refers to great Indian king Asoka as the incarnation of Mahasura or great DEMON (Ref: I, 67, 13-14. cf also MBH XII, 5, 7, where Asoka is mentioned as Satadhanava or great Demon ).

Apparently, around 2nd/1c BC, all these north-western tribes had thus become an out-caste people, to be despised at, to be shunned away and to be looked down upon by the conservative clergy of Madhyadesha (land of Aryavarta or Brahma varta). There was no love lost between these people of north India and that of the Madhyadesha around the turn of AD. Everything north-western or connected with north-west people was unsparingly played down. So there was no reason these Uttarapatha Mlechcha names like Gandhara, Romdasha, Kamboja, Kabul and Peshawer could ever find a RESPECTABLE mention in these far flung lands of Indo-China, unless, of course, the settlers themselves hailed from those geographical areas of Uttarapatha. and named these territories after the names of the land they had left behind. (Cf: Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country, 1981, p 358, by Dr Jiya Lal).

***********************************************************************************
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
How badly the people of the entire Uttarapatha including those from Punjab were regarded by the rest of Indians is very much clear from several shlokas of Mahabharata ( MBH 8/40/2-40, 44, 6-44, 45, 5-38). These shlokas contain severest indictments of the social customs and practices of all people of north-west including Kambojas, Sakas, Yavnas, Pardas etc and those living in the land of five rivers (Punjab). References are especially made to general immorality and laxity of its people concerning food, men and women. The impure practices of the women of the region in matter of sex are unreservedly mentioned and elaborated by Vatsyana (11,5,25). Yavnas and Kambojas have been unsparingly degraded as fierce Barbaric tribes of Uttarapatha. (MBH 6/9/65). Yavanas Gandharas, Kambojas and Sakas, together, are reckoned among the sinful people having the nature of Svapakas and vultures (MBH 12/207/43-44). Abhiras (Ahirs) are degraded as sinful and very greedy/mean people (MBH 16/7/47-9). The countries of Arttas (modern Aroras), the Kaskers (Khokhars) etc are also unilaterally declared as the forbidden lands.(ref: Baudhayan Dharama Sutra, 1/1/2/15). The customs of Madras (upper Punajb) are despised at, stating that these uncivilized people mourned the deaths of their dear ones under influence of liquor. (MBH 8/40/27). These Madras are also described as the people who would often feel no scruples to betray their friends. "Amongst the Madrakas, all acts of friendship are lost……". Similarily, some shlokas of Mahabharata also use very unacceptable language for the ancient Jartika (modern Jat tribe?) and treat them also as a degraded tribe. In the earlier Vedic times, the Gandharah people were looked down upon as highly despised or hateful people. But during later epic times, the angle of vision of the priestly class of Madhyadesha (mid India) changed and Gandharah land became a resort of scholars of all classes who would flock to its capital for philosophical instructions in three Vedas and 18 branches of knowledge". Yet around the turn of century, the same Gandhara people were again included in the list of un-approved, non-Aryan or Mlechcha tribes as is clear from the above shloka of Mahabharata: (Ref: Political History of Ancient India 1996 page 55 by Dr. H. C. Chaudhury, Comprehensive History Of ancient India, 1957, p 472/473, Dr K. A. Nilkanta Sastri).


It has to be noted here that all these Artta, Jartaka, Madraka, Gandhara etc tribes, like the Kambojas, are stated to form a respectable Kashatryas tribes of the Epic era (ref: Op Cit 127; MBH chapter 7/112/43-44)..


FORBIDDEN PROFESSIONS AND THE PEOPLE OF UTTARAPATHA INCLUDING KAMBOJAS:

Acharya Baudhyana (1/1/2/4) has listed certain professions practiced by the people of Uttarapathas (Northerners) which according to him were the BASIC REASON behind their degradation and fall from Kasatryahood. The chief professions mentioned by Baudhayana are (1)Wool trade, (Uranah vikarya), (2)Madpan (drinking), (3)Trade of Horses/Ponies etc (Ubhayatovadhbhyvarvihar) , (4) setting up of Shastropjivi/Ayudhajivi republics,(Ayudhiyaka) and (5)Samudrayatra (samudarsanyanam) i.e traveling overseas.

EXAMPLE
Athotart Uranah vikarya Madpan Shidhupan mubhayatodadbhyvarvihar
Ayudhiyak amudrayatra: (Baudhyana Dharamasutra 1/1/2/4).

It is extremely interesting to note that ALL THE ABOVE STATED FORBIDDEN PROFESSIONS mentioned by Acharya Baudhyana very well apply to the northerners including Kambojas, Sakas, Gandharas, Madras etc …i.e. the people who have been described to be the inhabitants of Uttarapatha. For example:

(1)WOOL TRADE AND UTTARAPATHIANS: “Yaska in his Nirukuta (2/2) call the Kambojas as Kambhal Bhojas (Kamboja Kambhal Bhojas Kamniya Bhojas Kambhalaa Kamaniyo bhavri i.e the Kambojas loved to make use of woolen blankets ( as the blankets wool was beautiful thing to wear)”
“Yonas and Kambujas lived quite close to each other in the Kabul valley, (although some authors would place them further north in Kashmir) in a cold mountainous country, using furs and wool garments, living, as a lot of Afghans still do, from agriculture, horse trading and the manufacture of weapons” .(Dr Serge Thion, France) .
“Quite in keeping with Kambojas's association with Gandharah, is the love of Kambojas for woolen blankets (Kambhals) to which Yasaka (11. 2/2) bears testimony"( Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Political History of Ancient India 1996, 132 fn).
"Kambojas people were not only famous for their furs and skins embroidered with threads of gold, their woolen blankets, their wonderful horses……..." (Hindu World, 520, by Benjamin Walker).
“In India, people have been using wool since prehistoric times. There is a prayer in Rigveda for the deity of shepherds, called 'Pashma', entreating the deity to make wool white and help in its knitting. In Mahabharata, it has been mentioned that when Pandavas performed 'Rajsuya Yagna', Yuddhisthir was presented woollen clothes having golden embroidery by Kambojs i.e. the people of Badakhan and Pameer” (Central Sheep and Wool research Institute, Article-2, by H. K. Devsare). [i.e This proves KAMBOJAS AS WOOL TRADERS]

(2)CONSUMPTION OF MEAT/ALCOHAL AMONG UTTARAPATHIANS:
There are references to Kambojas, Sakas, Yavans tribes etc consuming meat and hard liquor. And therefore, these tribes have been reckoned among the sinful people having the nature of Svapakas/Chandala and vultures (MBH 12/207/43-44). This was because of their meat eating and alcohal consumption habits. There is also a reference in the ancient literature (Abhidhanaratanamala) to the importation of ‘Kapisayana wine’ manufactured in Kapisha/Kamboja .( History and culture of Indian People, Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 405, Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalka). [i.e. this proves KAMBOJAS AS ALCOHALIC/MEAT CONSUMERS]

(3)HORSE TRADE AND PEOPLE OF UTTARAPATHA:
There are plenty of evidence and historical documentation revealing that the northerners, especially the Kambojas were known for finest breed of their horses (and /ponies).
(a)The Kamboja Country has been described in Buddhist and Sanskrit literature as the ‘Home of the Horses’ [i.e. Kambojo Assanam-Ayatanam=i.e. Kamboja ashvon ka ghar= i.e. Kamboja is the home of horses: see ref: Dictionary of Proper Pali Names (DPPN), I, 526, Mahabharata VI..90.3; see Sumanglavilasin, p Vol I, p 121; For further reference see: Visudhibhaga, Manorathpurni, Kunala Jataka…all Buddhist Canons. ].
(b) Kunala Jataka also details about the methods adopted by the Kamboj people to catch, domesticate and train the wild horses for best military purposes (Kunala Jataka, Vol V, p 446).
(c)The Buddhist literature further talks about the well trained Kamboja ponies (ref: Champaya Jataka). (d)Kautalya Arathshastra states that the horses from Kamboja, Sindhu, Bahlika, Artta, Vanayu , Sursena and Punjab are the best variety and but those from the Kamboja are the best of all (ref: shloka 11.30, Kautalya Arathshastra).
(e)Ramayana (Bala Kanda, Chapter 6) states “the best horses born and brought from countries like Kaambhoja, Baahlika, Vanaayu and Indus Valley. These horses equaled Ucchaisrava, the horse belonging to Indra, the Lord of Heavens in speed and power”.
kaambhojavishhaye jaatairbaahlikaishcha hayottamaiH |
vanaayujairnadiijaihshcha puurNaa harihayottamaiH || (Ramayana I-6-22).

From the notices made above, it is clear that the northern tribes including the Kambojas were well known people in vocation of horse raising, breeding and trading. In MBH, Kambojas have especially been styled as Ashava-yudh-kushlah also.
Tatha yavana-Kamboja Mathurambhitashach ye/ Ite ashvayudhkushlah dakshinatyaasycharmin:// (MBH 12/10/5).
“……Kambojas were famous for their horses and a cavalry-men (Ashava-yudh-kushlah) Ashvkas horsemen was the term popularly applied to them” (ref: Hindu Polity, A Constitutional History of Hindu Times, part I & II, p 140, Dr K. P. Jayswal)
Thus, the northerners including the Kambojas were also despised by the Aryavartans because of their horse raising/trading professions [i.e. this proves KAMBOJAS AS HORSE/RAISERS/TRADERS]

(4)SHASTRAOPAJIVI/AYUDHJIVI SANGHAS OR REPUBLICS & UTTARAPATHIANS::
According to Kautalya Arathshastra (11/1/4), Vrahamihira’s Brahtasmhiti (5/35 ), Mahabharata and Panini etc the Kamboja country was a land of Shastropajivi or Ayudhjivi republican people. examples

Kambhoja-Suarashtra-Kasatrya-shrenyadhyo-varta-shaster-opajivini: Kautalya Arathsastra (11/1/4).

Panchal –Kaling-Shursen: Kamboj-Odra-Kirat-varta-shastra-varta: (Brahta Samhita 5/35)

Narayanashach gopala: Kambojaan cha ye ganahas: (MBH 7/91/39).
Kambojas…yamvaisharvanhopmah (MBH 7/23/45)

According to Dr Romila Thapar, the main reason for earning a degraded status by the northerners including the Kambojas, Sakas and Yavanas was because of the evolution of Republican System of constitution among these tribes. Evidence:

Says Dr Thapar: “As is more likely, the republics were parting company with Vedic orthodoxy; this trend is also apparent from at least one brahmanical source, which describes certain republican tribes (Kambojas, Yavanas, Sakas… ) as degenerate Kasatryas and even Sudras, because they had ceased to honour the brahmanas and observe Vedic rituals (Dr R. Thasppar, History of India, Vol I, p 51).[i.e. this proves KAMBOJAS AS REPUBLICANS & VARTA-SHASTROPAJIVI SANGHAS]

(5)OVERSEAS TRAVELLING AND THE UTTARAPATHIANS:
Pali literature contains hints and clue about the Kambojas being well-known sea farers [ref: Buddhist Sasanvamsa (Pali Text Society), p 40, 49, 100, Trans Dr B. C. Law; Also ref: Kasatrya Tribes of Ancient India, p 249-250]. The Kambojas, Saka, Gandhara , Yuchih and other northerners did not care about these arbitrary restrictions imposed by the conservative Brahmanaical clergy regarding crossing the sea or traveling overseas. Sri Lankan cave Inscriptions of 3rd c BC (Dr S. Paranavatana), amply prove that Kambojas of Uttarapatha had already reached Sri Lanka around 4th/3rd c BC. [i.e. this proves the KAMBOJAS AS ANVENTUROUS SEA-FARES]

BESIDES THE FIVE ABOVE PROFESSIONS CONSPICOUSLY LISTED AS MLECHCHAS BY BAUDHYANA DHARAMSUTRA (1/1/2/4), the other important reason as to why the Kambojas,Yavanas of Uttarapatha were regarded as Mlechchas by Brahmanical India was the fact that these Uttarapathan countries like Kamboja , Yavanas etc observed only two varnas (Master and Slaves….Arya and dasa) instead of chatur (four) varnas (Brahmana, Kasatrya, Vaisya and Sudra) prevalent in the Aryavarta (Madhyadesha).
Assalayana Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya also testifies to the presence of two varnas in Kamboj country, saying that the country of Kambojs and Yavanas (Greeks) and some other border lands, there existed only two classes of people viz Aryas (nobles, lords) and Dasa (serfs, slaves). The Dasa could become lord and lord could become Dasa. E.g.

Yona-Kambojesu a– – esuca paccantimesu janapadesu
dve’va vaö ö a ayyo c’eva da so ca
ayyo hutva daso hoti, da so hutva ayyo hotiDasavya mucceya
………………………………………………………………………………..
Ettha…… Bra hmananam kiµ balaµ ko assa so yad ettha bra hmana evam a hamsu:
Bra hmana ’va settho vanno, h´ no a– – o vaö ö o……bramada ya da ti (Majjhima Nikaya, II, 149)

In Kamboja society, an Arya ( Lord ) could easily lose his status and could fall to the status of a Dasa (Slave) where as the Slave, by hard work, intelligence and dedication, could achieve the status of the Lord or the Arya. This shows that the laws of caste system were not very rigid in Kamboja and Yavana countries.

This aspect of Kamboja/Yavana social set-up was not at all liked by the Madhyadesha clergy. This was another main reason as to why the customs of the Kambojas and Yavnas were hated and despised by the Aryavartan priestly class. And we can easily understand as to why these tribes later started to be regarded as ‘degraded people’ or ‘fallen people’ or ‘Mlechchas’ by this Madhyadesha priestly class.
The north-west India being constantly exposed to nomadic tribes of central Asia could not keep pace with rest of Aryan society. The class-division laws in Kamboja/Yavanas etc were not as rigid as in rest of Aryan India. The Brahmanical clergy was upset at this, as according them, this two varrna custom violated the Vedic Aryan code of social/religious conduct. This was another reason as to why the Sanskrit writers were hateful of the north-westerner Kambojas, Yavanas, Sakas and some other races.

[Cf: “….In those parts of the country (ancient India) where the development of caste rules could not keep pace with that of upper Gangetic region, or where the conditions of life compelled some relaxation of rules among Aryan conquerors, the intermingling of occupation among different non-brahmanical castes becomes more normal than exceptional. Thus we find from Kautalya Arathshastra that “the Kasatryas of Kamboja and Saurashtra and some other countries live by agriculture, trade and by wielding weapons” (B.K. XI.Ch 1) . (Ref: Origin & Growth of Caste in India Vol I, 1968, p 122, Dr N. K. Dutt).]

This obviously violated Acharya Manu’s rule which states that: “High caste should not follow the occupation of the low castes (Vaishya/Sudra). This violation was mainly responsible for earning a degraded statusfor the northerners including Kamboja, Saurashtra Kasatryas.

Yet another reason as to why these northern tribes including Kambojas, Yavnas etc had earned Mlechcha status was the fact that they had embraced Buddhism in large numbers. We get a proof for this from Ashoka’s Rock edicts XIII and V. Simplified Buddhism was the sworn enemy of the cumbersome Vedic rituals. Ashoka’s Inscriptions clearly attest to the conversion of Kambojas, Yavana etc to Buddhist religion. And this fact was despised by the Vedic Brahmanas. Hence the Brahmanical hatred for these tribes reflected in the Sanskrit literature composed during this period.

The examples given above give a fair idea of the attitude, mainly of the poets of western parts of the Madhyadesha towards most of the Janapadas or Mahajanapadas of the Northern India and their professions" (also Ref: Political History of Ancient India 1996, page 136 by Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee).

[Additionally, read also the following to know as to why the earst while Vedic Kamboja people of Uttarapatha started to be addressed as Mlechchas by the conservatives Madhyadesha Clergy

“……….We thus find Kambojas leading a very large powerful army to the battlefield of Kurukshetra and laying down their lives like valiant Kashatryas which they were. Afterwards it appears from the later sections of MBH, viz, Shantiparva and Anushasunaparva that their country had been overrun by barbarous hordes, so that the ancient Kashatrya population was overwhelmed and absorbed by the new-comers and we thus find Kambojas ranked with the Yavanas and looked upon as one of the barbarous peoples. Thus a verse in Shantiparava enumerates the Kambojas along with many peoples that were not included among the Indo-Aryan Society (MBH, Shantiparava, Chap 65, 14) and in another chapter, they are placed among the barbarous peoples of the uttarapatha or the northern region (MBH, Shantiparva, Chap 209, 34-44). The Anushasanparva speaks of the Kamboja Kashatryas, along with some other foreign tribes , as having been degraded to the ranks of Mlechchas for want of Brahmanas in their country:

Sakas Yavanas Kambojastastah Kashatrya jatyah:
Vrishalatvam parigata Brahmananamdarsayat. (MBH Anushasnaparva, chap 33, 21)

Also compare Mahabharata XII.207.43-44.

"All these passages show that the Kambojas in later times, no doubt, by admixture with barbarous hordes, were losing their Indo-Aryan culture and touch with Brahmananical society, and coming to be regarded as outside the Indo-Aryan social organization, when these two paravas or sections of Mahabharata were added…..”. [excerpts from: Some Kasatrya Tribes of Ancient India, p 247-48, Dr B. C. Law]
******************************************************************************

Let us now resume our main topic now:

THOUGHFUL QUESTION: It is very thoughtful question to ask if the names of Kambuja, Gandhara Romedesha, Taksila regions from the Uttarapatha were given to the territories in Farther India by way of simple Sanskritization of Indian names in the Farther Indian lands or else was there indeed a direct historical and political connection between these Uttarapathians Kambojas etc and the Kambujas of Mekong Basin?

If it was indeed a Sanskritization of names only, then why did the Brahmanical clergy of Indo-china chose the Mlechchas names to name the sacred lands of their Farther Indian colonies? There were other more respectable and better known Aryan names like Kuru, Panchal, Kosala,Kasi, Usinaras, Avanti, Videha, Ashmaka, Matasya, Vatsa, Surshena etc which were also more Vedic Aryan as well as non-degraded or less degraded lands in the Brahmanical sense. In naming a territory, it is common sense that the Brahmanical class in-charge of Sanskritization in the Farther India should have rather been tempted to name the territories after some ‘great and more respectable non-mlechcha Aryan names’ like I mentioned above than the Kamboja etc which name according their own calculations had become a mere Mlechcha name during this phase of Indian History. Can some scholar offer a fair and sensical explanation to my question?

FACT OF HISTORY:
It is hard fact of history that the very important mention of Kamboja, Gandhara, Romadesha, Taksila and Indraprastha Uttarapathan regions in the Java and Kambodia legends and traditions and anecdotes, undoubtedly points towards a historical and political rather than religious connection of people of Uttarapatha (including Kambojas) with the South Asian regions of Greater India . (Dr Jya Lal in Kambuja and the Kamboja People, op cit. p 358).

“Fair ground can therefore be claimed for the presumption that the leading position given to Kamboja. Gandhara, Taxila and Romadesha in Javan and kambodian legends and place names is a historical trace of an actual and direct historical and political connection between the north-west of India and the Malay Archepelago” (Bombay Gazetteer Vol I, Part I, p 491).

SOME KAMBODIAN LEGENDS:

There are numerous legends available in Java and Cambodia which partly shed light on the origin of these kingdoms in the remote past. The problem is that there are numerous versions of them available and ironically, the different historians have chosen the versions that best suit their preferences. Below are reproduced some versions of legends describing the origin of Kambuja kingdom.

(1). In Indraprastha, there was a king name Adityavarma . On some account he took offence with one of his son and sent him in exile. After ardous and long journey, the prince finally reached a country of Coke-Thloke (Kambuja or Kamboja of later times). The Indian prince waged a battle with Coke-Thloke prince and defeated him, and took away his kingdom.. On the sea coast, at sun set, the Indian prince met a Naga Apsra (nymph) and immediately married her. The Naga father of the Princess helped establish and expand the kingdom of the Indian prince and re-named the kingdom as Kambuja” (Artibus Asiae, Vol XXIV., p 253, by Dr B. R. Chatterjee; India and the World, p 154 by Dr Buddha Parkash).

(2). Sir James Fergusson has produced a Cambodian legend in the following words : ”Long time ago, a great and wise king ruled in the land of Romaveise (Romadesha=west Punjab) near Taxila (i.e Gandhara/Kamboja region). He became angry with one of his son named Phra-Thong who had made some mistake in his youth. After tough struggle, the young prince found himself established in the land far land of Indo-China and later named it as Kambuja” ( History of Indian and eastern Architecture p 665 by Sir James Fergusson).

(3). There is another traditional Cambodian dynastic legend preserved in an epigraphic inscription of 10th century AD, which states that the forefather of Khmer Cambodians was a sage (scholar) Svayambhava Kambu (or Kambuj or Kamboj), a learned Indian king from an Indian territory some where in north India. Shiva had presented Nymph Mera to Svayambhava Kambuj as his wife but unfortunately Mera soon died. King Svayambhava Kambuj was lonely and dejected and wandered over face of wide earth in inconsolable grief and finally came to an arid wasrte land that seemed to match a burnt out crater of his own heart. He entered a cave and found writhing many hooded Nagas (Snake people) swimming in the dark pools. "Who are you?", they asked. "I am Svayambhava Kambuj, a king of an Indian country". The Nagas asked Svayambhava the purpose of his visit. Svayambhava narrated the whole story. The Naga people begged king Svayambhava Kambu to stay with them onwards, which he did. And over the time, his grief assuaged and he also consented to marry the daughter of the Naga King. By their magic, the Nagas converted the desert land into flowing rivers and charming lakes so that the descendents (Kambuja=Kambu+Ja…Ja meaning descendents in Sanskrit) of Svayambhava Kambuj and the Naga princess could live in prosperity (This legend appears in the Ref: Les Estats Hindouises d'Indochine et d'Indonesie 1964 by Prof George Coedes …Translated as Indianized States of South-East 1964, page 66; The Pageant of Indian History Vol I 1948 by Gertrude, Emerson and Sen page 342-343).

SCHOLAR KING SWAYAMBHUVA KAMBU (KAMBOJ), FOUNDER OF KAMBUJA KINGDOM OF FARTHER INDIA.
This king Swayambhuva Kambu (or Kamboj) has been described as a SCHOLAR KING in the Cambodian/Kambuja legends and inscriptions. This fact is not surprising, but is rather very much revealing indeed! Besides their martial attributes and warlike characteristics, the ancient Kamboja people have also been especially noted for their learning and scholarship. Their homeland has been described as seat of philosophical and religious learning The reputed Kamboja sages and scholars (Aupanyava Kamboja of Vams Brahmana (1/18) of Samveda, and his father Upamanu,Kamboja of Rigveda 1/102/9, etc ) were noted teachers at Taxila University of ancient fame. (Ref: Mahabharata 7/112/43-44, Jabala quoted by Vidyadharacharya, Dr Benjamin Walker, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee, Dr A. D. Pusalkar, Dr S. B. Chaudhury, K. D. Sethna, Dr Jiya Lal, Dr A. A. Keath, Dr A. A., Mcdonnel , Dr Zimmer, Dr Ludwik, Dr B. C. Law, Mahabharata 7/112/43-44, Dr J. Muir, Dr Roth etc ). Further also, JABALA, as quoted by Vidhiadharacharya, clearly testifies to this fact and makes mention of a class of Kamboja teachers or Gurus (History and Culture of Indian People, Imperial Kanauj, p 323, Dr A. D. Pusalkar, Dr R. C. Majumdar). The above cited Sage Upamanyu Kamboja of the Rig Veda was the grand son of India’s two cultural heros…. sage Vashista and sage Agastya. Some other researchers also link the Kambojas with sage Kashyapa of the remote antiquity.

MAHABHARA ON KAMBOJA SCHOLARSHIP: In Mahabharta, all the Kamboja soldiers who took part in Mahabharta have been described as learned men and the scholars of Vedas i.e. Kritvidhyashach (MBH 7/112/43-44). See below:
ye tvete rathino rAjandR^ishyante kA~nchanadhvajAH .
ete durvAraNA nAma kAmbojA yadi te shrutAH .. 42..\
shUrAshcha kR^itavidyAshcha dhanurvede cha niShThitAH.
sa.nhatAshcha bhR^isha.n hyete anyonyasya hitaiShiNaH.(MBH 7/11/42-43)
BENJAMIN WALKER ON KAMBOJA SCHOLARSHIP:
"… Kamboja people were not only famous for their furs and skins embroiderd with threads of gold, their woolen blankets (Kambhals), their wonderful horses, and their beautiful women,….. but by the Epic period, they became especially renowned as Vedic scholars and their homeland as a seat of Brahmanical learning." (Ref Hindu World Vol I, by Benjamin Walker, cf Kasatry Tribes of Ancient India, p 231-232 Dr B. C. Law; Kamboja People and the Country 1978, p 202-208 by Dr. J. Lal Kamboj etc etc).

Therefore, the king Swayambhuva Kambu or Kambuj/Kamboja of the Kambodia legends and traditions was indeed a learned KAMBOJA prince from north/north-west India, who had ultimately founded the kingdom of KAMBUJA in Indo-china around 4/5th c AD.
HIGHLY RIDICLULOUS, ILLOGICAL & UNSCIENTIFIC SUPPOSITION: It is highly ridiculous, non-sensical and unscientific to identify a fictitious sages Hientu & Chia-chen-ju of the Chinese with some sage Kaundanya (Brahman) and have him married to she-snake Apsra and then conclude that the original Khmers were the descendents of this snake women and Kaundanya Brahmanas as some Southern and Bengalese writers have done. Modern is the age of logic and science. There is no place for Puranic style myths in the serious matters of history in this modern age. Myths do not make serious history. We must accept the stark truth of history that it was the learned Kamboja king Swayambhuva Kamboj, from Kamboja kingdome of north-west who finally made it in Indo-China and laid the foundation of Kamboja colony, which grew into a mighty Kambuja empire in later centuries.

DR BUDDHA PARKASH ON SAKAS, KUSHANS AND KAMBOJAS IN KAMBUJA:

“Around 357 Ad, a Kushan Prince had established himself in Funan. He was immediately followed by Sakas and other related tribes. It is conceivable that the Kambojas tribes from north-west India had also followed suite and joined them in Mekong valley and founded the Kamboja in Indo China” (India and the World, p 155 by Dr Buddha Parkash).

“As a result of Kabol valley occupation by Sassanian king Shahpuhra II, and the rise of Gupta power and the defeat of Kushans of north-west India at the hands of Samuder Gupta, around 4th century AD, an exodus of the Kushan, Kamboja and Saka tribes had occurred towards the Mekong Basin of south-east Asia. These tribes had settled there in large number and later one of their chiefs rose to power, usurped the throne of Funan and laid the foundations of Kamboj (or Kambuj……Kambodge of the French writers) empire. (Ref: India and the world 1964 p 71, 155 by Dr. Buddha Parkash)

TO BE CONTINUED……..

INDIAN KAMBOJA PRINCES RULED CAMBODIA (KAMBUJA) KINGDOM:

PART III (CONTD)
Let us resume our main topic again:

Dr P. C. BAGCHI ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
OR DID KAMBUJAS REACH KAMBODIA VIA LAND ROUTE BEHIND THE HIMALYAS?.
Dr P. C. Bagchi argues that the Kambojas from north-west India had reached Indo-China from behind the Himalayas. According to Dr P. C. Bagchi “Kambojas were a nomadic tribe of Central Asia. One of their branch had crossed Hindukush in ancient times and had spread into India from the Punjab, Rajasthan. They had so much mixed up, socially and culturally, with the local population that it is now very difficult to identify them from the rest of the populatio. It appears that another branch of these nomadic people had entered east Tibet and Mekong valley (Cambodia). With this assumption, we can straightway find the explanation as to why Mekong valley region of Indo-China was called Kambuja. We can also find the trace of their name in the Khambas province in east Tibet. Some of their clans moved further on and finally landed in the Mekong valley in Indo-China (Cambodia). Probably, from this very place, these people had also descended on east Bengal in 8/9 c AD and wrested north-east Bengal from the Pala kings. (India and Central Asia p 117 by Dr P. C. Bagchi).

PROFESSOR SPECHT ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
The architectural beauty and splendor of ancient temples, lakes and bridges of Kambuja is the legacy left to Khmer people by the Kamboja artisans of north-west India. The marked similarity between the Kabul valley (ancient Kamboj) and that of Kambuja architecture reminds us about the Chinese writers belonging to the Chinese dynasties of kings Haan (206 c AD) and Wai (386-556 c AD), who are known to have showered profuse compliments on the art and craft of these artisan from ancient Kamboja (Kipin, Kofend, Kambu, Kaofueu ) whose statuary and the carving skills on utensils of gold, silver, bronze and tin as well as on other objects of art is described as highly commendable. (Specht, JA., II., 1883, p 333, fn. 3). “We have documentary evidence about the ancient Kambojas being distinguished craftmen as well as excellent architects. We have one glaring example of Acyuta Kamboj, son of Vishnu Kamboj of Pehova Prasati of Kanauj who was from north-west Kamboja country. This Acyuta Kamboj is stated to be the embodiment of Vedic knowledge as also the true representative of the celebrated Vaid Dhnanvantri. He is further described as ‘unmatched’ in the architectural skills of his times”. (EI., Vol I., p 243). These facts about the Kambojas which are available in Indian Sanskrit literature match very well with the facts available from the works of Chinese writers about the same Kambojas as referred to above.

FINAL CONCLUSIONS OF SIR JAMES FERGUSSON:
Concludes celebrated Dr Sir James Fergusson: ‘ If it is true that the Indo-China Kambuja people had come from India, for which there are many reasons to believe so, then for sure, they had come, not from east coast of India as is assumed by some scholars, but rather, they had come via land route behind the Himalyans from the Kamboja Janapada located in North-west India.’ (Op Cit p 665, by James Fergusson; JCBRAS., Vol X, 1887, p 65)

DR. JYA LAL AND KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
The Kambujas of Kambodia were the Indian Kambojas from north-west India, who had reached Indo-China during 4th c AD via land route (not by sea route). Originally, the Kambuja country lied to north east of modern Cambodia, around Fat-hu hills, near Vassak, in the modern Laos country. The founder kings of Kambuja kingdom were Sarutavarman and his son Shreshatvarman. Originally Kambuja was a vassal State of Funan but in 6th c AD, during the rule of king Bhavavarman, Kambuja had thrown off the foreign yoke, and had become sovereign and finally it conquered the kingdom of Funan also. During the rule of Bhavavarman and his two successors princes Mohendravarmana and Ishanvarman, Kambuja expanded considerably and had become a dominant power in Indo-China. (Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country 1981 by Jya Lal p 364).

Dr SATRYAVERTA SASTRI OF DELHI UNIVERSITY ON KAMBOJAS/KAMBUJAS:
In a foreword to ‘Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country’ authored by Dr Jiya Lal, Dr Satyavarta Sastri has observed that it were the ancient Kambojas of Uttarapatha who had migrated to Mekong Valley in Indochina and had established the anbcinet Kambuja empire in that part of the world.

S. S. S. SHERGILL ON KAMBOJAS/KAMBUJAS:
In his well known book ‘Jat Tribes and Zira’ Sh Shergill has accepted that it were the northern Kambojas who had founded the kingdom of Kambuja in Indo-China. (Jat Tribes and Zira, 1992, p 138-140, (by S. S. Shergill).
Dr JASPAL KAUR PUNJAB I UNIVERSITY PATIALA: Dr Kirpal Kaur is senior research professor at Punjabi University of Patiala, Punjab, India. I have recently learnt that she is conducting research classes on Kamboj history leading to Ph. D degree in History. Currently her the topic of research on Kamboja History is titled “Ethno-Historical Studies of the Kambojas”. I have not personally read any of her researches so far. But the other day I had read one of her essay on Kambojas which was published in a Kamboj souvinir megazine called Kamboj Heritage Chetna Munch. Following is a brief statement which she has made on the Kamboj & Kambuja People in her short essay.
“….It is generall belived that like other tribes ogf the Uttarapatha or north-west India, the Kambojas of Pamir/Badakshan had gradually started migrating to different parts of India and even beyond to Sri Lanka and Cambodia. One of group the Kambojas also advanced to east India and established a kingdom in North Bengal around middle of 10th c AD……” .
Thus this research professor also seems to link the north-west Kambojas with the Khmer-Kambuja of Indo China.

K. S. DARDI ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
In 4/5c AD, a section of Kamboj people from Kamboja lands located in Afghanistan/Central Asia went towards what is now known as Cambodia or Kampuchia and set up their colony in the Mekong basin in Indo-China. Later their descendents…the aggressive chiefs, Bhavaverma and Chitter Sen (Tehe-to-sseu-na of the Chinese) of Chenla laid the foundations of a great Kambuja Empire in SE Asia, in about 530 AD. According to Chinese chronicles, this Chenla (also called Kampuchia or Kambuja ref: Indianized States of South-East 1964 by Prof G Coedes) was located to South-East of Lin-Yi and the Vamsa of its kings has been described as Cha-li which means ‘Kasatrya’ in Chinese. Numerous historians now are of the view that the Indian Kambojas from north-west India had out-migrated to Farther India in the first few centuries after Christian era and had first setup a small principality of Chenla or Kambuja or Kampuchea which remained for quite some time a vassal state of Funan which kingdom un till then was ruled by the descendents of a Brahmin Kaundinya sage. (These Kamboj People, 1980 by K. S. Dardi)

Dr D. C. SIRCAR ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
“Among the Hindu settlements (of Indo-China), one was that of the Hindu Kambojas from North India. The ancient name of Cambodia (i.e. Kambuja) is derived from the name of the Kamboja people living on north-west frontiers of India" (Ref: Karanata contribution to spread of Indianism in South-East Asia…An article by Dr. D. C. Sircar in the book studies in Asian History).

Dr RADHA KUMUDH ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
"…….The Indian people from most famous regions like Kamboja, Gandhare, Kalinga, Dasrana, Malhana, Sri Kshetra and Ayudhya had transplanted themselves across the seas in the Farther India, around the start of Christian era" says Dr. R. K. Mukerjee in his book Culture and Art of India 1959, page 221.

PROFESSOR SUDARSHAN TIWARI ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
See below what Prof Sudarshan Tiwari observes about the Kambojas in reference to the Upnayna Sanskar shlokas of Manusmriti:

Manusmiriti X-43-44 tells us:

Shanaikstu kiryalopadhima: kashatrya jatyas:
Vryshtavnagalokey brahuminadarshanayan:
Paundaraka Choda Dravida Kamboja Yavana:
Saka Parda Pahlva China Kirata Darda Khash: (Manu Smriti X-43-44).

Prof Tiwari’s comments on above:
“…………….The Sakas were the tribes according to legend on contest between Vashista and Vishwamitra of epics. According to Manusmriti, X, 43-44, they, along with Paundarkaas, Ordas (who were called Andhras in Indian History), Dravidas, Kambojas (the Verma Kamboja kings who later ruled in Cambodia), yavanas, Pardas, pahlvas (the Verma kings of Mammalapuram), China (Chin rulers of China?), Kiratas (the rulers of Nepal Mountains), Dardas and Khasa were regarded as Vartya Kashetryas (Kalluka’s comments). ……….”

Thus Prof Tiwari relates the Verma kings (i.e. the Kambujas) of Cambodia to be from the ancient Kambojas (from Northern India) as mentioned in our numerous Sanskrit texts including Manusmriti, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Kautalya, Puranas, Ashatadhaye etc. It has to born in mind that Varman was a surname that has been used by several ancient Kamboja kings from north-west of India also [ (e.g. Kamboja king Chander Varman (MBH1/67/31-32), Kamboja king Yasho Varman (Rath Saptami)].

WELL KKNOWN JOURNALIST AND HISTORIAN R. R. RAO ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
Here are the views from a well known journalist and historian, Rama Chander Rao, from Andhara Pardesh about the Kambuja kingdom of Indo China:

“Kambhojas are anciently mentioned to live in the region of Punjab and there is an echo of a migration to somewhere on the Godavari. Later from there, the seafarers and adventurers Kambhojas gave their name to a region of southeast Asia --Kampuchea or Cambodia”.

V. D. MAHAJAN ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
"Rudravervan was the last king of Funan empire……around 513-539, Funan was vanquished by the Kambodge (Kambuja) people which had been a vassal state of Funan kingdom……" (Ref: Ancient India 1974 page 637 by V. D. Mahajan). Professor G. Coedes, a French researcher, who spent about 50 years researching on Cambodian history and culture, and who is considered an unchallengeable authority on Kambodge history and culture observes: "……..The Kambujas, the heirs of ancient Cambodia are possibly related to the Iranian Kambojas" living on the north-west frontiers of India ( Indianized States of South-East 1964 page 47 by Prof G. Coedes).

C. D. NARASIMIHAIAH ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
Dr C. D. Narasimihaiah opines that the name "Cambodia is definitely named after the Kambojas of Gandhare (Afghanistan), which country had formed an important part of Aryan India in ancient times".

JWAHAR LAL ON KAMUJA PEOPLE:
Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India also expresses similar opinions in his famous book "…..This Cambodia, as is known today, was called Kamboja which was a well known town in Ancient Gandhare or Kabul valley" (Ref: Discovery of India 1947 page 162 by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru.

K. M. PANIKAR ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:

"People of Kambodge are of Indian origin, who reached Mekong basin via Takola Mart of Malaya", says K. M. Panikar (Ref: Studies in Indian History by K. M. Panikar p-42)

SOME FURTHER COMMENTS ON INDO-CHINESE KAMBUJA:
As has been established by the scholars, the Kambojas were a nomadic tribe from Central Asia. They were living across the Oxus river before 4/5 c BC. Their country has been variously called by foreigners (Greeak classical writers, Ptolemy, Ammionus Marcellinus, Makidisi, as well as Moslem/Arab writers) as Kumuda, Komdei, Komdesh, Kamdesh, Kumija, Kambothi, Kambyson or Kambuson etc. The same name appears as Kapisha and Kamboja in India’s Sanskrit and Pali religious texts. The Tathagata Sutra of the Ratnakuta collection, a Buddist text (Chinese recension) calls Kamboja as Kieu-feu. The Tibetan version of this Buddhist text ( Pag Sham Jon Zang) translates the same Kamboja as Kampoche or Kampotes. In Burmese Chronicles, the same name appears as Kampuchih or Kampichih. In some Chinese chronicles the same name appears as Kaofu or Kambu. Geographically, this country lied partly in what is today’s Tajikstan and partly in southern Turkestan. It included trans-oxian territories like Sogdiana, Fargana and Pamirs. The Saka tribes were located on the other side of Jaxartes (Syr) river, where as the Kamboja tribes were located in the Doab of Oxus and Jaxartes rivers and Pamirs/Badakshan.

Over the time, one branch of these Kamboja nomads crossed Hindukush and entered northern India. Yet another branch had entered Tibet and proceeded towards Tibet/Assam. As stated above Tibetean religious text Pag-Sham-Jon-Zang specifically mentions a Kamboja country (called Kampotes as well as Kampoche in Tibetan language) located somewhere between Bengal and North Burma. And according to information provided to us by Harvey, there was a Kamboja prinipality on north and north-east of Mountain Lushai. The Khamba state of Tibet still carries the relic of Kamboja name in it. This Khamba is located in the east of Tibet. By the start of AD, these Tibetean Kamboja people had founded a Kamboja principality some where in between Assam and Burma. Interestingly, Brahma Purana (53/16) also locates one Kamboja colony in east India around Assam/Burma and Tamarlipiti in Bengal. (Ref: New light on History of Bengal, IHQ., Vol. XV-4, 1939, p. 511; The Dynstic History of Northern India, I, p 309 by Dr. H. C. Ray). According to Dr R. C. Majumdar and Dr B. R. Chatterjee, there were Yunnan and Szechwan countries in the north of Burma. There was also one Indian colony named Gandhara adjoining this Yunnan territory. (Ref: Campa, p. xiv., Dr R. C. Majumdar; Indian Cultural Influence in Cambodia, pp 278-79 by Dr. B. R. Chatterjee).
“There was also a Yonaka in Northern Thailand, and Michael Vickery in his thesis (Phd Thesis, Yale University, U.S.A.) has shown that 'Kamboja' has been used by the Burmese and the Thai chronicles to name regions which were not at all in the Khmer realm (p. 375)” (Dr Serge Thion, (France), No 20, Yunan Thai Project newsletter March 1993, Department of Anthropolgy, Reasearch School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, Australia).

The above mentioned Kampoche or Kampotes country of the Tibetean religious texts was in fact, a Kamboja principality set up by one section of the Central Asian Kambojas in this area, in the neighborhood of above stated colonies of the Gandhara and Yunnan (or Yavana) people. This is very much understandable historically since Gandharas, Kambojas and Yavanas were all described as neighboring people in the north-west India also.(ref: Ashoka’s Rock Edicts V, XIII Yona-Kamboja-Gandharam; MBH XII., 207.43; Anguttara Nikaya., P.T.S., I 213; 4, 252, 266, 261). This Kamboja country has been referred to in Jabala also (Ref: Stories of Gurus as quoted Vidyadharacharya in ‘JABALA’; History and Culture of Indian People Vol IV, Imperial Kanauj, 1964, p 323, by Dr R. C. Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar; Critical Study of the Geographical data in the early Puranas, p 168 by Dr. M. R. Singh, Some Tantric Texts Studied in ancient Kambuja, Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol IV, No 1, 1930-3 pp 97-103 by Dr . P. C. Bagchi ; Ancient Kamboja, People and the Country , 1981, p 328 by Dr Jya Lal etc).

It is further interesting to note that according to Nepalese traditions, the name Kambojadesh applies to Tibet. (Ref: Nepalese Pandit B. H. Hodson; Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit ,(MSS no 7763 and 7777); Iconographie bouddhique p 134; Early History Of India p 184 by Dr V. A. Smith, History of Bengal, I 191, Distt Gazeteer (Rajashahi), 1915, p 26, Some Historical aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, p 342, by Dr. B. C. Sen etc ). Dr Gokhale also supposes that name Kamboja desha applied to Tibet(Ancient India 1952 by Dr G. G. Gokhale). Dr Charles Eliot aalso Considers Kamboja people living in some parts of Tibet (Hinduism and Buddhism Vol I, p 268 by Dr Charles Eliot ). Dr R. R. Diwarkar has also accepted the Kambojas as having been living in Tibet. He states: “….In ancient times, The Kambojas are known to have been living in north-west India, but in this period, they are known to have been living in north-east India, and most probably it was meant Tibet.” (Bihar Through the ages, G. Ed R. R. Diwarkar, 1958, p 312).

From above, it becomes very clear the certain branch of central Asian Kambojas had entered Tibet and later, further spread on towards Lushai Mountan, where they had set up another Kamboja principality somewhere in east India around the start of AD era. As said above, this is the country to which Brahma Puran (53/16) specifically makes reference to (A Critical Study of the Geographical Data in the Early Puranas, p 168 by Dr M. R. Singh).

According to many scholars , one section of these north-east Kamboja people had further outmigrated to Mekong valley around 4/5 c AD and had set up a small Kamboja principality named Chenla in the Indo China around 4/5th c AD. For 200 years, Chenla remained a vassal state of Funan but around 7t c AD, Chenla asserted its authority under the leadership of their ruler Chitera Sen (Tehe-to-sseu-na of the Chinese). The empire was named Kambuja or Kamboja after the tribal name of the Ruling Chenla family. From thence onwards, Kambujasmade great strides in poltical arena and expanded their considerably. Yet, another section of these east Indian Kamboja people later descended on East Bengal around 9/10c AD, wrested East Bengal from the Pala kings and had set up a powerful Pala Kamboja empire in East Bengal. (India and Central Asia, p 25, Dr P. C. Bagchi, India and the World p 154 by Dr Buddha Parkash, History if Indian and Eastern Architecture, p 665 by Sir James Fergusson).

PROF G COEDES ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:
The tragedy of Indian history is that the Indian historians have been simply swayed by emotions and provincial interests in writing the history of Greater India. Distinguished French professor, George Coedes, an authority on Kambodge culture and history, rightly observes:

"Whence came the Indians who emigrated to Farther India, and where did they embark from? Much research has been done on this subject. Undoubtedly, those who are most concerned and involved in this research, the Indian historians, have not always approached it with the desired objectivity: if these historians were natives of Madras, they attributed the honor of having colonized "Greater India" to the Tamils: if they were from Calcuta, they attributed it to the Bengalese……".

Personally, the distinguished researcher, who has spent 50 long years arduously studying and deciphering archaeological records, chronicles and epigraphies of Kambodian kings, has finally inclined to connect the Kambodian kings of Indo China to the Iranian Kambojas from the Northern -West frontiers (CENTRAL ASIA) regions of India (Ref: Indianized States of South-East 1964, page 47. The distinguihed Prof has also quoted from: A current Tradition among the Kambojas of North-India relating to the Khmers of Cambodia" AA, XXIV (1961), Page 253 by Dr B. R. Chatterjee. Also ref to The Kamboja People and the Country 1979 by Dr. J. L. Kamboj).

In 530 AD prince Chiter Sen of Chenla (Kambuja), a descendent of the Kamer Kamboja tribe vanquished Funan and laid the foundations of the great Kamboja Empire in SE Asia. Some scholars believe that the Kambojas who first settled in Chenla (or Kambodge Desha) were the Pamir/Badakshan (i.e. Iranian) Kambojas As quoted above, the venerable Professor George Coedes after 50 years of long and arduous research seems to have finally related the heirs of Funan to the IRANIAN KAMBOJAS people (ref: op cit page 47). And he further observes that “ the discovery of Oc Eo in western Cochine China and of an intaglio representing a libation to fire, and of cabochon with a Sassnid effigy, have all furnished very tangible proof of Funan's relations with Iranian world, and hence a possible Iranian origin of the Kambujas kings of the Kambodia”.


SOME OTHER COMMENTATORS ON KAMBUJA PEOPLE:

“Till 10th c AD, Kamboja retained its power as great empire in Indo-China. The study of Indian literature was a special feature of the religious life of colonial kingdoms, and Puranic religion had a strong hold on almost all these colonies in south-east Asia.
Sailendra seem to have exercised supremacy over the Kamboja in 8th c AD, but both the Kamboja and Java threw off their yoke soon afterwards and from then onwards, Kamboj retained its position as great power in south-east asia” ( Outline History of Indian People, p 50, H. R. Ghosal, 1962).

“Indians were avid travelers and they settled in distant lands. The Cholas encouraged and organized expeditions through which the religion and culture of the land was carried beyond India's borders. The ancient name for Java is Yava Dvipa, the Island of Millet - the Indian word for millet is Java. Cambodia was once called Kambhoja, named after the Indian city near ancient Gandhara in today's Kabul region”.
(History of India by Anand Srinivasan)

“The name Cambodia was derived from the Sanskrit term Kamboja Ancient India's Contribution to Sports and Games” (Indian contributions to Arts and Culture by Sudheer Kumar}

“The country that is known as Cambodia today was known earlier as Kambuja on the name of the great man Kambu. Kambu had initially been a learned Indian king who led a campaign, an expedition of victory of direction ( digvijaya ) in the East and entered an area having jungles that was being ruled by a Naga-worshipper ( Snake-worshipper ) king. Defeating him he married his daughter and developed that area. The beginning of the Kambuja empire can be traced to emperor Shrutavarma of Kaliyuga's 32nd century ( i.e. the 1st century A.D. ). Shrutavarma and his descendant kings carried aloft the flag of Sanatan ( Hindu ) Dharma and culture in the Kambuja empire. Later, from Kaliyuga's 38th to 46th ( i.e. 7th to 15th A.D. ) centuries the kings of Shailendra dynasty ruled over Kambuja. “(another commentator)

RENOWNED KAMBOJA KINGS OF KAMBUJA:
Kambodia produced many famous Kamboja kings like Bhavavarman, Mohenderavarman, Ishanvarman, Jay Verman I (identified with Kambojaraja Sujita Kamboja of Ligor of the Pali chronicles' (Chiangmai) by Prof Gorege Coedes), Jay Verman II, Jay Verman III, Inder Verman, Yaso Verman, Harsh Verman I, Isana Verman II, Jay Verman IV, Harsh Verman II, Rajinder Verman, Jay Verman V, Surya Verman I, Udaydytya Verman II, Surya Verman II, Jay Verman VII, Jayavarman-VIII etc. etc are some of the most renowned Kamboja kings who ruled the kingdom of Kambuja from 7th c onwards till 15c AD. Most of these kings were Hindu Sivaists but some of the later Kamboja kings became the votaries of Buddhism.

PRINCE NORODOM SIHANOUK AND KAMBOJA PEOPLE:

ALL INDIA KAMBOJ MAHASABHA AND ROYAL CAMBODIAN FAMILY:

The All India Kamboja Mahasabha meeting held in 1952 was especially attended by Swami Dharam-Wong, the Acharya and Royal Guru of young Cambodian Prince, Norodham Sihanouk. Again the Rajguru Swami Dharama Wong also especially came to attend the Memorial Fair in honor of S Uddham Singh Sunam on March 27, 1955.

Kamboja descendent Princes had been ruling Cambodia (Kambojdesha) until recently and Prince Norodham Sihanouk was the last in the royal chain of Cambodian Kings. This Kambuja (Cambodia) King Norodam Sihanouk visited India in 1955. He was well greeted by the Indian Government of the then PM, Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru. Speaking at the luncheon meet hosted by ‘All India Kamboja Mahasabha’ in his honor, the prince prided himself on being from Kamboja blood. He was emotionally choked during his address to his Indian Kamboja brotherhood and had stated that he was extremely proud of his ancient Kamboja blood. He was further proud to be amongst his Indian Kamboja brotherhood after a separation of many centuries (Ref: Luncheon address by Prince Norotham Sihanouk, New Delhi , March 1955).

The Prince Norodam Sihanouk extended a special invitation to a Delegate of “ Indian Kambojas” on his behalf in 1959. The Kamboja delegate consisted of several prominent Kamboja personages of the day including Col Lal Singh Thind, a famous landlord of UP, S. Himat Singh Thind, Advocate (Saharanpur), S. Hazara Singh Jossan, President, All India Kamboj Mahasabha (Delhi) and President, Indo-Cambodian Friendship and Cultural Association etc. The Delgate of Indian Kambojs was headed by Dr Ganga Singh Soni of Khemkaran. The Kamboja Delegate was given a rousing and royal treatment in Cambodia by Cambodian Imperial family as well as by the (Kambuja) Cambodian people.(Vishal Kamboj, p 11; These Kamboj People, 1980, p 160, K. S. Dardi).

In 1965, a terrible war erupted in Cambodia. In 1970, Kambuja prince was dethroned and exiled. The Government was seized by the Pro-American coterie. Due to terrible political disturbances that followed in Cambodian land, further contacts between Royal family of Cambodia and the Indian Kamboja stopped and still there is no activity on this front as the forces controlling the destiny of Cambodia do not seem to have any interest in Cambodia’s past history and its links with Indian Kambojas, mainly due to political reasons.

Dr. Russell R. Ross
Yasovarman (889-908) was one of the most remarkable kings of Kambuja. He was the founderr of a new capital city Yashodharpur (later on known as Angkor Thom). He was not only a great conqueror but a versatile scholar and great builder. It is said that he acquired proficiency in the art of music, dancing, architecture and script, and mastered many Sastras and Kavyas and composed a commentary on Patanjali's Mahabhasya. Yasovarman established the institution of asramas (monastic establishments), homes of pious devotees, who consecrated their lives to study and meditation. Adequate endowments were provided for their maintenance. Detailed and definite regulations were issued by the king for the maintenance and conduct of these asramas, modelled on the lines of Hindu hermitages or tapovanas. Another famous and mighty monarch was Suryavarman II (1113-1145), who earned undying fame by erecting the famous Angkor Vat, veritable wonder of the world. But the kingdom of Kambuja reached its greatest extent during the reign of Jayavarman VII who ascended the throne in 1181. He conquered Champa and a part of lower Burma, founded a new splendid capital city known as Angkor Thom, and established and maintained many religious institutions and several works of public utility. The kings of Kambuja sent ambassadors to both India and China. In the fifteenth century, the Annamites from the east and the Thais (who had conquered and occupied Siam) from the west attacked Kambuja continuously, and soon reduced this powerful kingdom to a petty principality. At last Ang Duong, the last king of Kambuja, placed himself under French protection in 1854. Since then Kambuja became a French protectorate. But the people of Kambuja being awakened to their political rights, endeavoured to shake off this protectorate and regained their independence.”

The kingdom of Kambuja which exercised its sway over distant and extensive countries for centuries rose to far greater power than Champa. Numerous Sanskrit inscriptions give us the detailed history of its kings and wonderful temples like Angkor Vat, and those of Angkor Thom, and a hundred others still tell the tale of their grandeur and magnificence.Angkor Vat, a wonder of the world, is a shrine dedicated to Siva built by King Suryavarman. It is the largest temple ever built by man. A ditch runs close to the boundary walls of the temple and surrounds It. The total length of the ditch is four kilometres. The temple stands on the top of a massive and extensive terraced structure and has several spires and towers. There are three terraces standing one above the other, the first is 246 metres long and 207.50 metres broad with a total running length of nearly 923 metres. The second and the third easure less compared to the first. These galleries or terraces are linked together by stairs and intervening open terraces. The innermost terrrace is dominated by five tall domes, the central one rises to a height of more than 65 metres above the ground level. The Ankgor Vat is a pyramid temple. The general plan of the temple, as noted above, consists of a wide ditch, "the two external enclosures, the approaches, the three concentric galleries, the central mass, the large tower in the centre, the smaller towers on the corners of the two inner galleries and three still smaller ones on the west entrance of the outer enclosure-twelve in all." Thus, the temple combines magnitude and magnificence. The gorgeous decorative sculptures invest the temple with a peculiar magnificence. The decoration is treated as embroidery work and the ornament is everywhere, even at the most invisible corners. The temple walls and galleries are adorned with birds, flowers, dancing maidens and scenes from Ramayan, the Mahabharat and the Puranas.Angkor Vat is an excellent example of the oldest art, both architectural and sculptural as it was developed in these foreign countries by master Indian builders. It brilliantly and most effectively reflects the religious devotion and artistic urge as it was felt by the Indianized people of Kambuja. Another famous temple of Kambuja was Ta Prahm. It was dedicated to the Buddhist divinity Prajnaparamita of the Mahayan sect.

Angkor Thom is the modern name of the capital city of Yasodharapura,founded by King Yasovarman. The city was enclosed by a wall which was surrounded by a ditch. It was square in shape, each side measuring more than three kilometres, with the grand temple of Bayon in the centre, containing fifty towers. This temple is second in size to Angkor Vat. Everything in the city was conceived on a truly noble scale; "the city of Yasodharapura was one of the grandest cities in the whole world in that age." It was a city full of grandeur and glory. In Kambuja empire, Hinduism specially Saivism was the predominant religion. It had almost become national religion, though Vaishnavism and Buddhism occasionally enjoyed royal patronage. Sanskrit became the official language. Several SDanskrit inscriptions, discovered there, were composed in beautiful Kavya style. Indian religious texts, the Ramayana, the Mahabharat and the Puranas, were studied with keen interest. Indian books of medicine and Indian methods of treatment were very popular. It is said that a Kambuja king, Rudra Varman, had appointed two Indian physicians in his court. There were several asramas founded and maintained by royal charity and private munificence. They formed a salient feature of the religious and soicial life in Kambuja and served there as radiating centres of Hindu culture and religion. In short, the people of Kambuja had embraced Hindu religion, culture and civilization, and accepted the political and social ideas and customs of the Hindus. They had given to the world the biggest temple of Angkor Vat which is the brightest testimony and the greatest monument of India's cultural conquest.”


The Angkorian period lasted from the early ninth century to the early fifteenth century A.D. In terms of cultural accomplishments and political power, this was the golden age of Khmer civilization. The great temple cities of the Angkorian region, located near the modern town of Siemreab, are a lasting monument to the greatness of Jayavarman II's successors. (Even the Khmer Rouge, who looked on most of their country's past history and traditions with hostility, adopted a stylized Angkorian temple for the flag of Democratic Kampuchea. A similar motif is found in the flag of the PRK). The kingdom founded by Jayavarman II also gave modern-day Cambodia, or Kampuchea, its name. During the early ninth to the mid-fifteenth centuries, it was known as Kambuja, originally the name of an early north Indian state called Kamboja, from which the current forms of the name have been derived. By Russell R. Ross. Excerpted from Cambodia: A Country Study . by Russel R. Ross, ed. Washington, DC: Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 1987]

YET ANOTHER COMMENTATOR
“Early history: 1800 years ago, Cambodia was a kingdom of Indian settlers, called Kambuja or Kambojas. These Indians were called also Khmers. The mighty Khmer Empire flourished over much of Southeast Asia during the 12th century. Angor Wat (the temple above), the largest religious building in the world, was built during this period, representing the power of the empire. Created by a succession of the kings glorifying their godlike power, the temples of Angkor Tom (which includes Angkor Wat) span nine square kilometers. Jayavarman VII built most of the temples during his reign from 1181-1220. He was the son of Suryavarman II, who built Angkor Wat itself.”

Cambodia’s religious, royal and cultural traditions originated from India. However they began to transform in their own right around the first century AD.

“Archaologists claim that what today is known as Cambodia has been peopled since at least 4,000BC. The kingdom of Funan, Cambodia's forerunner, was a trading stop for Indians on their way to China. That influence can be seen today in the country's traditional literature, dance, Hindu and Buddhist religions and architecture. Today's Cambodia occupies only a small corner of the Khmer Empire that from the 9th to the14th centuries extended over a large part of what we now know as Southeast Asia. The Khmers called their land Kampuchea or Kambuja, a name that was westernized as Cambodia.”

THE GOD KINGS

The first Cambodian king was Jayavarman who in the 9th century declared himself "god-king" identifying himself with Siva, king of the Hindu gods. He established his capital near Angkor. Jayavarman and his successors built up a great empire, which reached its highest point under Suryavarman II - builder of Angkor Wat - and Jayavaman VII, a Buddhist who built the Bayon temple. One of the great accomplishments of the god-kings was the construction of an elaborate irrigation system that allowed the Khymers to produce four harvests a year.

There followed a decline and loss of territory to the Thais. In 1432, Angkor was abandoned and the capital moved to Phnom Penh. Then in the 17th century the Vietnamese began encroaching into Cambodia's territory in the Mekong delta, while the Thais annexed the northwest. In 1846 the country became a French protectorate, which was occupied by the Japanese and then, in 1953, became once more an independent country, ruled by a modern-day god-king prince Norodom Sihanouk.

Chenla (called Chenla by Chinese but "Kamboja" by Khmer) was a more direct ancestor of the Khmer Empire. Its history first appear in the Chinese Chronicles as a Funan's vassal state who gained its independence from Funan around the year 550 A.D. Within the next 60 years, Chenla succeeded to conquer its predecessor the Funan, and gradually absorbed its people as well as inherited the Indian cultures.