Episode Details
Back to Episodes
The Great Stupa of Angkor: Khmer Buddhism Before Theravada
Description
Long before Theravada Buddhism became the state religion of Cambodia, the Khmer Empire was a powerhouse of Mahayana Buddhism, fused with Hindu traditions and indigenous spirit worship. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the forgotten Buddhist lineage of Angkor—focusing on the reign of Jayavarman VII, who built sprawling temple-monasteries like Ta Prohm and Preah Khan not just as religious centers but as living universities and hospitals. They discuss the Bodhisattva ideal that inspired the empire’s public works, the mysterious decline of Mahayana Buddhism after Jayavarman’s death, and the gradual shift to Theravada that reshaped Khmer identity. Along the way, they touch on the role of Sanskrit inscriptions in tracing these changes, the survival of Buddhist iconography at Angkor Wat, and the debated influence of Srivijaya and Mon monks. A nuanced look at how an empire’s faith could transform—and how it left enduring marks on Cambodia’s spiritual landscape.