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The Theravada Conversion That Killed Angkor
Description
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how the mass conversion of the Khmer Empire to Theravada Buddhism in the 13th and 14th centuries may have been the final nail in Angkor's coffin. They discuss the role of King Jayavarman VIII's failed Hindu restoration, the influx of Mon monks from the west, and the ideological shift that undermined the devaraja cult—the very foundation of Khmer kingship. With the state's cosmic mandate in question, the elaborate water management system fell into disrepair, and the elite began to abandon Angkor for new centers like Phnom Penh and Ayutthaya. The conversation also touches on the legend of the Leper King as a symptom of this decline, and the surprising role of Sanskrit versus Pali in marking the religious transition. Drawing on recent scholarship by historians like Claude Jacques and Michael Vickery, this episode offers a fresh take on why the empire that built Angkor Wat simply walked away.