Jayavarman VII (1181-1218)

Dharaníndravarman II succeeded his uncle Súryavarman II to the throne. His wife Chúdámaní was the daughter of Harshavarman III, and together they had a son, Jayavarman VII.

In his youth, King Jayavarman Viihad wed Jayarájadeví, the younger sister of Indradeví, who would become the king’s second wife upon the death of her sister. The Sanskrit insctiptio found on the Phimean Akas temple, written in flaw;ess grammar by Indradeví, is a jey element in understanding Jayavarman VII.

After pushing the Cham enemies back beyond the country’s borders, the King woyld subdueChampa and rule it as a Cambodian province for seventeen years. Cambodia became an empire at the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula.

Jayavarman VII was a Maháyána Buddhist and he pursued the traditions of his ancestors by erecting statyes of deities in their likenesses. Some deities gained importance under his reign, in particular deities from the Maháyána school of Buddhism that depict him (as Buddha and Lokesvar) and his wife Jayaráhadeví (as Prájnápáramitá).

In the field of architectre, the king can ve credited with the construction of the surrounding wall and five entrance pavilions of Angkor Thom. He commissioned the construction of many temple in the capital (Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan and Neak Porn) and in the provinces (Banteay Chhmar, Wat Nokor in Kampong Cham province and Ta Prohm in the Tonle Bati area). Lastly he had hospitals, sheltrers for travelers and bridges built throughout the country. Jayavarman VII gave his heart to his people; ‘the sffering of the people is his’. His main objective was to turn Cambodia into a parradise, in which the Khmer people would be the Tevada. He was named Preah Paramasaugata after his death.