Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c10.46

c10.46

It is not till we come to the reign of Prakāśadharma, who ascended the throne before A.D. 653, that we get a reference to Vaiṣṇavism. He built a temple of God Viṣṇu Puruṣottama, and another of Vālmīki, who is described as an incarnation of Viṣṇu. But the king also made donations to the Śaiva gods Śambhu-Bhadreśvara, Iśāneśvara and Prabhāseśvara. It is interesting to note that while in one of his records Viṣṇu is referred to as ‘ without beginning or end and preceptor of the whole world ’ (No. 11), another record describes Śiva as “ the one lord of all the world and the cause of its creation, with different forms like Earth etc. for the maintenance and progress of the world who although revered by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Indra and other gods, yet danced in cemetery for the sake of prosperity of the world; and from whom is evolved this static and dynamic world; like rays from the Sun, and in whom again are they merged. ” The king erected a temple to this God “ with a view to destroy the seeds of *Karma* which have the power of leading to births in quick succession ” (No. 12). The same king also erected, for increase of wealth, temple of Kubera, the friend of Maheśvara, and also called ‘ Ekākṣapiṅgala ’ for having his eye injured by the view of the goddess Umā (No. 14).