Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c8.26

c8.26

The Hindu kingdom nearest to Fu-nan and most closely associated with it was Kambuia. It was originally a small kingdom, occupying the territory round Vat Phu hill near Bassac in Laos, in the north-eastern corner of Cambodia. According to local tradition it was founded by Kambu Svāyambhuva, a king of Āryadeśa, *i.e.*, India. Grieved at the death of his wife Merā, whom the great God Śiva himself gave to him, he betook himself to the wild desert of Cambodia in order to put an end to his life, but met there a Nāga king equally devoted to Śiva. He married the daughter of the Nāga king who by his magic power, turned, the arid land into a beautiful country like Āryadeśa.