Yaśodharapura

Yasodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ; Sanskrit: यशोधरपुर Yaśōdharapura) is a city that was the first capital of the Khmer Empire. King U Thong also known as Ramthibodi of the Ayutthaya Kingdom laid siege to it in 1352. The Ayutthayan were successful the next year in capturing the city, placing one of their princes on the throne, until 1357 when the Khmer regained it.[1]:236

Succeeding capitals built in the area were also called Yasodharapura. One of those is Angkor Thom, centred on the Bayon temple. Angkor Thom was raided in the 15th century by King Borommarachathirat II of Ayutthaya.[2]

The original Yasodharapura was built by King Yasovarman I and was centred on the temple of Phnom Bakheng.[1]:103[3]:64 Also referred to in inscriptions as Phnom Kandal (Central Mountain), the Phnom Bakheng was constructed just before the foundation of Yasodharapura due to Yasovarman's belief that the mountain was among the holiest of places to worship the Hindu deities.

Yashodharapura was linked to an earlier capital, Hariharalaya, by a causeway. The urban complex included the Yashodharatataka.[3]:64–65

References

  1. 1 2 Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella, ed. The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
  2. Donald Richie (23 September 2007). "Yasodharapura, revived in literature". The Asian Bookshelf. The Japan Times. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  3. 1 2 Higham, C., 2001, The Civilization of Angkor, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, ISBN 9781842125847


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