Ishanapura

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Author: Laxman Burdak IFS (R)

Ishanapura (ईशानपुर) was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Chenla. It has been identified with Sambor Prei Kuk, located in what is now Kampong Thom Province in Cambodia.

Variants

History

The city was founded in about 618 at Leek Sambor Kuk by King Isanavarman I.[2] Today, the site of old Isanapura contains the ruins of 150 temples and buildings, which are a few centuries older than that of the Khmer empire around Angkor Wat. During the Vietnam War, some of these temples were completely destroyed by US bombers. Further damage was done by vandals, dealers in old relics, and the Khmer Rouge. Many temples have been overgrown by the jungle.

Sambor Prei Kuk

Sambor Prei Kuk (Khmer: ប្រាសាទសំបូរព្រៃគុក - Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk) is an archaeological site in Cambodia located in Kampong Thom Province, 30 km north of Kampong Thom, the provincial capital, 176 km east of Angkor and 206 km north of Phnom Penh. The now ruined complex dates back to the Pre-Angkorian Chenla Kingdom (late 6th to 9th century), established by king Isanavarman I as central royal sanctuary and capital, known then as Isanapura (Khmer: ឦសានបុរៈ - Isan borak).[3][4] In 2017, Sambor Prei Kuk was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[5]

Located on the Eastern bank of the Tonle Sap lake, close to the Sen River, the central part of Sambor Prei Kuk is divided into three main groups. Each group has a square layout surrounded by a brick wall. The structures of the overall archaeological area were constructed at variable times: the southern and north groups (7th century) by Isanavarman I, who is considered a possible founder of the city[6] and the central group (later date).

The buildings of Sambor Prei Kuk are characteristic of the Pre-Angkorean period with a simple external plan. The principal material is brick, but sandstone is also used for certain structures.[7] Architectural features include numerous prasats, octagonal towers, shiva lingams and yonis, ponds and reservoirs, and lion sculptures. Sambor Prei Kuk is located amidst mature sub-tropical forests with limited undergrowth. The area has been mined and could still contain unexploded ordnance.[8]

Isanavarman I reigned over the Chenla Kingdom between 616 and 637 AD, taking Isanapura as his capital[9] and it is argued that he built the main temple Prasat Sambor (Group N), as there is an inscription on the site attributed to his reign and dated 13 September 627 AD.[10]The king is also known for sending his first embassy to the court of the Sui Dynasty in China (616-617). Chenla conquered different principalities in the Northwest of Cambodia after the end of the Chinese reign period yǒnghuī (永徽) (i. e. after 31 January 656), which previously (in 638/39) paid tribute to China.[11]

The last important king in Isanapura was Jayavarman I, whose death caused turmoil to the kingdom at the start of the 8th century, breaking it in many principalities and opening the way to a new time: Angkor. This site is also claimed as an early capital of Jayavarman II (O'Reilly & Jacques, 1990).[12]

Archeology

Archaeologists divide the temples, all of which are dedicated to the god Shiva, into four groups: the Northern Group, the Small Group Z, the Central Group and the Southern Group. Of these groups, the Southern Group is the best preserved. Eight octagonal towers and several gates are still standing. In the outer walls of these towers are machined brick panels, two meters high, some badly damaged. The main temple of this group, Prasat Neak Poan, has several relief operations that were formerly plastered. The Central Group still contains a standing tower, Prasat Tao. Two stone lions (originally there were four, but two were stolen), are at the main entrance of the brick tower. The Northern Group includes nine temples and a large tower, Prasat Sambo. This group was heavily damaged by bombing. The carved sandstone columns and door frames testify to the art of the Chenla empire.

ईशानपुर

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[13] ने लेख किया है ...ईशानपुर (AS, p.84) - प्राचीन कम्बोडिया-कंबुज - का एक नगर जिसे यहाँ के हिंदु राजा ईशानवर्मन् (राज्याभिषेक 616 ई.) ने बसाया था. इसका अभिज्ञान वर्तमान Sambor Prei Kuk (संबोर प्रेयी कूक) से किया गया है.

शंभुपुर

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[14] ने लेख किया है ...Shambhupura Cambodia (शंभुपुर)/Sambhupura (संभुपुर) (AS, p.886) - शंभुपुर 8 वीं शती ई. में दक्षिण कम्बोडिया (कंबुज) में एक छोटा-सा राज्य था जिसका उल्लेख कम्बोडिया के प्राचीन इतिहास में है. इस भारतीय उपनिवेश की स्थिति वर्तमान संभोर के निकट थी जो मिकोंग नदी पर है. संभोर, शंभुपुर ही का अपभ्रंश है.

In Mahabharata

Ishana (ईशान) is mentioned as Tirtha in Mahabharata (III.83.25), (XIV.8.27), (XIV.8),

Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 83 mentions names of Pilgrims. Ishana (ईशान) is mentioned as Tirtha in Mahabharata (III.83.25). [15].... Seas and Mountains, worship the lord of Uma, one should worship Ishana (ईशान) (III.83.25), fasting there for three nights. By this, one acquireth the merit of the horse-sacrifice, and the status of Ganapatya.

Aswamedha Parva, Mahabharata/Book 14 Chapter 8 Mentions Names of Shiva. Ishana (ईशान) is mentioned in Mahabharata (XIV.8.27)[16]

References

  1. ↑ Walker, George B. (1955). Angkor Empire. Signet Press. p. 116.
  2. ↑ Chatterjee, Bijan Raj (1964). Indian cultural influence in Cambodia. University of Calcutta. p. 25
  3. ↑ Higham, C., 2014, Early Mainland Southeast Asia, Bangkok: River Books Co., Ltd., ISBN 9786167339443
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Sites in Cambodia, China and India added to UNESCO's World Heritage List". UNESCO.
  6. ↑ Higham, Charles (May 11, 1989). The Archaeology of Mainland Southeast Asia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 265–267.
  7. ↑ Groupe de Sambor Prei Kuk - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  8. ↑ Gnarfgnarf:Sambor Prei Kuk : a pre-Angkorian gem in the forest, 20 November 2010,
  9. ↑ “Coedès. ‟Histories of Cambodia”. Page 11.
  10. ↑ IC, Vol. V, p. 23
  11. ↑ Wolters, "North-western Cambodia in the seventh century", p. 356 and pp. 374-375
  12. ↑ O'Reilly. Early Civilizations of Southeast Asia. December 21, 2005. Page 113.
  13. ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.84-85
  14. ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.886
  15. ↑ तत्रेशानं समभ्यर्च्य तरिरात्रॊपॊषितॊ नरः, दशाश्वमेधम आप्नॊति गाणपत्यं च विन्दति, उष्य दवादश रात्रं तु कृतात्मा भवते नरः(III.83.25)
  16. ↑ 27 ईशानं शंकरं सर्वं शिवं विश्वेश्वरं भवम, उमापतिं पशुपतिं विश्वरूपं महेश्वरम (XIV.8.27)
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