a012 Kaurava army marches into battle against rival horde, Pandavas. (Hindu epics, adopted from India). Foreign gods were worshipped along side local deities. As a whole Hinduism dominated the Khmer empire, until it gave way to Mahayana Buddhisim.

"Greater India" was an Empire we're not exposed to, in Oz schools.

Initiated by trade (not war), adoption of it's art, religions, literature - has singularly influenced every emerging Asiatic civilization. (peaking during the Middle Ages)

 

A south Indian prince (priest?) married a Kambuja princess + so began the Angkor kingdom.

Angkor Wat. Cambodias spiritual heart, was erected as a Hindu Temple.

 

Nothing stays the same.

Like the gold (cladding ALL five towers above the temple) and colourful paintwork (covering those galleries of bas-reliefs) today 'gone' ... A.W's morphed into a venerable Buddhist temple.

 

ps;

Khmer - actually from a Sanskrit word: "Kh-Mera". (Indian town, Prince Kaundinya lived)

Mekong ... from: "Ma Ganga" (sanskrit) to "Mai Kong" (khmer)

 

Done