สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume II - 2010 Śaivism in Thailand as Recorded in Inscriptions and Old Documents from Sixth Century to Early Ayudhyā Period 46 the earliest documents that record the presence of Śaivism in Thailand. Citrasena , according to Cœdès, was actually the cousin of Bhavavarman not the brother (1968: 68 n.20). King Mahendravarman ruled Chenla from circa CE 600 to circa CE 616 (1968: 69). Just very recently a version of this inscription which differs slightly from other versions was found in Roi-et Province. It says that Citrasena, grandson of Sārvabhauma, son of Vīravarman , is anointed king on account of his power in spite of his being the youngest brother of King Bhavavarman. He obtained the royal title as Mahendravarman . He, who is extremely devoted to the god whose emblem is a bull (vṛṣadhvaja) , erected a bull made of stone, after having conquered the entire territory and after having removed (apanīya) the previous form of worship (purātanī medhā) . Purātanī medhā here seems to refer to Buddhism which flourished in the kingdom of Funan during the reign of King Rudravarman (CE 514-cir.CE 550), its last king (1968: 60-1). Mahendravarman is also mentioned in an inscription found at Chong Sa Chaeng, Prāchīnburī Province, to have dug a reservoir named Śaṅkara (Thipkesorn 1986 Lem 1: 43; Cœdès 1964:152), which undoubtedly was related to Śaivism. Cāruek (inscription) Phaen Thong Daeng Ūthong (cir. seventh century) The inscription is on a copper plate and was dug up by Mrs. Thaem Suadam from her own land opposite Ūthong Sueksālaya School, Ūthong District, Suphanburī Province, in the west-central part of Thailand in CE 1957. It tells us that Śrīharṣavarman, grandson of King Śrī Īśānavarman, after ascending the throne, offered a palanquin decorated with gems and also an umbrella, to the accompaniment of dance and music etc. to Śrīmad Āmrātakeśvara , that is, venerated Śiva named Āmrātakeśvara. Thereafter, he offered a sheath for Śivaliṅga (Śāmbhavakośa) together with best ritual utensils and equipment to the accompaniment of dance and music to Śrīdhareśvara , (Thongkhamvan 1986:225-8). The names Āmrātakeśvara and Āmrātakeśa of Śiva are mentioned in a number of inscriptions of the pre-Angkorian period (Bhattacharya 1961: 51; Diskul 2004: 24; Cœdès 1937: 8; Cœdès 1942:149- 50; Cœdès 1951:159). There were two kings by the name of Īśānavarman in the history of Cambodia, namely, Īśānavarman I (616-c635) and Īśānavarman II (925). King Śrīharṣavarman who, according to this inscription, was King Śrī Īśānavarman ’s grandson, appears to be a king who might have succeeded King Bhavavarman II (637-639), son of Īśānavarman I (Prapandvidya 2010:79-84). The date of the inscription should therefore be assigned to cir. 7 th century. Figures 1 and 2 are the