Hindu Temples-Lost in the Forest (Rediscovering the World Heritage Site of Inshanapura-Sambor Prei Kuk

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About the Book The monograph Hindu Temples Lost in the Forest the readers on an unanticipated journey in the interiors of the middle Mekong Valley in order to rediscover architectural marvels which once formed integral part of the city of Ishanapura, identified with the ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk in central Cambodia, and listed as UNESCO World Heritage site on Saturday, the 8th July 2017 the 41st World Heritage Committee, held at Krakow (Poland). After explaining the trio formed by the god Ishana (Shiva), his protégé King Ishanavarman and his city Ishanapura, the unique aquatic landscape of the site is outlined in which Ishanapura functioned as a water-fort. Over hundred fascinating temples, still standing above the ground in various stages of preservation, on the either side of the O Kru Kae River, the unique octagonal temples, the flying palaces carved on the walls of the temples, the architectural motifs such as the beautiful human figures in the ornamental windows(Kudu), the mythical crocodile(makara), the divinized Time (Kala) and the beautiful Hamsa birds contribute to the uniqueness of the brick architecture of Ishanapura. Other interesting themes are the cult of multiple Ishvara (Lord Shiva), the crafting of smile and seriousness on the faces of the gods and the humans, using the cult of Hari-hara and Hari-hara-linga as reconciliatory devices: and the patronage to the Pashupata Shaiva sect. Durgasvami, an Indian Saka Brahmin, born in Dakshinapatha (Southern India) and settled in Ishanapura, resurrects through the pages of this monograph. The Brahmin married the land as the Tougher of King Ishanavarman, son-in-law, he contributed to the development of Ishanapura, bringing Indo Saka-Scythian elements to the Khmer capital. Hindu Temples Lost in the Forest is a rare and profound book which describes the contours of Ishanapura as a knowledge seeking city, and as an influential diplomatic hub of Asia, interacting with China through diplomatic missions, with India through deep cultural discourse, and with Champa (Central Vietnam) through strategic matrimonial alliance. As the monograph convincingly shows, the rise of Ishanapura marked the passage of mainland Southeast Asia from the stage of chiefdom to the status of statehood. This holistic study, presenting the temples of Ishanapura in an art historical, sociocultural perspective, is an indispensible companion to everyone interested in unraveling the mystery behind the forests of Sambor Prei Kuk. Without listening to these temples, which carry their message in the shape of Sanskrit and or Khmer language inscriptions, the knowledge of both Khmer and Indian civilizations will remain incomplete and the dynamics of Asian civilization will continue to be nebulous.

About the Author An internationally acclaimed scholar of Southeast Asian Studies, Sachchidanand Sahai was awarded an M.A. degree in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Banaras Hindu University (1962), a doctorate from the University of Paris, Sorbonne (1965-69) on Khmer Studies under the supervision of George Coedes and a Fulbright post doctoral fellowship at the Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (1982). With his fluency in Laotian, Khmer, Hindi, English and French languages and direct access to the Sanskrit language, Sahai has authored 20 books, published forty research papers, edited half a dozen monographs, and thirtyeight volumes of the Southeast Asian Review. In his forty years of teaching career, he rose to the position of professor and chair of Ancient Indian and Asian Studies, Magadha University, Bodh Gaya and worked as the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university in 2001.

As Indian Council for Cultural Relations Visiting Scholar of Asian Civilization at Sisavangvong University, Vientiane, Laos (1970-72), Research Professor at Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, New Delhi (1988-90), Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (2003-2006), and as National Professor of Epigraphy, Ministry of Culture, Government of India(2012-2013), Sahai has immensely contributed to the better understanding of India's time-tested cultural relations with Southeast Asia. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded A.S. Altekar Gold Medal (1962), Pravasi Bharatiya Gold Medal and Padma Shri (2012), and nominated member, Indian Council for Historical Research by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. Currently, Professor Sahai is based in Siem Reap (Angkor) as an expert-historian to APSARA National Authority and Preah Vihear National Authority under the auspices of the Royal Government of Cambodia.

Preface In 1904, the exploration of temples of Slambor Prei Kok began as a personal initiative of Adhemard Leclere, the most enthusiastle French administrator scholar in Cambodia For the first seventy years of twentieth century, the site remained exclusive domain of French scholarship As a rare Indian francophone researcher, I have been able to access the vast documentation available in French language, and trace out the advancing stages of our understanding of the site through the writings of various French scholars Writings of a galaxy of French scholars-Etienne Aymonier, Lunet de Lajonquière, Georges Morand, Louis Finet, Henri Parmentier, Geroge Groalier, Victor Goloubew, Pierre Dupont, Bernard Philippe Groslier, Philippe Stern and Gilberte de Coral- Rémusat-have been immensely helpful in course of my studies of the site. I have also the rare privilege of discussing personally with my mentor George Cades the inscriptions of ancient Cambodia, including those of Sambor Prei Kuk during my Sorbonne days in 1960s. Mireille Bénisti published a number of her writings during the same period, and shared her knowledge with me.

After a hiatus of scholarly activities during the Khmer Rouge period, in 1990s Michel Tranet once again documented the site and shared with me his intimate knowledge of the region when I visited the site after 2004. In the last decade of twentieth century, Japanese scholars from Waseda University and the Khmer scholars from the Ministry of Culture, Government of Cambodia, remained active at the site. In 2011, Bruno Bruguier and Juliette Lacroix presented their extensive survey of the site, linking Sambor Prei Kuk with the wider zone of the Tonle Sap Lake. The Japanese language thesis of Ichita Shimoda on Ishanapura and his subsequent English language study in collaboration with Sae Shimamoto, published in 2012 offers the results of their extensive explorations and limited excavations.

Going through the vast scientific literature, it is apparent that the number of sites known has gradually grown, comprehensive and accurate descriptions of the temples have been offered. But a large number of haunting questions have not attracted so far the scholarly attention. Keeping these questions in mind, the monograph has been presented in as many as 34 sections, dissecting each issue in its minutest detail. In fact, giving special attention to each question in a small section appears more effective than clubbing together man questions into one lengthy chapter.

**Contents and Sample Pages**