Chapter One: The Court of the Cosmos: The Practice of Brahmanism at Angkor
The spiritual life of the Angkorian Empire was a world of spectacular and potent ritual, a constant dialogue between the earthly realm and the heavens. The religion that governed the court of the great Khmer kings was Brahmanism, the ancient faith of India that would evolve into modern Hinduism. In Cambodia, however, this was not a popular religion for the masses, but an exclusive and esoteric state cult. Its practice was the sole domain of the king and his specialized Brahmin priesthood. The purpose of this state religion was twofold: to provide a powerful, divine justification for the king's absolute authority, and to perform the complex ceremonies necessary to maintain harmony between the kingdom and the universe itself.
To understand the practice of Brahmanism at Angkor is to understand the operating system of the empire. It was a form of sacred statecraft, a fusion of political theology and elaborate ritual that was performed on the grandest stages imaginable—the great temple-mountains that were the homes of the gods on earth. This was not a faith of quiet contemplation, but of active, cosmic engagement, with the king himself as the central figure.
The Devaraja: The Cult of the God-King
The central and most important feature of Angkorian Brahmanism was the state cult of the Devaraja, a Sanskrit term meaning "God-King." This was the ideology, established by the empire's founder Jayavarman II, that elevated the monarch from a mortal ruler to a divine being. Through a series of secret and powerful rites, the king's personal essence was believed to be mystically fused with that of a supreme deity, usually the great god Shiva, the transformer of the universe. The king was thus no longer merely a man who prayed to a god; he was the earthly incarnation and living representative of that god.
This divine status was embodied in a sacred object known as the royal lingam. The lingam, an abstract cylindrical symbol of Shiva's creative energy, was housed in the central sanctuary of the king's state temple and was considered the spiritual soul of the entire kingdom. The well-being of the king and the protection of the royal lingam were paramount to the security and prosperity of the empire.
The Purohita: The Hereditary Brahmin Priesthood
These complex and essential rituals could not be performed by just anyone. They were the exclusive purview of a powerful, hereditary class of Brahmin priests, known by the Sanskrit title of purohita. In modern Cambodia, their descendants are known as the Bakou. These families, while Khmer, maintained Sanskrit names and guarded the sacred knowledge of the rituals, passing it down from father to son.
The royal Brahmins were the indispensable intermediaries between the king and the gods. Their role was absolutely critical. A king could not be considered legitimate until he had been consecrated by their hands. They were masters of the Sanskrit language, the interpreters of the sacred texts, and the chief astrologers and advisors to the court. Their power and influence were immense, as they held the very keys to the king's divine authority.
The king was the master of the kingdom, but the Brahmin was the master of the rite. One could not hold power without the other. Their partnership was the engine of the empire.
The Temple-Mountain: The Stage for Ritual
The great temples of Angkor were the magnificent stages upon which the drama of Brahmanism was performed. These temple-mountains, designed as microcosms of the Hindu universe with Mount Meru at their center, were not places of public congregation. They were the private domains of the gods and their earthly counterpart, the king. The central tower, the highest point of the temple, was the holy of holies, the place where the royal lingam resided and where only the king and his high priests could enter to perform the most sacred ceremonies.
The Rites of Cosmic Order
The practice of Brahmanism in the court involved a continuous cycle of rituals designed to maintain the divine connection and ensure the stability of the cosmos.
- Daily Rites: The Brahmin priests would perform daily pujas, or acts of worship, at the royal lingam within the state temple. This was a constant tending of the sacred fire of the kingdom, ensuring the continuous flow of divine energy and protection.
- The Royal Coronation: The most important rite was the consecration of a new king, a ceremony known as the Rajabhisheka. This multi-day ritual involved lustral bathing with sacred water, anointment with holy oils, and the bestowing of the royal regalia, all performed by the Brahmins while chanting powerful Sanskrit mantras. This ceremony is what ritually transformed a prince into a living god.
- Annual State Ceremonies: The king, as the Devaraja, was obligated to preside over grand annual festivals, often timed to astronomical events like the solstices. These ceremonies were performed to ensure the favor of the gods, which would in turn guarantee the essential elements of a successful kingdom: plentiful rain, fertile land, and victory in battle.
The Brahmanism practiced at Angkor was, therefore, a sophisticated and all-encompassing system of sacred statecraft. It was an ideology that deified the ruler, a set of rituals that purported to maintain the balance of the universe, and a powerful justification for the mobilization of the empire's entire population in service of the king's divine vision. It was this ancient faith that provided the spiritual blueprint for the construction of one of the world's most enduring wonders.
Chapter Two: A Covenant in Stone: The Symbiotic Connection Between Khmer Kings and Hindu Deities
In the cosmology of the Angkorian Empire, the relationship between the king and the gods was not that of a humble supplicant to a distant, all-powerful deity. It was a profound and active partnership, a sacred symbiosis that formed the spiritual and political foundation of the kingdom. The king, as the earthly ruler, provided the gods with magnificent palaces (temples), elaborate worship, and a vessel through which to manifest their power on earth. In return, the gods bestowed upon the king their divine essence, celestial authority, and the promise of immortality. This two-way covenant was the core of the Devaraja ("God-King") cult, a brilliant political theology that transformed the monarch into a living god and the kingdom into an earthly reflection of the heavens.
The King's Offering: A Home for the God
The first part of this symbiotic contract was the king's sacred duty to honor and house his patron deity. A king's piety and power were measured by the grandeur of the state temple he constructed. These temples, as we have seen, were conceived as earthly replicas of the celestial Mount Meru. By mobilizing the entire kingdom's resources to build a magnificent stone mountain, the king was doing more than just creating a place of worship; he was building a worthy palace for his chosen god—usually Shiva or Vishnu—to inhabit.
This divine residence was sustained through constant ritual. The king supported a large, specialized Brahmin priesthood whose sole purpose was to perform the daily rites (puja) and grand annual ceremonies that nourished the god's presence. These offerings of prayers, music, food, and incense were the "rent" paid to the heavens, ensuring the continued favor of the divine landlord. In essence, the king was the great patron who provided for his god on a scale no one else could, thereby monopolizing the connection to the divine.
The God's Gift: The Deification of the King
In return for this unparalleled devotion, the god bestowed upon the king the ultimate gifts: legitimacy and immortality.
- Divine Authority: Through the esoteric rites of the Devaraja cult, the king's very essence was fused with that of the god. He was no longer just a king who ruled by force of arms; he was the god's living representative on Earth. This made his authority absolute and unchallengeable. To disobey the king was to disobey a god. This divine mandate was the ideological force that allowed him to command the loyalty and labor of hundreds of thousands of subjects to build the very temples that reinforced his status.
- The Promise of Immortality: The symbiotic relationship reached its ultimate conclusion after the king's death. The great temple-mountain he built was also his mausoleum. It was believed that upon his death, his soul would ascend and achieve a permanent, eternal union with his patron deity. He would become one with the god he had housed. This is why kings were given posthumous names that signified this union. For example, King Suryavarman II, the builder of Angkor Wat, is known by his posthumous name, Paramavishnuloka, which means "He who has entered the supreme heaven of Vishnu."
The king built a home for the god on earth. In return, the god prepared a home for the king in heaven. The temple was their meeting place, the bridge between two worlds.
A Partnership Portrayed in Stone
This divine partnership is vividly illustrated on the walls of the temples themselves. The bas-reliefs are not just depictions of myths; they are political and religious proclamations of this symbiosis. Here in Siem Reap, the stones speak of this relationship with absolute clarity.
On the magnificent galleries of Angkor Wat, King Suryavarman II is depicted with all the regal authority of his patron, Vishnu. He is shown larger than his subjects, presiding over his court and army, his presence as serene and powerful as the gods depicted in the epic battles on the adjacent walls. In the temple of the Bayon, the hundreds of colossal stone faces are believed to be a fusion of the compassionate Bodhisattva Lokeshvara and the builder king, Jayavarman VII. The art does not always make a clear distinction between the king and the god, because in the ideology of the Devaraja, they had become one.
The symbiotic connection between the Khmer king and his chosen Hindu deity was the brilliant and powerful concept that fueled the Angkorian empire. It was a sacred contract that justified absolute power, inspired some of the greatest artistic and architectural achievements in human history, and provided a profound spiritual framework for the kingdom. The king housed the god, and in return, the god deified the king. It was a perfect, self-reinforcing cycle of power, a divine covenant written for eternity in stone.
Chapter Three: The Keepers of the Sacred Fire: The Hereditary Role of the Royal Brahmins (Bakou)
At the heart of every significant Cambodian royal ceremony, there stands a small, distinct group of men, dressed not in the saffron of the Buddhist monk but in traditional white robes with tall, pointed hats. These are the Royal Brahmins, known in Khmer as the Bakou (បាគូ). They are the living embodiment of an ancient and sacred trust, a direct, unbroken lineage stretching back to the powerful Brahmin priests who consecrated the great God-Kings of the Angkorian Empire. They are not monks, but laymen from a few specific families, entrusted with a hereditary duty of immense importance: to perform the ancient Brahmanic rituals that are essential for the legitimacy, sanctity, and cosmic harmony of the Cambodian throne. Their role is a profound testament to the endurance of tradition and the complex, layered spiritual identity of the Khmer monarchy.
Origins in the Age of God-Kings
The Bakou are the direct spiritual and, in some cases, genetic descendants of the purohita, the high priests of the Angkorian court. During the height of the empire, these Brahmins wielded enormous influence. They were the exclusive masters of the esoteric Sanskrit rituals of the Devaraja cult. It was they who transformed a prince into a divine king through the sacred rites of coronation. Their knowledge of the sacred texts, their skill in astrology, and their ability to mediate with the Hindu gods made them indispensable advisors to the throne.
According to inscriptions, this priestly lineage was established at the very dawn of the empire in 802 CE, when King Jayavarman II summoned a Brahmin named Hiranyadama to perform the sacred ceremony on Phnom Kulen that declared the king a universal monarch, independent of any foreign power. This act created not only a new royal dynasty but also a new royal priesthood, tasked with maintaining the divine connection that legitimized it.
A Sacred and Secret Knowledge
The most crucial aspect of the Bakou's role is that it is hereditary. One cannot study to become a Bakou. The position, and the sacred lore that comes with it, is passed down exclusively from father to son within a handful of families. This has been the tradition for over a millennium.
The knowledge they protect is considered a sacred secret. It includes:
- The precise sequence of rituals for all major royal ceremonies, especially the coronation.
- The exact pronunciation of the ancient Sanskrit mantras used to invoke the Hindu deities. This is distinct from the Pali chanting of the Buddhist monks.
- The complex art of royal astrology and divination.
This knowledge was traditionally passed down through oral instruction and from jealously guarded palm-leaf manuscripts. This secret, hereditary nature ensured that the Bakou retained their unique and exclusive role as the masters of the sacred fire of Brahmanic ritual.
"The monk reads the public scripture of the Buddha. The Bakou guards the secret scripture of the King. One speaks to the people's karma, the other to the kingdom's soul."
The Indispensable Role in Modern Ceremonies
Even in modern, devoutly Buddhist Cambodia, the Bakou remain essential for the proper execution of key royal ceremonies. Their rituals address aspects of kingship—cosmic power, earthly prosperity, and divine right—that fall outside the scope of Buddhist practice. Their presence alongside the Buddhist Sangha creates the perfect spiritual balance that defines the Cambodian monarchy.
Their most important duties today include:
- The Royal Coronation: While Buddhist monks will bless the new king with merit, it is the Bakou who perform the core acts of consecration. They alone prepare the lustral waters, anoint the king's body, chant the Sanskrit mantras of power, and present him with the sacred Royal Regalia, including the Great Sword of Victory. Without these Brahmanic rites, the king is not considered a fully consecrated sovereign.
- The Royal Ploughing Ceremony: This entire ancient agricultural festival (Preah Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkol) is presided over by the Bakou. They lead the processions, perform the offerings to the earth deities, and, most famously, interpret the omens from the royal oxen to predict the fortune of the nation's harvest for the coming year.
- Other Court Rites: The Bakou are also involved in other specific ceremonies of the court, including royal funerals and festivals, always officiating over the ancient Brahmanic elements of the ritual.
A Lineage of Remarkable Resilience
The very existence of the Bakou in the 21st century is a miracle of cultural survival. As guardians of a tradition inextricably linked to royalty and high learning, they were prime targets for extermination by the Khmer Rouge. During the genocide from 1975 to 1979, most of the Bakou were killed, and their precious sacred texts were almost all lost or destroyed. The ancient lineage was brought to the very brink of extinction.
In the aftermath, the few surviving members, with the support of the restored monarchy, undertook the painstaking and heroic task of reconstructing their rituals from memory. The fact that they were able to perform the full, complex coronation ceremony for His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni in 2004 was a powerful and poignant symbol of the incredible resilience of Cambodia's deepest traditions.
The Royal Bakou is a unique and priceless living heritage. They are the keepers of a sacred fire first lit at the dawn of Angkor. Their continued, revered presence at the heart of the modern Cambodian court is a constant reminder of the kingdom's glorious Hindu past and the complex, syncretic spiritual foundations upon which the Sacred Throne securely rests.
Chapter Four: The Divine Anointment: The Sacred Coronation Ceremony of a Khmer King
The coronation of a Cambodian king is the ultimate ritual of the kingdom, a sacred and complex piece of theater that lies at the very heart of the nation's identity. Known formally as the Preah Reach Pithi Racheaphisek, it is far more than a political inauguration. It is a profound, multi-day process of mystical transformation, designed to consecrate a mortal prince and invest him with the divine right and sacred authority to rule. This ceremony is the most vibrant and powerful example of Cambodia's syncretic genius, a seamless blend of solemn Buddhist blessings for merit and ancient, esoteric Brahmanic rites for power. It is a living link to the age of Angkor, a ceremony where the king is simultaneously blessed as a righteous Buddhist ruler and anointed as a divine sovereign by the keepers of the ancient rites.
A Sacred Synthesis: The Two Spiritual Pillars
The entire coronation is built upon the harmonious and complementary functions of the kingdom's two great spiritual pillars:
- The Buddhist Sangha: Senior monks from both of the nation's monastic orders play a vital role in the days leading up to and during the coronation. They fill the halls of the Royal Palace with the resonant sound of Pali chanting. Their purpose is to purify the ceremonial spaces, to generate immense good merit (bon) for the new king and his reign, and to bestow upon him the blessings of the Three Jewels, framing his rule in the context of Buddhist virtue and compassion.
- The Royal Brahmins (Bakou): While the monks provide the virtuous foundation, the Bakou perform the core, indispensable acts of consecration. They are the masters of the ancient Brahmanic rituals, chanting in Sanskrit and invoking the Hindu deities who protected the Angkorian empire. It is their hands, and their hands alone, that can perform the sacred anointment and present the Royal Regalia, the acts that mystically confer the celestial mandate of kingship.
The Rites of Purification
Before a king can be consecrated, he must be ritually purified. The initial ceremonies are focused on cleansing him of his past, mortal status, and preparing his body to become a vessel for sacred sovereignty. The most important of these is a series of lustral baths. The king is bathed in consecrated water, or Teuk Mon, which has been collected from sacred sources around the kingdom, such as the holy mountain of Phnom Kulen. This water, further blessed by the chanting of the monks, is believed to wash away all impurities and prepare the king for the divine anointment that will follow.
The Climax of Consecration
The central ceremonies take place within the magnificent Throne Hall of the Royal Palace. Here, the prince is formally transformed into a king.
- The Anointment: The king-to-be takes his seat on a special octagonal throne, representing the cardinal and intercardinal directions of his kingdom. Senior officials and members of the royal family anoint him with consecrated water from a conch shell, symbolizing the consent and support of the realm. Following this, the head Bakou performs the final, most sacred anointment, using a special unguent to mystically seal the king's divine status.
- The Presentation of the Royal Regalia: This is the heart of the Brahmanic rite. The head Bakou, with great ceremony, presents the new king with the Preah Reach Kakudhabhand, the five primary items of the Royal Regalia. These are not just symbols; they are believed to be vessels of the kingdom's soul and power. They include:
- The Great Crown of Victory (Preah Maha Mokot Reach)
- The Great Sword of Victory (Preah Khan Reach)
- The Royal Scepter and other traditional implements
- The Royal Fan and Fly Whisk
- The Royal Slippers
"The monks fill the palace with the sound of peace. The Bakou touches the king's head with the crown of power. One gives him the heart to rule. The other gives him the right."
The King Enthroned
Now fully consecrated, the new monarch ascends the main throne. In one of his first acts, he takes a solemn oath, pledging to rule with justice, to uphold the constitution, and to dedicate his life to the happiness and prosperity of the Cambodian people. Following this, members of the court, the government, and the royal family approach the throne to formally pledge their allegiance to their new, sacred sovereign.
The coronation ceremonies often conclude with a grand public procession, where the king, borne on a golden palanquin and dressed in his full coronation attire, shows himself to his people for the first time as their fully consecrated ruler, a living link in the unbroken chain of the Cambodian monarchy.
The Khmer coronation is a masterpiece of ritual statecraft, a profound ceremony that seamlessly blends the moral authority of Buddhism with the ancient, cosmic power of Brahmanism. It is this unique synthesis, performed by the hands of the Bakou and blessed by the voices of the Sangha, that endows the Cambodian monarch with his complete legitimacy, making the Sacred Throne a powerful and enduring symbol of the nation's glorious and complex spiritual heritage.
Chapter Five: The Celestial Invocation: Brahmanic Blessings in Modern Cambodia
While the spiritual life of the Cambodian people is guided by the Buddhist Dharma, the ritual life of the Royal Court is animated by the echoes of ancient gods. The Royal Brahmins, or Bakou, continue to perform a series of essential blessing ceremonies that are purely Brahmanic in origin and purpose. These rites are not concerned with the cycle of karma or the path to Nirvana; they are focused on the temporal world. They are sacred, cosmic invocations designed to ensure the kingdom's prosperity, to consecrate the king's authority, and to maintain the harmonious relationship between the land of Cambodia and the celestial powers that governed its Angkorian ancestors. These living rituals are a profound and visible link to the nation's deep past.
A blessing from a Bakou is functionally different from a blessing by a Buddhist monk. While a monk's chant generates merit and bestows a peaceful, protective aura, a Bakou's ceremony is an act of consecration and divination. It is a form of spiritual statecraft that invokes the power of the Hindu devas to act upon the world directly.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony: A Blessing for the Harvest
The most important and public of these ceremonies is the Preah Reach Pithi Chrot Preah Neangkol, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. This ancient agrarian festival, held every May at the beginning of the rice-planting season, is a magnificent national prayer for a bountiful harvest. The entire ceremony is presided over and directed by the Bakou.
Dressed in their ceremonial white robes, the Brahmins lead the processions and chant the appropriate Sanskrit mantras to appease the spirits of the earth, particularly the goddess Preah Mae Thorani. The King, or his appointed representative, plays the role of the King Farmer, or Sdach Meak, who guides a sacred pair of oxen, the Usapheak Reach, to plough a ceremonial furrow in a sacred field. The climax of the ceremony is a powerful act of divination that serves as a blessing for the entire nation. The oxen are unyoked and presented with seven silver trays containing rice, corn, beans, sesame, grass, water, and rice wine.
The head Bakou carefully observes what the oxen choose to consume. Based on their choice, he issues a formal, public prophecy for the kingdom's harvest in the coming year. If they eat the grain, the harvest will be rich. If they drink only water, the rains will be plentiful and peace will prevail. If they drink the rice wine, it is an omen of social unrest. This prophetic blessing, derived from ancient ritual, provides a sense of cosmic guidance and reassurance to the nation's farmers.
The Consecration of Kings and a Kingdom's Soul
As we have explored, the most sacred duty of the Bakou is the consecration of a new monarch. Their blessing is what transforms a prince into a king. This power of consecration extends to the very symbols of the kingdom. The Royal Regalia of Cambodia, the Preah Reach Kakudhabhand, includes the Great Sword of Victory, the Crown, and other sacred items. These are not just historical artifacts; they are believed to be vessels of sovereign power. It is the touch of the Bakou and the sound of his ancient mantras during the coronation that are believed to infuse these objects with their sacred spirit, making them fit for a divinely appointed king.
The monk's blessing is a gentle rain that nourishes the spirit. The Bakou's blessing is a focused fire that forges the crown. Both are needed to make a king.
The Harmony of Rites
In modern Cambodia, these Brahmanic blessings are almost always performed in careful harmony with Buddhist ceremonies. For a major event like a coronation, the Buddhist Sangha will hold days of chanting to generate merit and bring peace. Then, at the core of the event, the Bakou will step forward to perform their specific, ancient rites of consecration. This beautiful interplay shows the syncretic genius of the Khmer court. One faith blesses the king's karmic path, while the other blesses his earthly power. Together, they provide a complete spiritual shield for the monarch and his kingdom.
The blessing ceremonies performed by the Royal Brahmins are a unique and irreplaceable part of Cambodia's cultural heritage. They are a living connection to the court of Angkor, a powerful reminder of the Hindu foundations upon which the great empire was built. By invoking the ancient gods to bless the land, to predict the harvest, and to sanctify the king, the Bakou continue to perform their sacred duty as keepers of the cosmic order, providing a powerful and unique stream of blessings for the modern Cambodian throne.
Chapter Six: The Two-Pillared Throne: The Syncretism of Brahmanism and Buddhism in Royal Tradition
The enduring strength and profound mystique of the Cambodian monarchy rests upon a unique spiritual foundation supported by two great pillars: the compassionate, moral authority of Theravāda Buddhism and the ancient, cosmic authority of Brahmanism. This is not a relationship of conflict, but one of beautiful and practical syncretism. Over centuries, the Khmer court has masterfully woven these two great traditions from India into a single, cohesive system of royal ceremony and belief. Buddhism became the heart of the people and the guide for the king's virtue, while Brahmanism remained the sacred framework for the king's divine legitimacy and the cosmic well-being of the kingdom. This unique blend is the genius of the Khmer royal tradition, allowing the monarch to be at once the nation's chief patron of the Buddhist faith and the inheritor of the sacred rites of his Angkorian ancestors.
A Division of Spiritual Labor
The successful coexistence of these two faiths within the court is based on a clear and respected division of spiritual labor. Each tradition addresses a different, but complementary, aspect of kingship. Their roles are distinct, yet they work in perfect harmony.
- The Role of Buddhism: The Buddhist Sangha is responsible for the king's personal karma, his moral virtue, and his connection to the living faith of his people. The monks' blessings, chanted in the sacred language of Pali, generate immense merit for the king and the nation. They frame his rule within the ideal of the Dhammaraja, a Righteous Ruler who governs with compassion and justice. Buddhism is the faith that cares for the king's soul and his relationship with his subjects.
- The Role of Brahmanism: The Royal Brahmins, or Bakou, are responsible for the esoteric rituals that concern the king's divine status and the temporal prosperity of the kingdom itself. Their rites, conducted in an ancient form of Sanskrit, invoke the Hindu devas (gods) to protect the realm, ensure bountiful harvests, and, most importantly, to consecrate the king's body as a sacred vessel of sovereignty. Brahmanism is the tradition that cares for the king's sacred power and his relationship with the cosmic order.
The Coronation: A Masterpiece of Synthesis
Nowhere is this beautiful blending of traditions more apparent than in the sacred coronation ceremony of a new king. The entire event is a carefully choreographed interplay between the two faiths.
The ceremony typically begins with several days of continuous chanting by hundreds of Buddhist monks within the Royal Palace. This act purifies the ceremonial spaces and generates a powerful foundation of good merit for the new reign. Only after this Buddhist foundation has been laid do the core Brahmanic rites begin. The Bakou, in their traditional white robes, then step forward to perform their ancient and indispensable duties. They prepare the lustral waters for the royal bath, and in the climax of the ceremony, they anoint the king and present him with the sacred Royal Regalia, chanting their Sanskrit mantras to invest him with the divine authority of his ancestors. The ceremony often concludes with a final blessing from the supreme patriarchs of the Buddhist Sangha. The king is thus blessed by the Dharma and consecrated by the Devas, his legitimacy affirmed from every spiritual dimension.
The monks build the foundation of merit. The Bakou build the palace of power upon it. Together, they create a home for a king.
The Dual Identity of the Khmer King
This syncretic system endows the Cambodian monarch with a powerful dual identity that is key to his authority.
On one hand, he is the inheritor of the sacred, mystical power of the Devaraja of Angkor. The Brahmanic rites connect him to an unbroken line of divine kingship stretching back over a thousand years, giving his reign a legitimacy that is rooted in the very glory of the empire. He is a figure of immense historical and sacred prestige.
On the other hand, he is the nation's chief Buddhist layman and the Supreme Patron of the Sangha. This role connects him intimately to the faith and daily lives of his people. He is seen as the leader and embodiment of the nation's moral and spiritual values. This dual role allows him to be both a revered, semi-divine figurehead of history and a beloved, compassionate father-figure for his devoutly Buddhist population.
The unique and enduring blend of Brahmanism and Buddhism is the great political and spiritual genius of the Cambodian royal tradition. It has allowed the monarchy to adapt and survive through centuries of profound change. It provides the Sacred Throne with both the ancient, cosmic authority of the God-Kings and the profound moral legitimacy rooted in the living faith of the people. These two pillars, one of power and one of compassion, are what make the Cambodian throne not just a political institution, but a truly sacred one, a fitting legacy of the great Mountain of the Gods.
