Srutavarman (Old Khmer: ឝ្រុតវម៌្ម; Khmer: ស្រុតវរ្ម័ន, Shrutavarman) is remembered in Cambodian tradition as the first king of Chenla, the polity that emerged from the shadow of Funan and laid the foundations for the Khmer civilization. While later chronicles and Angkorian-era inscriptions present him as the founder of Chenla’s royal line, the historical record is far more complex. Historians today see Srutavarman not only as a possible early ruler but also as part of a carefully constructed genealogy that linked Khmer kingship to divine and mythical origins.
From Funan to Chenla
In the early centuries CE, the lower Mekong was dominated by Funan, a prosperous maritime kingdom noted in Chinese records for its trade networks and Indian cultural influence. By the 6th century, Funan’s influence weakened, and inland centers gained prominence. Chinese texts began referring to Chenla (Zhenla), an inland state that succeeded Funan’s dominance. This transition was gradual and complex, involving shifting political centers and new elite families.
The Genealogy of Kambu and Mera
According to Cambodian legend, the royal line of Chenla descended from the sage Kambu Svayambhuva and the celestial apsara Mera. From their union, the House of Kambuj was established. Srutavarman is introduced in this tradition as their descendant, symbolizing both spiritual legitimacy and worldly authority. This myth served to link Khmer kingship with divine sanction, much like other Southeast Asian royal genealogies rooted in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.
Srutavarman and His Legacy
Tradition states that Srutavarman freed Kambuja (Chenla) from the domination of Funan in the 5th century, establishing Chenla as an independent power. He was succeeded by his son Shreshthavarman, who is associated with the foundation of Sreshthapura, a capital located near present-day Vat Phou in southern Laos. This link between Srutavarman’s line and Vat Phou suggests an early inland polity that became central to the Chenla story.
The Historical Debate
While Srutavarman and Shreshthavarman are central to Cambodian tradition, there are no contemporary 5th- or 6th-century inscriptions that mention them directly. Instead, the earliest securely dated rulers of Chenla include Bhavavarman, Citrasena/Mahendravarman, and Isanavarman I, who ruled in the late 6th and early 7th centuries. Inscriptions at Sambor Prei Kuk (Isanapura) and Chinese annals confirm their reigns.
This raises an important question: was Srutavarman truly a historical king, or a legendary figure inserted later into Khmer royal genealogies? Scholars like George Cœdès initially accepted him as historical, but modern historians such as Michael Vickery argue that Srutavarman likely belongs to later retrospective tradition rather than contemporaneous history.
Symbolic Importance
Even if his historical existence is uncertain, Srutavarman occupies an important role in Khmer cultural memory. By linking the rise of Chenla to the divine couple Kambu and Mera, and by narrating a liberation from Funan, the story of Srutavarman provided later Khmer rulers with an illustrious and sanctified ancestry. This narrative strengthened political legitimacy and established a sense of continuity in Cambodia’s dynastic history.
The Enduring Significance
Srutavarman represents both history and myth. As the supposed first king of Chenla, he embodies the Khmer people’s transition from Funan’s maritime trade empire to an inland polity that became the heart of the Angkorian world. While historians remain cautious about his actual reign, Srutavarman’s role in Cambodia’s national story is undeniable: he symbolizes the origins of Khmer kingship, sovereignty, and identity.
Sources
- Cœdès, George. The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. University of Hawaii Press, 1968.
- Vickery, Michael. Society, Economics, and Politics in Pre-Angkor Cambodia: The 7th–8th Centuries. Tokyo: The Centre for East Asian Cultural Studies, 1998.
- Higham, Charles. Early Mainland Southeast Asia. Bangkok: River Books, 2014.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape. Nomination dossier, 2001.
- Jacques, Claude, and Philippe Stern. Angkor: Cities and Temples. River Books, 2007.
