Vedic Kings of Vietnam

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Champa/Angadvipa on the coast of Annam - Vietnam

 

Champa is the remotest colony in the East and was less known than

Kamboja and Java. According to Sir Charles Eliot, the Hindu dynasty

of Champa was founded between 150 and 200 A.D. The conquerors were

known as the Chams and hence the country came to be known as Champa.

Vietnam, figures prominently as a stepping stone in the story of

India's cultural expansion to the Americas.

 

According to Dr. K. P. Jayaswal, "The State of Champa, according the

Chinese authorities was founded in 137 A. D. Champa seems to have

been mentioned under the name Angadvipa by the Vayu Purana. Again,

Champa was probably the earliest colony, it being a key to the

Chinese trade and the point from the islands of Java and Borneo are

easily accessible." It maintained close relations with Funan, a fact

which must have been largely responsible for the penetration of

Indian influence there. A Hindu dynasty was founded by Sri Mara in

the second century A.D. A successor to Sri Mara was the famous king

called Bhadravarma. He ruled over the Northern and Central portions

of the kingdom comprising the provinces of Amravati and Vijaya and

possibly also the Southern province of Panduranga. His greatest

contribution was to Hindu culture was the building of the temple of

Bhadresvarasvamin (Shiva) at Myson which became the national shrine

of the Chams. It is said that Bhadravarman abdicated his throne to

spend his last days on the banks of the river Ganges. This was

followed by two dynasties - the Panduranga dynasty (757-860) and

later by the Bhrigu dynasty (860-985). Champa passed through various

dynasties and war with China continued in the 3rd and 4th century.

This was a period of political unrest in China, and which gave Champa

the opportunity to expand into Chinese territory. Shiva and Vishnu

were worshipped by various names. Goddess Laxmi was known as Padma

or Sri.

 

As regards to literature, Sanskrit was the language of the learned.

It was also the official language of the country. Many kings of

Champa were Sanskrit scholars. Brahmi script was used in

inscriptions. The books were in use were the Vedas, Sastras, the

Epics, Buddhist philosophy, Saivism, Vaisnavism, Panini's grammar

along with its commentary, Dharmasastras of Manu and Narada, the

Puranas and classical Sanskrit literature including prose and Kavya

literature.