The Royal Family and Biography of King Jayavarman VII

The dynasty and biography of King Jayavarman VII are known largely from the inscriptions at Prasat Krung in the Nokor Thom region, the inscriptions at Banteay Chhmar in Battambang province, the inscriptions at Bayon, Ta Prohm, and especially from the inscriptions at Prasat Phimean Akas, which were compiled and arranged in poetic form by the great queen of King Jayavarman VII, Princess Indra Devi.

Royal Lineage
According to the research of Mr. Snorsnesedes, King Jayavarman VII was probably born as early as 1125 AD. His mother's name was Jayaraja Chodiamani. His father's name was Dharanidravarman II, who reigned after King Suryavarman II. He was the great-aunt of King Jayavarman VI and the nephew of King Suryavarman II. So we see that through his mother he descended from the Khmer royal line of the pre-Mahanakor (or pre-Angkor or Funan-Chenla period). And through his father's line he descended from the Sannukivong of Mahidharapura.

Youth
Through the same inscription, we learn that when his father, Dharanindravarman II, was the king of Cambodia, Jayavarman VII took the position of supreme commander leading the Khmer army to war against the Kingdom of Champa. At that time, he was 25 years old.
According to the inscription, we can assume that at that time he already had a wife. Her name was Jayaraja Devi. With her, around 1145 AD, he had a son named Srei Indrakom.

Jayavarman VII was separated from his wife and children by severe grief, tormenting him every day without relief. The sorrow, anguish, and pain caused by this separation were written and arranged in a poetic wreath on the stone tablets of Phimean Akas Temple.

Princess Indra Devi explained: “The Queen of King Jayavarman VII, Princess Jayaraja Devi, is like Princess Sita who is running away from her husband, King Rama. King Rama is King Jayavarman VII. The Cham king is like the city of Ravana. When her husband went to war with the enemy, Princess Jayaraja Devi entered into the practice of morality, obeyed the rules and regulations, and did not dare to neglect them.

She always tried to study the dharma, prayed, and prayed for her husband to meet only happiness and victory over the enemy. She had a thin body and did not pay attention to her hair. Whenever she thought of her husband, she always felt a pain in her chest. But this pain made her happy and relieved her sorrow. Princess Jayaraja Devi always waited faithfully for the return of King Jayavarman.

Life of Struggle, Effort, and Waiting
In 1160, King Jayavarman VII was fighting against the army of the Kingdom of Champa in front of the Picheya. At that time, he received news that his father had died and that King Yasovarman II had ascended the throne in his place. In the face of this changed situation, he did not change his mind at all. He continued to wage war against the Kingdom of Cham and loyally served the new king without hesitation. When he received news that a traitor in the capital wanted to assassinate the king, he traveled back to the kingdom to help protect the king. But he arrived too late and the tragedy had already passed.

King Yasovarman II was assassinated, and his son, Princess Indra, probably also died around the same time. In 1165, according to the inscriptions at Banteay Chhmar Temple, the new king, King Tribhuvan Athit, prepared a coronation ceremony and declared himself the king of Cambodia. At that time, King Jayavarman VII did not mobilize his army to fight against the rebellious King to regain the throne.

He would stay in Siam, not allowing his mind and emotions to change and change according to his desires, anger, insults, and greed. He lived at Prasat Preah Khan in Kampong Svay Province (1), taking time to meditate, research, study, and wait for a good opportunity to serve the nation.

The results of his struggle
King Jayavarman VII waited for 17 years, from 1160 to 1177, until the good opportunity came. The Champa Kingdom's invasion of Cambodia and the death of King Chrek, prompted him to come forward and create a national liberation movement. He led the struggle against the Champa colony for 4 years, achieving good results.

In 1181 AD, when he liberated his homeland from the Cham, he was declared the King of Cambodia and was crowned king in the same year. At that time, it is estimated that King Jayavarman VII was about 50 years old. As for Queen Jayaraja Devi, in order to express his gratitude to the blessings of the Rattanatra, who helped her through her prayers, the king distributed all kinds of gifts to the temples and the people.

After Queen Jayaraja Devi died, her elder sister Indra Devi was crowned as Queen Jayavarman VII. She was a woman of high learning, brilliant intellect, and wisdom, famous for her knowledge and literature, and was compassionate and devoted to Buddhism. Queen Jayaraja Devi and Queen Indra Devi, the wives of King Jayavarman VII, both helped to give advice to their husbands in accordance with the Buddha's teachings.

King Jayavarman VII, the king of Cambodia, worshipped and believed in Mahayana Buddhism. Many of his sons believed in and made offerings to Buddhism. His son, Tamalin, was ordained as a monk and went to study in Sri Lanka. Another son, King Virakomar, wrote a well-written essay on Buddhism on the Stone carving at Preah Khan Temple.

Prestige
King Jayavarman VII, through his hard work, achieved success that could be considered personal success. But he used this success, the influence of his power, knowledge, experience and wisdom, to build the nation, providing happiness, peace, and prosperity to the people without discrimination of caste.

His construction was not only a large temple, he also built religious and social infrastructure. During his reign, the Kingdom of Champa became a Khmer province, and the Khmer territory also expanded greatly, becoming a major power in Southeast Asia. The Khmer Empire under King Jayavarman VII included Cambodia, Champa, present-day Laos, Siam, and a large part of Burma and Malaysia.

King Jayavarman VII of Cambodia died in 1202.