Yajnavaraha

Yajnavaraha (10th century) was priest-doctor and a royal physician at the court of king Rajendravarman in Angkor, Cambodia, practising traditional Cambodian medicine and Ayurveda.[1] He was of royal descent and was the grandson of King Harshavarman I.[2]: 117 [3]: 79  Most of his learning was from his father Damodara, who was a vedic scholar. He was known for his religious contributions and helping the poor. He was rewarded for this with a parasol of peacock feathers. He was also a musician and an astronomer at the royal court. Along with his younger brother, Vishnukumara, he commissioned the erection of a Shaivite temple called Isvarapura or Banteay Srei, 15 miles north of Angkor Wat.[4]: 367  He went on to become the guru of King Jayavarman V and practised ayurvedic medicine at the royal court. He was given the title vrah guru (holy spiritual master) by Jayavarman V.[5]

  1. ^ Rethy Chhem. (2007). Yajnavaraha. In W. Bynum & H. Bynum (Eds.), Dictionary of Medical Biography (pp. 1331–1332). Greenwood Press.
  2. ^ Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella (ed.). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
  3. ^ Higham, C., 2001, The Civilization of Angkor, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, ISBN 9781842125847
  4. ^ Higham, C., 2014, Early Mainland Southeast Asia, Bangkok: River Books Co., Ltd., ISBN 9786167339443
  5. ^ Albanese, Marilia (2002). Angkor: Splendors of the Khmer Civilization (illustrated ed.). White Star. ISBN 9788880958307.