A Buddhist Procession Inaugurated in a 7th-century Inscription from Óc Eo (K. 1426) and the Ancient Toponym Tamandarapura
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Abstract
This article presents a reading and translation of inscription K. 1426, discovered recently at the Óc Eo archeological site in the Mekong Delta. The stela, inscribed in Southeast Asian Brāhmī script typical of the 7th century, references King Jayavarman I (654–694 ce). Face A features Sanskrit stanzas detailing a royal grant to the Buddhist Sandalwood Monastery (Candanavihāra) for an annual Vaiśākha full moon procession and donations to support the procession of a Buddha image. Face B, in Old Khmer, reiterates these details and outlines the management of this monastery. The new inscription sheds light on early Buddhist rituals in Óc Eo–Ba Thê and identifies Tamandarapura, possibly the site’s ancient name in southern Vietnam.
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