On Some Tantrik Texts Studied in Ancient Kambuja
By P. C. Bagchi
Summary
In this scholarly note the author investigates the circulation of Tantric Sanskrit texts in ancient Cambodia (Kambuja). Using evidence from newly discovered inscriptions and palm‑leaf manuscripts, he identifies several treatises—including the Kālacakra, Hevajra and Guhyasamāja—that were known to Cambodian scholars in the early second millennium. The article traces how these works were transmitted via Hindu‑Buddhist monks and merchants from Bengal and Java, and how they were adapted in the Khmer royal cults. By comparing the Cambodian texts with their Indian and Tibetan counterparts, the author detects modifications in mantra sequences and ritual prescriptions that reflect local cosmological concepts and royal aspirations. He also discusses the iconography of Tantric deities at Angkor and examines how architectural layouts encoded mandalic principles. The paper thus bridges textual, epigraphic and archaeological data to show that Tantrism was an important component of cultural exchange between India and Southeast Asia and that the Khmer courts selectively assimilated foreign esoteric traditions to bolster their own legitimacy.
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Conclusion
The note highlights the rich intercultural interactions that shaped Tantric traditions in Southeast Asia. By focusing on Cambodia, it demonstrates that Tantric texts were not confined to the Indian subcontinent but were part of a wider religious ecumene. The study encourages further comparative research on the localisation of esoteric practices and their role in statecraft and temple architecture.