Describe the spread of Indian culture in Cambodia (Kamboj).

Ancient India had great religious and cultural ties with Cambodia.

a) In 1^st century AD, an Indian named Kaudinya established a kingdom in Kamboj. He married a girl from a local tribe of Nagi. He taught the residents of Kamboj about clothes, and brought civilisation to the people.

b) In the 9^th century, successors of Jai Verma helped the spread of Indian languages, customs, astronomy and sciences in Cambodia. Surya Verma II built a Vishnu temple, called Angkor Vat here. Jai Verma II built another Vishnu temple called Angkor Thom.

c) Through the inscriptions, we know that the cities of Kamboj had distinctively Indian names, for example, Tamrapur, Adhyapur and Vikrampur.

d) There were deep cultural ties with India in the region. Yagnas were practiced and education was provided in Ashramas according to the rules of the Shastras.

e) Idol worship of shiva, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Ganga, Chandi was practiced, and Indian literature- Ved Puranas, Mahabharata and Ramayana were also spread.