Jayavarman V
Jayavarman V was a king of the Khmer Empire who ruled from about 968 to 1001. He became king at around ten years old after his father, Rajendravarman, and was followed by Suryavarman I after his death. He ruled from Jayendrapura, the royal temple city, and the empire had about 20 cities during his time.
As a child, Jayavarman V was guided by the court, but he studied under a wise teacher named Yajnavaraha, a grandson of Harshavarman I. Yajnavaraha was a renowned scholar in Buddhism, medicine, and astronomy. In 967 he built Banteay Srei, a temple famous for its beautiful carvings.
When Jayavarman V was seventeen, he began building his own state shrine called Ta Keo. During construction, a thunderbolt struck the temple, which people saw as a bad omen. Priests tried to dispel the danger, but the building was never finished.
The king’s court was dominated by powerful noble families, especially the Saptadevakula, who controlled many royal affairs and helped the future king Suryavarman I rise to power in 1002. Although he followed Shaivism (Hinduism), Jayavarman V supported Buddhism, and the religion flourished during his reign. A Buddhist minister, Kirtipandita, brought ancient texts from abroad and suggested that both Buddhist and Hindu prayers be used in rituals. This period also saw more opportunities for women in government. Jahavi, Yajnavaraha’s sister, helped raise funds for Banteay Srei, since the king did not fund it alone. Indralakshmi, Jayavarman V’s sister, married an Indian scholar, and Chinese writers praised Cambodian women for their knowledge of astrology and governance, noting that some women even held high posts, such as judges.
Jayavarman V’s thirty-year reign was peaceful and prosperous. He died in 1001 and was given the posthumous name Paramaviraloka.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:28 (CET).