The Krishna of Phnom Da

Krishna’s historical and spiritual influence was not limited to South Asia, but rather also travelled vast oceans to shape Southeast Asian civilizations, where dating back to the 6th century CE, during the early Funan period, archeologists discover a 1500 year old grand stone sculpture of Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana at the Phnom Da temples in southern Cambodia. This masterpiece, depicting Krishna’s marvelous stories, highlights how his narrative of divine protection had deeply resonated with Cambodian rules. Therefore it serves as monumental evidence how Krishna;s voice transcended international waters, embedding itself into the cultural and political foundations of the earliest empires of Southeast Asia.