sk ऐरावत airāvata "belonging to Iravati" | kh អៃរាវតា aireavta | pali Erāvana | th เอราวัณ "Erawan".
Airavata is the divine elephant, characterized by four tusks, seven trunks and a white complexion, the main vehicle for Indra, the third son of Iravati, with Abhramu, his elephant wife, at his side.
In Cambodia, អៃរាវតា Airavata is generally represented with three heads, and he is one of the elephants supporting the four quarters of the world. The main elephant sanctuary in modern Cambodia bears the name of Airavata Foundation (Ratanakiri Province).
In Thailand, Erawan became the symbol of Bangkok during its foundation as the capital of the new Rattanakosin Kingdom. The three-headed white elephant was also an icon in the ancient Lao Kingdom of Lan Xang.
Indian ruler who unified India through the Maurya Empire and ruled from c. 269 BCE to c. 232 BCE. During his reign Buddhism was adopted as the state religion. He sent Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, in particular.
Ashoka hailed from Magadha, Maurya dynasty's home province, and came to be called Devanampriya Priyadarsi Raja, ‘the king who is the beloved of the gods and who glances graciously upon al, or simply Devanampriya, or king Priyadarsi, or Priyadarsana [‘one having an amiable appearance’]. Tradition says that the fuller form of Asoka’s name was Asokavardhana.
"Gautama the Buddha and the Maurya emperor Asoka are two of the greatest sons of India and the world, and their lives and achievements stand among India’s best contributions to human civilization", wrote Indian scholar D.C. Sircar.
His important Edicts were inscribed on stone in Prakrit, Greek and Aramaic languages.
Ashoka Chakra, "the wheel of Righteousness" (Dharma in Sanskrit, Dhamma in Pali), adorns India's national flag.
sk असुर , possibly from असु " asu, "departed spirits", fem. असुरी asuri | kh អសុរ asor, fem. អសុរ៉ី asori, "monster", "demon" | tb ལྷ་མིན lha min | ch 阿修罗 axiuluo | jp 阿修羅 asura
Asuras are power-seeking deities related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism, and in the Buddhist context "giants", "demigods", or "antigods".
Asuras are a class of beings fathered by Kashyapa Rishi and mothered by Diti and Danu. Asuras born of Diti are called Daitya (meaning sons of Diti) and those born of Danu are called Danava (meaning sons of Danu). In Hinduism, Diti (sk दिति) is a daughter of Daksha, the mother of the Asuras and supporter of Asuric attributes. She is mother of both the Marutas and the Asuras ( Daityas and Dhanavas) with the sage Kashyapa. She is said to have wanted to have a son who would be more powerful than Indra.
According to Hindu texts, the asuras are in constant fear of the devas. Asuras are described in Indian texts as powerful superhuman demigods with good or bad qualities. In early Vedic literature, the good Asuras are called Adityas and are led by Varuna, while the malevolent ones are called Danavas and are led by Vritra. In the earliest layer of Vedic texts Agni, Indra and other gods are also called Asuras, in the sense of their being "lords" of their respective domains, knowledge and abilities. In later Vedic and post-Vedic texts, the benevolent gods are called Devas, while malevolent Asuras compete against these Devas and are considered "enemy of the gods".
In the Khmer tradition, អសុរ are "monsters", "demons", "evil spirits" who roam the country at night, dwell at Asurabhupa, their place at the foot of Mount Meru and are led by Asura Reach, King Vepachit, their sovereign. Their mother is Socheata Asura Kanha (នាងសុជាតាអសុរកញ្ញា "bride of Asura"), who became the wife of Indra (ព្រះឥន្ទ Preah Int). Asura sculptures at entrance temples are a trait of Angkorean architecture, and the battle of the Devas and the Asuras is depicted on Angkor Wat bas-reliefs.
