Sundararavarman

Śrī Sundararavarman (Thai: ศรีสุนทรวรมัน) is documented in the Śrī Canāśa Inscription (K.949) as the sovereign of Canasapura,^{[1]: 122 [2]} whose political center was situated at Si Thep, with Mueang Sema serving as a prominent regional administrative center.^{[3]: 32–4} His reign appears to have been characterized by the ascendancy of Shaivism, as indicated by the royal epithet -varman, a titular element conventionally associated with Hindu monarchs of the period. This religious orientation contrasts with that of his predecessor, who is believed to have adhered to Buddhist traditions.^[2] The material culture of Si Thep during Sundararavarman’s reign further corroborates this shift, as evidenced by architectural remains that display a pronounced stylistic convergence with contemporaneous Angkorian Hindu temple styles.^{[4][5]: 303, 308–309}

Epigraphic evidence also records that Sundararavarman fathered two sons. The elder, Narapatisimhavarman, succeeded him as ruler, while the younger son is credited with commissioning the Śrī Canāśa Inscription, thereby perpetuating both dynastic memory and religious-political legitimacy.^[2] However, the eastern region centered on Talung (เมืองตลุง or ตะลุมดอ), situated in the present-day Prakhon Chai district, appears to have exercised a substantial degree of political autonomy during the reign of Sundararavarman. In this context, a new ruler—bearing the regnal name Mahidharavarman I—emerged around 920 and established a new political center in the Phanom Rung area, known as Kasitindrakama.^[6] Its political orientation was defined by strong and enduring affiliations with Angkor to the south.^[7]

During his rule, the earliest settlement in the swamp basin corresponding to present-day Ayutthaya was reportedly founded by a noble from Bang Pan to the north.^[8]: 30