Queen Soma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soma |
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| Queen of Funan | |||||
| Reign | 1st century CE | ||||
| Predecessor | Inaugural holder | ||||
| Successor | Kaundinya I | ||||
| Born | Funan | ||||
| Spouse | Kaundinya I | ||||
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| Religion | Khmer Animism, Hinduism | ||||
Soma (Khmer: សោមា) was a powerful leader of the Kingdom of Funan. Many people believe she was the very first ruler of Cambodia. She was also the first female leader in Cambodia's history. Soma was married to Kaundinya I, who was also known as "Huntien" and "Preah Thong." She is known by several names, including Soma (Indian), Liǔyè (Chinese), Liễu Diệp (Vietnamese), and Neang Neak (Khmer).
Who Was Queen Soma?
Queen Soma and her husband, Kaundinya I, are famous in Khmer stories. They are known as "Preah Thong (Kaundinya) and Neang Neak (Soma)". Two Chinese travelers, Kang Tai and Zhu Ying, wrote about them. They said that the kingdom of Funan was started by an Indian merchant. This merchant was a wise man from ancient Kalinga named Kaundinya.
The Legend of Soma and Kaundinya
Stories say that an Indian merchant ship was sailing when it was attacked. The attackers were pirates led by Soma. She was the daughter of the leader of a local Nāga clan. The Nāga are mythical serpent beings.
The merchants, led by Kaundinya, fought back bravely. They managed to scare off the pirates. However, their ship was damaged. They had to land it on the shore for repairs. The Indians were worried about another attack.
But Princess Soma was very impressed by Kaundinya's courage. She decided to ask him to marry her. Kaundinya agreed to her proposal. Their marriage led to the start of a new royal family. This family became the rulers of Funan for many years.
The Importance of the Naga
This founding story also explains why the serpent (Naga) is so important in Khmer art. Even a thousand years later, during the time of the Khmer Empire at Angkor, this special union was a big part of royal ceremonies. It showed the deep connection between the rulers and the Naga spirits.
