Camboja were also known in Champa and _vice versa_. In both
countries the national religion was Hinduism, mainly of the Sivaite
type, accompanied by Mahayanist Buddhism which occasionally came to
the front under royal patronage. In both any indigenous beliefs which
may have existed did not form a separate system. It is probable
however that the goddess known at Po-nagar as Bhagavati was an ancient
local deity worshipped before the Hindu immigration and an inscription
found at Mi-son recommends those whose eyes are diseased to propitiate
Kuvera and thus secure protection against Ekakshapingala, "the tawny
one-eyed (spirit)." Though this goddess or demon was probably a
creation of local fancy, similar identifications of Kali with the
spirits presiding over cholera, smallpox, etc., take place in India.

The social system was theoretically based on the four castes, but
Chinese accounts indicate that in questions of marriage and
inheritance older ideas connected with matriarchy and a division into
clans still had weight. But the language of the inscriptions is most
orthodox. King Vikrantavarman[349] quotes with approval the saying
that the horse sacrifice is the best of good deeds and the murder of a
Brahman the worst of sins. Brahmans, chaplains (purohita), pandits and
ascetics are frequently mentioned as worthy of honour and gifts.
The high priest or royal chaplain is styled Sriparamapurohita but
it does not appear that there was a sacerdotal family enjoying the
unique position held by the Sivakaivalyas in Camboja. The frequent
changes of capital and dynasty in Champa were unfavourable to
continuity in either Church or State.

Sivaism, without any hostility to Vishnuism or Buddhism, was the
dominant creed. The earliest known inscription, that of Vo-can,
contains indications of Buddhism, but three others believed to date
from about 400 A.D. invoke Siva under some such title as
Bhadresvara, indicating that a temple had been dedicated to him by
King Bhadravarman. Thus the practice of combining the names of a king
and his patron deity in one appellation existed in Champa at this
early date.[350] It is also recorded from southern India, Camboja and
Java. Besides Siva one of the inscriptions venerates, though in a
rather perfunctory manner, Uma, Brahma, Vishnu and the five
elements. Several inscriptions[351] give details of Sivaite
theology which agree with what we know of it in Camboja. The world
animate and inanimate is an e