Kamba and Soma
Cambodia’s First People
A myth is a traditional story, that most often tells us the early history of a people. The story is often connected to the landscape in which that history takes place and may give us insight into geological changes in the landscape. Although it often involves supernatural beings or events, they may take root in real events and reflect the actual relationship the early people had with the landscape they inhabited. Because our human history is rooted in migration, myths often include a journey and help build respect for the natural world. When I am on a journey and want to learn about a new place, I like to begin by understanding the physical place and then by beginning to listen to the first stories of the people. From these I begin to discover relationships, what was valued and what the role of women was in those stories. Many of the earliest histories of humans involves creation and the bringing together of different entities to create a new one. In many ways, this is the heart of giving birth. I offer you this story of the first people Khmer people that may have, as myths do, other versions. I first wrote this as a story for my grandchildren because I am far away and miss them.
Once upon a time there lived a great king who lived in a beautiful floating forest of
rivers, lakes and waterfalls. He was a kind king who lived within the form of a cobra so that he might easily travel throughout his kingdom visiting the many animals and plants who shared the earth in peace and harmony. He had seven heads to represent the colors of the rainbow and they each shown brightly in the sunlight after a warm rain. These colors also represented the seven races of humans who would one day find each other and be re-united in peace and wisdom.
The good king, Naga, knew that his people were dependent on the rains and the flooding of the rivers to feed and care for all the creatures of the kingdom. He helped them to care for the great rivers and thus each other. He had heard that were many other kingdoms in the world and would watch quietly as humans walked through their land. Sometimes they were in a hurry with heavy packs of things to sell and trade. He wondered where they were coming and where they came from. Others seemed wounded and tired and looked as if they were searching for a home. He noticed these things and wanted to keep his kingdom safe from the many things that seemed to burden the travelers.
One day a young man stopped and slept on a small piece of land emerging out of the river.. He could see that he was very tired. His boat was old and in bad repair as if it had come a long, long way. His young daughter, feeling pity for the young human,, picked many fruits from the forest and left them by his side. The King wanted to be rid of him but the daughter begged him to spare his life.
When the young man woke up, the great Naga King and his daughter were watching him. The King demanded know why he was traveling through their kingdom. The young man explained that he was a Brahman from India and that there was a terrible drought where he lived. His wife had died and he had set out on a journey to find a new home with rain and fertile land. He feared that his people had angered Shiva who had destroyed their land. He apologized that he had nothing to offer the king and his daughter but the stories of his land.
And so, each night, the king and his daughter brought him food and each night he told them the stories of his land. In time, the daughter fell in love with him and he with her. They asked the King if they might be married and he consented. The young man promised that he would build a kingdom, with his new wife that would be a stepping-stone to heaven.
They promised to bring his knowledge of art and writing and architecture and she would bring her father’s love of the natural world. Together they would give birth to a new people who would forever honor both nature and culture.
After the wedding, the good King, took in a deep breath and swallowed much of the water that covered the land so that the new people could grow rice and build homes.
The King grew old and happy as he watched his many grandchildren grow strong there in the forest by the river. These people thrived in the land of lakes and rivers and waterfalls. Throughout the land fruit and flowers grew in all the colors of the rainbow to feed the children and each year the rivers and lakes were refreshed with great rains so the people could fish and grow rice
One day he called his daughter and her husband to sit beside him by the river on the great smooth rock that captured the morning sun and warmed his ancient body. He told them that the time was coming near for him to find a resting place in the cool waters of the great river. He said his spirit would always be with them but they would need to take care of the earth and all its creatures. He told them that as long as they cared for the rivers, lakes and waterfalls there would not be any droughts and the people would have food. He told them to always-welcome guests, as they had welcomed his son-in-law so many years ago. High above, the birds sang, The gibbons played in the trees and the dolphins swam beside them. The people rested in hammocks before their homes. The water was clean and sweet.
His voice grew tired and weak, His seven heads shone in the morning light ;the seven colors of the rainbow worn on the great King Naga’s head; one for each color of the rainbow and one for each of all the human races.
Soma and Naga bowed their heads to the old king and promised to care for the land, the rivers and all the people of the land. Their children became the new kingdom of Cambodia. They honor their ancient king with carvings of his image
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