Po Nagar temple: Evidence of cultural development and transition in the Champa kingdom

The Po Nagar temple, located in Nha Trang, Vietnam, was built by the Champa Kingdom during the 8th century C.E. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Bhagavati. The Cham peoples were a Hinduized culture, and many indigenous deities were transformed into Hindu deities. Within the Cham culture, the indigenous goddess Po Nagar was Indianized as Bhagavati, sakti of Shiva. The history of Po Nagar temple is evidence of an attempt by Cham kings to create and maintain a unified kingdom during periods of unrest and increasing foreign invasion. The dedication of Po Nagar temple to the Hindu goddess Bhagavati is central to this attempt, as it indicates a return to (or re-emergence of) female-based religious beliefs typical of pre-Indianized southern regions of the Champa Kingdom.