Yajnavaraha

Yajnavaraha lived in the tenth century and served as a priest and doctor, holding the post of royal physician at the court of King Rajendravarman at Angkor in Cambodia. He practised traditional Cambodian medicine and Ayurveda. Of royal descent as a grandson of King Harshavarman I, he learned most of what he knew from his father Damodara, a Vedic scholar. He was known for his religious contributions and for helping the poor, and was also a musician and an astronomer at the court. With his younger brother Vishnukumara he commissioned the Shaivite temple called Isvarapura, or Banteay Srei, north of Angkor Wat. He became guru to King Jayavarman V, who gave him the title vrah guru, meaning holy spiritual master.