Why role did religion play in the pagan kingdom and Khmer empire?

Paganism, in the broadest sense, includes all other religions other than the one revealed by God, and in a narrower sense, all except Christianity, Judaism, Mohammedanism. The term is used as an equivalent of polytheism and plays an important role since this kingdom accepted a diversity of religions different from those accepted by then. The Khmer empire was founded under the aegis of Hinduism and would continue to be present in culture until contemporary times, the Empire would soon see a new religion arriving from Sri Lanka and its Theravada Buddhism during the 13th century. King Jayavarman VII was captivated by the teachings that were transmitted to him by the visiting monks of that country about the Buddha and without further, he converted to the new religion. Little by little all everyone would follow, but the Hindu elements would never disappear, creating a particular religious syncretism now easy to observe in modern Khmers.