Makuṭa
The ' (), variously known in several languages as makuta, mahkota, magaik, mokot, mongkut or chada""' (see below), is a type of headdress used as crowns in the Southeast Asian monarchies of today's Cambodia and Thailand, and historically in Java and Bali (Indonesia), Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar. They are also used in classical court dances in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand; such as "khol", "khon", the various forms of "lakhon", as well as "wayang wong" dance drama. They feature a tall pointed shape, are made of gold or a substitute, and are usually decorated with gemstones. As a symbol of  kingship, they are featured in the royal regalia of both Cambodia and Thailand. Etymology and origins. The crown, in its various forms, originated as headdresses symbolizing the , the matted hair of an ascetic formed into the shape of a crown, often found in the iconography of Shiva and Avalokiteśvara. By the turn of the 1st millennia, Hindu-Buddhists of Dharmic civilization emanating from the Indian subcontinent were absorbed and adopted by Indianized Kingdoms in Southeast Asia; from Mekong delta to coastal central Vietnam, from Java to Sumatra and Malay peninsula. Subsequently, the Sanskritization took place in Southeast Asia, hand in  hand with the adoption of the Hindu-Buddhist concept of kingship. Numbers of Sanskrit terms find their way into local languages in the region. The Pali/ Sanskrit word was faithfully adopted as "makuta" within Javanese and Balinese language to describe royal crown, and rendered as Jawi: مهکوتا and "mahkota" in Malay and Indonesian. The Khmer "mokot" (), Burmese "magaik" () and Thai "mongkut" () are derived from the same word too. While the Thai "chada" () is derived from Pali/Sanskrit . Variants. Cambodia. There are many types of "mokot" used in Cambodian tradition throughout its history. Most of mokot used for the Hindu deities  and kings who embraced Hinduism represented Mount Meru or Prang whereas for Buddhists, mokot is taller with single-spire presenting chedi (Buddhist stupa). In Royal Ballet of Cambodia, the crown worn by a male royal character of the highest rank is called a "mokot ksat" and a "mokot ksatrey" for female characters. Indonesia. Indonesia, especially Sumatra, Java, and Bali has adopted the Hindu-Buddhist concept of kingship as early as the 4th century CE. Thus the term "makuta" is loaned into Kawi language or Old Javanese that subsequently become the ancestor of modern Javanese and Balinese languages. In Sumatra, the  Old Malay term also adopted "makuta" and in turn render to "mahkota" in modern Malay and Indonesian languages. The typical classical Javanese Hindu-Buddhist "jatamakuta" is evident in numbers of statues and bas-reliefs of 9th century candis in Java, such as Mendut, Borobudur and Prambanan. The Javanese "makuta" model is more faithfully modeled after the classic Indian crown, which consists of "jamang" or "siger" diadem or tiara worn on the forehead encircling the head, while the hair is arranged in a high bun, decorated with a golden ring securing the hair bun, and several golden ornaments. The Javanese "makuta  crown is now used in traditional Wayang wong" dance-drama performance. Balinese crown was also modeled after the crown of the Javanese style. The "Makuta Binokasih Sanghyang Pake" is the golden crown of classic Javanese makuta style, originally the crown of Sunda Kingdom and has become the regalia of Sumedang Larang kingdom. The royal crown of Kutai Kartanegara Sultanate was designed in the classical Javanese style, which resembles a king's crown in the "Wayang wong" ("Wayang orang") performance in Java. Malaysia. In Malaysia, the "makuta" crown is used in traditional "Menora" dance-drama, which is performed mainly in the  northern states of Malaysia. The main Menora character, also known as the Menora, wore a "makuta", a kind of high crown made of soft metal. In Malay, this kind of crown is called "kecopong" instead of the usual Malay word for crowns, "mahkota". This "makuta" has 16 vertically rounded corners, with pom-poms, as well as pointed ears and decorative earrings. Myanmar. In pre-colonial Burmese kingdoms, the "magaik" was one of the five articles of regalia used during coronation ceremonies. The "magaik" also crowns prominent images of the Buddha. The "magaik" form of the hti, an umbrella that crowns  Burmese pagodas, has nine tiers. In modern-day Myanmar, the magaik is worn by dancers when performing classical forms of Burmese dance. Thailand. In Thailand, the headdress is known by two names: "chada" and "mongkut", and feature a distinctive tall, pointed shape, which was probably acquired from the "lomphok", a pointed cloth headdress of Persian origin, during the Ayutthaya period. In the Thai classical dance traditions of "khon" and the various forms of "lakhon", the "chada" is worn by male characters of royal status, while the "mongkut" is worn by females. There are many variants of "chada" and "mongkut", reflecting  the status of the wearer as well as the occasion. As a symbol of divinity, the "mongkut" often appears in the iconography of the Buddha and in artistic depictions of "devata" (divine beings). As a symbol of kingship, the Great Crown of Victory (Phra Maha Phichai Mongkut) forms part of the Regalia of Thailand. Other traditions. Similar crowns are occasionally worn in the Vietnamese Hát tuồng and Hát Chèo theatrical traditions, and are occasionally worn as part of festival garb.