Download India`s Ancient Maritime Linkages with South

India's Ancient Maritime Linkages with
South-East Asian Nations: Social, Culture
& Religious Aspects.
“Do Thou, Whose countenance is turned
to all sides, send off our adversaries as if
in a ship, to the opposite shore: do Thou
convey us in a ship across the sea for our
welfare.”
- Rig Veda. 1., 97, 7 and 8.
India’s Maritime Heritage
¾Archaeological evidences.
¾Vedas.
¾Buddhist Jatakas.
¾Sanskrit, Pali and Persian literature.
¾Indian folklore.
¾Mythology.
India’s Maritime Linkages with
South East Asia
¾ Began in Ancient Period – 5th Century B.C.
¾ Geographical proximity.
¾Treasure of Gold – Suvarnabhumi.
¾Influence of Indian Culture, language,
customs and Religion.
India’s Maritime Linkages with
South East Asia
According to Sir Aurel Stein, “The vast extent
of Indian cultural influences, from Central
Asia in the North to tropical Indonesia in the
South, and from the Borderlands of Persia to
China and Japan, has shown that ancient India
was a radiating centre of a civilization, which
by its religious thought, its art and literature,
was destined to leave its deep mark on the
races wholly diverse and scattered over the
greater part of Asia.”
India’s Maritime Linkages with
South East Asia
According to Van Heur,
“The South East Asian rulers, learned
the Indian culture through maritime
linkages, recognized the advantages of
certain elements of Indian civilization
and drew from the Indian tradition for
their own benefit.”
India’s Maritime Linkages with
South East Asia
According to Amaury de Riencourt,
“The brightest sun shining over
Southeast Asia in the first centuries A.D.
was Indian Civilization. Waves of Indian
colonists, traders, soldiers, Brahmins and
Buddhist beat upon one Southeast shore
after another. ...”
Influence of India over South East Asia
¾ Indian rituals and celestial deities provided the
sacro-religious legitimacy to local rulers.
¾ Translation of Mahabharata into local
languages.
¾ Influence of Sanskrit.
¾ Expansion of Hinduism and Buddhism.
¾ Influence of Indian architecture on temples.
Spread of Hinduism in South East Asia
Spread of Buddhism Ayutthaya in Thailand which was
named after Ayodhya
The 9th century Shivaistic temple of
Prambanan in Central Java near Yogyakarta,
the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia
Siva temple bas-relief.
Prambanan, Indonesia
Phuket
Angkor Wat in Cambodia is the largest
Hindu temple in the world
Hindu goddess Durga Mahisasuramardini in
Prambanan northern cella, 9th Century Medang i
Bhumi Mataram Kingdom in Central Java.
Besakih Temple near Bali Island
Statue of Hindu deity Murugan at the
Batu Caves, Kaula Lumpur in Malaysia
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