Hindu Empires in South Asia
THERE has been nonrecognition of antiquity of India in West
due to bias and Eurocentric attitude. Findings of Mohanjo Daro and Harappa are
vastly being ignored. Satellite images showing dried up Saraswati River
[2000BC] is being sidelined. The theory of Aryan invasion into India from
somewhere has been so often repeated by Western scholars that it has become an
article of faith even with Indian scholars! Most of the literature of ancient
India got lost with time and available one was destroyed by Muslims and
British. Evidence is accumulating day by day that Aryans were Indian people,
some of whom migrated to Iran and West. Indologists who invented invasion
theory said Rigveda was compiled in 250BC. This date is highly debatable. Pargitar believes oldest
Puranas were written at the time of Vedic texts. Mythology is seen in every
religion and is given due space in religious discussions but Purana writings
are being widely ignored. A double standard! Prof Winternitz thinks Vedic
literature begins before 2500BC—2000BC.
To most of historians India means west and northern India. Eastern and Southern India is in foot notes of history .South and East have played significant role in India's past and are playing significant role in present day India. Indian empires and trade went beyond shores of India in ancient past. Sangam literature talks of interactions of southern India with rest of world especially South East Asia. Now it is established fact that Sri Lanka was geographically part of India.. Rise of sea levels separated Sri Lanka from rest of India. Lots of coastal areas both in Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats got submerged in water due to rising sea levels. Submerged DWARKA In west and Mahablipuram in east is testimony to this sea level rise. Chewing of Paan came from South East Asia to India. Even today Baliyatra is celebrated in Cuttack , reminder of trade with Bali in past. South had many kingdoms of repute, like Pallava , Pandya ,Chola etc. Pallava ruled over Tamil Nadu , parts of Karnataka ,Andhra and part of Sri Lanka. Most of Pallava kingdom is under water now.Their capital was at Kanchipuram. There was a chola king RAJA raja whose rule extended up to Maldives.. He ascended throne in 985AD.Two brothers --Huka and Buka established Vijayanagar empire in 1336AD.This kingdom lasted till 1600AD.
There was establishment of Indian kingdoms in South East Asia. Adoption of Indian civilization elements helped in development of South East ASIA. Indianization is different from colonization. Except for Chola invasion there have been no invasion from India in this region. There was a cultural invasion instead. Beginning of Indianization marked start of culture in South East Asia. It is Brahman scholars who spread traditions in elite class. Later it spread in masses very easily. Brahmans were experts in Politics, Art and knowledge. There is role of traders in this Indianization also. It is due to traders there were frequent exchanges of goods and ideas in the region. Sanskrit language was used in all aspects of life. It became language of judiciary and codes. Many rulers started thinking themselves as god incarnates as said in Puranas. This practice was abandoned after Buddhists came in region. Epic traditions of Ramayana and Mahabharata legitimized ruler as God sent. Indian religion was profoundly absorbed in local cultures. Champa ,Kutai, Funan , Tarumanagara etc had adopted Hindu cosmology and rituals by first to fourth century AD. They even adopted caste system but with less strictness. One could change caste by changing profession unlike strict Indian caste system. South East Asia became”Suvarnadipa” after Indianization. There were seven major kingdoms in South ASIA.
.1. kambuja:-- This kingdom was founded by Jayavarman11. On 802AD he was consecrated at Mahendra Parvat This Khmer empire started in 9th century ended by 14th century. Buddhism came to this place in 11th century. It is Jayavarman who united warring factions under the name “Kambuja”.This indianised kingdom facilitated spread of Hinduism in kingdom. Kingdom undertook many religious infrastructural projects, constructed over 1000 temples. Most famous temple “Angkor watt” was constructed which is now world heritage site
.2. Chenla kingdom:--This kingdom succeeded Funan. Its first ruler Viravarman adopted divine kingship. He obeyed laws of Manu Smiriti and implemented them in his kingdom
.3. Funan kingdom:-- They occupied Southernmost part of Indochina, reigned from 1st to 6th century.Its language , an early Khmer had Sanskrit in written form.
.4. Champa:-- This kingdom started in 2nd century in present day's South and central Vietnam
.5.Mon kingdom:-- This kingdom started in lower Burma . They ruled from 9th century to1539AD
.6. Thai kingdom:-- THIS KINGDOM WENT BY NAME OF Sukhothai , ruled in 13th century
.7. Langkasnka.. This Hindu kingdom ruled Malay Peninsula
.
Beside these major kingdoms there were smaller kingdoms also.In JAVA, Present day Indonesia] there were kingdoms like Salakanagara, Kadiri , Kalingga. In central Java there was important kingdom of Medang Mataram. This family ruled from 800AD-1100AD.Singhasari kingdom replaced Kadiri . King Majapahit came into power after assassination of Singasari king by Kadiri prince.Majapahit was greatest and last Hindu ruler of the region. He ruled from central Java.
Sunda ,Galuh, Malayu ,Tambralinga are other significant rulers of the region. Tarumanagara kingdom had capital near present day Jakarta. Its king Purnavarman was a Vishnu devotee, constructed Vishnu temples in the region
.Sumatara had its own kingship. Srivijaya empire ruled Sumatara from700AD—1300AD.Buddhist Sailendra and Hindu dynasty Mataram were ruling dynasties of Indonesia. In BALI Warmadewas established rule in 10th century. This dynasty was followed by Jaya dynasty. After 1343AD Bali was ruled by dynasties of Samprangan and Gelgel.83.5% of Bali population adhere to Balinese Hinduism even today. In ancient Bali nine Hindu sects existed---Pasupata ,Bhairwa, Siwa shidanta, Waisnawa, Bodha ,Brahma ,Resi, Sora and Ganpataya. See their closeness to Hindu gods of today. Each sect revered a special deity as its personal Godhead. Balinese culture was highly influenced by Indian culture. Majapahit ,Java emperor later colonized Bali in 1343AD.Ancient Hindu kingdoms of Java built many temples and named rivers on island as Gomti and Ganges. Presently Hindus are concentrated in Bali ,Java and Sumatara in Indonesia. Indonesian govt recognizes Hinduism as Monotheistic with beliefs of one God, all gods are manifestation of supreme God and a belief in Trimurti. This is significant in view of Indonesia being Muslim state. Our western orientated intellectuals should take lesson from this Indonesian constitution. Balinese Hinduism is a amalgam of Indian religion and indigenous animist customs. Bali Hinduism is rightly called”Agma Hindu Dharma”. Numerous sastras have been translated into Javanese language. Tengger Hindus of Java do not believe in caste system. There are even Hindu holidays in Indonesia though being a Islamic state. There is a mass movement to regain cultural sites. This is what is not happening in Hindu India. What a tragedy? National emblem of Indonesia is called Garuda Pancasila. Can you think of GARUDA in Indian emblem? It will be declared communal by secularists of India. Langkasuka dynasty rose in 2nd century and ruled Malay peninsula [present Malaysia] till1500AD. Malay peninsula southern part was ruled by Srivijayan empire between 700AD-1300AD. By 1400AD King Majapahit took control of the peninsula. Thailand also was ruled by Indianized kingdoms such as Mon ,Khmer and Malay states.Pallva version of brahmi script has been used to write Khmer, Thai ,Laos , Burmese and Javenese languages. This shows how much Indian influence exists in these countries. Largest Hindu temple in BALI is under sea, Siva temple of champa culture in Vietnam , valley of Siva lingas in Cambodia is testimony to dominance of Hinduism in this region in past. We will high light below two existing Hindu temples in Cambodia , one of them is now under world heritage category
.Mahendraparvat:--
This lost city of Cambodia was found with laser scanning in 2012AD.Word Mahendraparvat means “Mountain of Indra”.It is 40 KM away from famous Angkor wat. Its origin is dated 820AD , 350 years before Angkor wat . This city is linked to reign of king Jayavarman11.This city built 1200 years back was first capital of Angkor civilization. This mountain is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists and to Cambodians in general. Attraction for tourists is river of a thousand Lingas, colossal reclining Buddha and a water fall. River of thousand Lingas features ninth century carvings on sand stone river bed. One can see mass decapitations of statuary. These heads of deities, Lions and dancing women have been sold out by marauders.
Angkor Wat:--
This temple complex was built by king Suryavarman11 [1200AD]. Temple complex was dedicated to Lord Vishnu, later Buddhist elements were added. Thai’s destroyed city of Khmer in 1431AD. Angkor was abandoned in 1500AD and a new city Phnom Penh was built near coast. Word ANGKOR means city and Wat means temple. It is now world heritage site now. It is world’s largest religious monument. It was built to represent Mount Meru. Temple faces West instead of east. Temple was rebuilt by Jayavarman. Shaivism was dominant in area before King Suryavarman built this temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Walls of temple are full of Hindu stories. Site measures around 162.2 hectares. Temple is a combine of Temple Mountain and galleried temple. According to legend temple was ordered by Indra to serve palace for his son Precha Ket Mealea. Temple’s western orientation could be due to “Funerary” where all rituals take place in reverse order OR it could be due to its dedication to Vishnu, who is associated with west. Temple is made of Sand stone instead of brick. Its features include outer enclosure, three rectangular galleries rising to central tower. Shrine originally occupied Vishnu statue , later converted to Theravada Buddhism. Walls of outer gallery have scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Eastern gallery shows churning of sea of milk by Asuras and Devas. Northern gallery shows Krishna’s victory over Banasura. Temple is also decorated with depictions of Apsaras and Devtas. Roofing of galleries decorated with the motif of the body of snake ending in the heads of Lions or Garudas. Monument made of sand stones has 5-10 mil sand stone blocks, far greater than stone used in Pyramids. Virtually all its surfaces, columns, Lintels and roofs are carved. Archeological survey of India carried out restoration work between 1986—1992 of this temple
.Conclusion:--
