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

Archaeological evidences.

Vedas.

Buddhist Jatakas.

Sanskrit, Pali and Persian literature.

Indian folklore.

Mythology.

India’s Maritime Linkages with

South East Asia

Began in Ancient Period – 5th Century B.C.

Geographical proximity.

Treasure of Gold – Suvarnabhumi.

Influence 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

Indian rituals and celestial deities provided the sacro-religious legitimacy to local rulers.

Translation of Mahabharata into locallanguages.

Influence of Sanskrit.

Expansion of Hinduism and Buddhism.

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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