Indonesia, is an archipelago consisting of about 18000 islands stretching along the equator in southeast Asia. It is world's largest island country as well as the most populous muslim majority country in the world. Today one might find it difficult to believe, but the archipelago was once one of the greatest centers of Indian culture, traditions and religion outside India. Hindu and Buddhist dynasties ruled over Indonesia from 1st Century AD till 16th Century.
Ancient Indian Sanskrit scriptures have mentioned about Yavadwipa, a hindu kingdom in Java. In India's earliest epic, the Ramayana, Sugriva, the chief of Rama's army dispatched his men to Yawadwipa, the island of Java, in search of Sita. According to the ancient Tamil text Manimekalai, Java had a kingdom with a capital called Nagapuram. A sculpture of Lord Ganesha dating back to 1st Century AD was found on the summit of Mount Raksa, Panaitan island, West Java.
A number of Hindu and Buddhist states flourished and then declined across Indonesia. First among these was Salakanagara kingdom, founded by Devavarman I in 132 AD, who was an Indian trader or ambassador sent to establish relations with Javadwipa. Ancient Chinese manuals also talk a certain Hindu King Deva Varman of Java who had sent presents to the the Chinese emperor of Han dynasty in the year 132 AD.
It was followed by Tarumanagara kingdom, in 358 AD. It was founded by Jayasingavarman who originated from Salankayana dynasty of Andhra region of India that collapsed after the invasion of Gupta ruler Samudragupta. After re-settling in Western Java, he married a Sundanese princess daughter of King Devavarman VIII of Salakanagara.
It was during the reign of Purnavarman of Tarumanagara dynasty that Hindu influences in Indonesia reached new heights. Purnavarman issued the earliest known stone inscriptions in Indonesia. Ciaruteun inscription or 'Prasasti', dated from the 5th century AD, written in Indian Pallava script and in Sanskrit language is of utmost importance. King Purnavarman made an imprint of his footprints and inscribed the following lines:
"The powerful illustrious and brave King, the famous Purnawarman (of the) Tarumanagara (kingdom) whose (print of the) foot soles are the same (as those of) God Vishnu." - Ciaruteun inscription
In another inscription nearby, two large footprints of an elephant are engraved with the lines that they are akin to Airavat - the mount of Lord Indra.
Around the same period, in the 6th to 7th century, the Kalingga Kingdom was established in the northern coast of Central Java. The name of this kingdom was derived from ancient Indian kingdom of Kalinga, which suggest the ancient link between India and Indonesia. The political history of Indonesian archipelago during the 8th to 11th centuries was dominated by the Buddhist Srivijaya kingdom based in Sumatra island and the Hindu-Buddhist Mataram kingdom of Central Java.
Srivijaya was the first unified kingdom to dominate much of the Indonesian archipelago. It was an ethnic Malay kingdom originating in Sumatra and which rose to become a hegemon in Southeast Asia thanks to its great naval power, and was involved in close interactions, often rivalries, with the neighbouring Java, Kambuja (Cambodia) and Champa (Vietnam). Srivijaya kingdom was a stronghold of the Vajrayana Buddhism which they propagated throughout their area of influence.
Mataram or Medang kingdom flourished in Central Java between the 8th and 10th centuries. The kingdom was ruled by the Sanjaya and the Sailendra dynasties. This period saw the rapid advances in Javanese art and architecture with massive Indian influences. The Sanjaya dynasty was the follower of Hinduism. King Pikatan built the massive Prambanan Temple in Java. It is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in Southeast Asia. King Dharmawangsa ordered the translation of the Hindu Epic Mahabharata into Old Javanese in 996 AD.
The Sailendra dynasty of Mataram, Java was initially Hindu but later adopted Mahayana Buddhism. They built the largest Buddhist temple in the world - Borobudur in Central Java in 9th Century AD. The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa.
The Hindu Majapahit kingdom was founded in eastern Java in the late 13th century, and under Gajah Mada it experienced what is often referred to as a "Golden Age" in Indonesian history, when its influence extended to much of southern Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Bali from about 1293 to around 1500.
By 16th Century Arab and Persian traders found their way to Indonesia through their Indian counterparts (especially traders from Gujarat). With these Arab and Persian traders came Islam and Islamic missionaries. Gradually initially but surely, from current day Malaysia and Sumatra, Islam started gaining a firm footing in the whole of South East Asia. The coastal kingdoms were to first to adopt Islam. Raja gave way to Sultan. And just in subsequent 200-300 years, the ancient Hindu civilization vanished, the Indonesian Archipelago became dominated by Muslims.
Rulers might have changed so does politics and religion. But Indian influence on Indonesia is still evident. The Indonesia Bahasa (language) is greatly influenced by its Hindu heritage. In fact, Sanskrit was the court language of the Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms of yester-years. Almost all inscriptions found in archaeological excavations were in Sanskrit. Sample this – land is bumi (à¤ूमि), vehicle – wahan (वाहन), first – perthama (प्रथमा), danger – bahaya (à¤à¤¯), girl – wanita (वनिता) , human being – manusia (मनुष्य) , grief – duka (दुःख), like-suka – (सुख), perfect – sempurna (संपूर्ण), pure – suci (शुचि), work – karya/kerja (कार्य), dusk/twilight – senja (संध्या) , bahaya – danger/fear (à¤à¤¯), bahagia – fortunate/happy (à¤ाग्य), kaca – mirror (कांच) …and so on. Garuda Airlines is the national carrier and currency notes have images of Lord Ganesha.
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