I’m finishing work not done in past 30 years: PM Modi

I’m finishing work not done in past 30 years: PM Modi tells Indians in Shanghai

by May 16, 2015

Shanghai: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday broke his silence on opposition criticism over his frequent foreign visits and took veiled digs at his critics back home, saying he was being attacked for "tireless" work and asserted that if it was a "crime" he would continue to do it.

Modi, who came under attack over his criticism of previous governments during his last trip to Germany, France and Canada, "People are asking why is Modi travelling to so many countries...If you work less, criticism is normal. If you keep sleeping, criticism is normal. But it is my bad luck that I am being criticised for working more."

He asserted that "If working more is a crime, I will keep doing it. My commitment is to the people."

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PM Narendra Modi addressing the Indian community in Shanghai. PTI

Addressing Indian community here before winding up his three-day China tour, he said "times are changing" and the world is now looking at India differently because of the performance of his government during the last one year which was a "matter of pride" for every citizen.

Modi, who recounted that it was on this day last year that results of the Lok Sabha elections came, said he had then made three commitments -- "I will work tirelessly", "I am inexperienced and will learn" and that "I will not do any wrong with bad intent".

He said he had fulfilled all the three commitments.

"For the last one year, I have not taken even one day's leave. I have worked day and night. Did I go on any vacation? Do I take rest? Am I not implementing my promise," he said.

His reference to "vacation" may be seen as a swipe at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who is facing questions over his 56-day mysterious sabbatical.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had last week accused Modi of playing domestic politics on foreign soil by attacking his "distinguished" predecessor Manmohan Singh during his visit abroad last month and sinking to a "new low" by referring to the UPA in "despicable terms" in Canada.

Talking about his government's performance over the last year, the Prime Minister said he had started doing work in the first year itself, trying to "do the work of last 30 years".

Because of this, the world "trusts me more", he said.

"What I sowed in one year, it needs to be nurtured. Had I done this in fifth year, nobody would take seriously. But world takes us serioulsy because I did this it in first year itself," he said addressing the gathering of about 5000 Indian diaspora amid chants of 'Modi, Modi'.

Referring to his other pledge that he will "learn", he said he has been trying to do it ever since he assumed office and even on foreign visits he is trying to learn the experiences and expertise for emulating in India.

With regard to his third vow that he will not do any wrong intentionally, Modi said, "Today, far away from India on first anniversary, I can say that nobody has accused us of taking wrong step because of bad intent."

He said he needed the blessings of people so that "I make no mistake which may hurt my country."



The former Chief Minister of Gujarat also recalled questions raised in run up to the last Lok Sabha elections with regard to his experience in foreign affairs.

"People used to ask who is Modi, what does he know about foreign policy? Accusations were correct but apprehensions were wrong," he said, adding due to the performance of last one year, "Indians can hold their heads high".

Talking about his three-day China visit, he said it is being watched globally and he himself understands its significance.

"I see this visit in a different way. It has laid strong foundations which will benefit coming ages," Modi said.

He noted that it was for the first time in China's history that its President had received any foreign leader outside Beijing, a gesture which was shown by Xi Jinping who travelled to Xi'an to welcome him. "This welcome was not for Modi or my delegation, but to 125 crore Indians."

Pitching for closer cooperation between two Asian giants, he said, "Do not see what India got or China got. One-third of world population lives in these two countries. Did we ever recognise this power? We just ignored it, considering ourselves poor nations.

"But India and China, together, can help not only themselves but the entire world. On one side is one-third of the world population and on the other is rest of the world."

Modi said the world did not care about the developing nations till some 20 years back, but times are changing.

"I can assure you that India is preparing for this. We have a lot to give to the world," he said.

Voicing concern over spread of terrorism, Modi said, "The menace of terrorism has become enemy of humanity. People are being killed in every part of the world (due to terrorism). Who will apply balm on their injuries, who will give them a hope to live in this crisis?," he asked.

"Only those whose ancestors have said 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family)," he responded. "It is in our DNA. We should make the world recognise this."

On global warming, Modi said the problem was created by humans and they will only find a solution to it.

"You can make use of the natural resources, but can not exploit them unjustly," he said.

Lauding China's growth story, Modi said China and India have special responsibility and they will have to walk shoulder-to-shoulder.

"People of China have curiosity about India. It can be addressed not by me, embassy or the government but people of India who are living here," Modi told the audience and asked them to persuade five Chinese every year to visit India.

"That will help China understand India," he said, adding that it will also help in growth of tourism which is a USD 3 trillion industry globally.

"We can not live separately. We have thousands of years of civilisational links. We have a force of people-to-people contact. We have to recognise this force," he added.

Noting that China has changed in 30 years and not overnight, Modi said, "India too will have to improve growth, progress in IT, Research and Development. Once we move towards new age, we can give something to the world."

He said in one year, World Bank, IMF or any other rating agency, in one voice, have said India is fastest developing economy and it will have more than 7 per cent growth.

"In every respect, we will take the country forward. It is our resolve," said Modi.

PTI

Chakras

Regular chakra meditation can transform your life by clearing out and enlivening your vital energy centers. This is the most direct way I know to heal ourselves on all levels of our being – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. This facilitates awakening to the Truth Of Who We Are and floods our entire being with wellbeing.An aura is the energy field surrounding all life forms, including the human body, often described as egg shaped. Light energy is drawn into this egg, which acts like a prism and breaks the light into its component colour elements called “Chakras”.

The word “Chakra” comes from the Sanskrit world for “wheel” or “disk”. Their origin stems from the yoga system, more specifically from the Vedas. This system dates back as far as 2500BCE. There are hundreds of chakras on the body but in its basic form it embodies seven major energy centres that are arranged vertically along the spinal column, starting at the coccyx and proceeding upward towards the crown of the head. Chakras allow the free flow of energy, which promotes good health and vitality. If an energy blockage arises, this may cause physical ailments that correspond to the area of the blockage. By working with the chakras, a balance of energy can be maintained.

As we can see in the illustration, each chakra is also represented with its own colour. You may notice that these colours are the colours of the spectrum, each of progressively higher vibration as we move up the chakra system.

The energy systems of the subtle bodies respond to thoughts, and by using directed meditation it is possible to adjust the energy flow. With the chakras open, one is able to connect to the life force that permeates all of life, often referred to as “Prana” or “Chi”. As one begins working with these subtle energies, it is likely that they will not notice any physical sensation, however, as one continues practising, their senses will develop and they will soon be able to feel the energy moving throughout their system.

The bottom three chakras allow healing energies from the earth to enter the body and the top three chakras allow healing to enter from above. At the centre is the heart chakra that allows for balance between these two energy types.

The chakras are clearly visible in auric photography and reveal a great deal about a person. Unfortunately, to see the chakras using the naked eye is not too easy. Some lucky individuals are able to see the chakra system; others can develop their auric sight using certain exercises.

The Seven Chakras:

Root Chakra – Muldhara: 
Earth, physical identity, orientation to self-preservation.

Sacral Chakra – Svadhisthana, sweetness: 
Water, emotional identity, oriented to self-gratification.

Solar Plexus Chakra – Manipura, lustrous gem: 
Fire, ego identity, oriented to self-definition

Heart Chakra – Anahata, unstruck, unhurt, fresh, clean:
Air, social identity, oriented to self-acceptance

Throat Chakra – Vishuddha, purification: 
Sound, creative identity, oriented to self-expression

Brow Chakra – Ajna, perception:
Light, archetypal identity, orientation to self-reflection

Crown Chakra – Sahasrara, thousandfold:
Thought, universal identity, oriented to self-knowledge

Muladhara (Root)– The Most Important Chakra

New-agey types always talk of anahata, sahasrar or agna chakras. But what of the “lowest,” the muladhara? Isn’t it important at all? Sadhguru explains why this oft-overlooked chakra is of great consequence to a seeker.

If you look at the human body just after conception, it is just a tiny ball of meat. That tiny ball of meat has slowly arranged itself into what it is now. To arrange itself in this particular way, there is a kind of software which is known as pranamaya kosha or energy body. The energy body forms itself first and the physical body starts manifesting over that. If there are any distortions in the energy body, they will also manifest in the physical body. It is because of this that in this culture, when a woman was pregnant, she used to go to the temple and get blessings from people – they were trying to influence the energy body. If a pregnant woman has a very vibrant, well-formed energy body, she will deliver a very capable human being.

Foundation Matters
The muladhara is the foundation of the energy body. Nowadays, people think the muladhara is the lowest chakra and not worth working upon. Anyone who thinks the foundation is something we needn’t take care of is living in a fool’s paradise. The foundation is the most important thing. The muladhara is the most important thing. When we do Yoga, we are more focused on the muladhara than anything else because if you stabilize this, the rest is easy to create. If the foundation of the building is loose and we try to hold up the building, it will be a daily circus. That is what has happened to human life – holding themselves in some state of balance and wellbeing every day is a circus for most human beings. But if your muladhara is stable, life or death, you will be stable because your foundation is good and we can fix the other things later. But if the foundation is unstable, anxiety is natural.

Perils of experience-hunting
If Grace has to transmit itself, you need to have an appropriate body. If you do not have an appropriate body and Grace descends on you big time, you will only fuse out. Many people want big experiences but they are not willing to transform their body to be able to conduct those experiences. So many in the world have lost their minds or broken their bodies because they went experience-hunting.

In yoga, you don’t chase experience, you only prepare. That is how it was with the Saptarishis – the first seven disciples of Adiyogi. They simply prepared and prepared. They never asked for anything. They simply prepared for eighty-four years and when Adiyogi saw that they were so prepared, he couldn’t hold back anything. He had to give it all. But today’s world has become like this – “Sadhguru, I am here for two days, can you enlighten me?”

The yogic systems always focused on the muladhara. It is only in recent times that non-practicing “yogis” have written books and say you must focus on higher chakras. This high and low business is too entrenched in book-reading minds but that is not how life works. Some years ago, I used to conduct two or three-day programs in Hata Yoga. Just doing asanas, people would burst out laughing and crying. Most yogis just use a few simple postures to break the limitations of who they are. That is how Hata Yoga is. Hata Yoga means balance. Balance does not mean sanity. If you want your life to be exuberant, you need to have some madness in you. But if you become compulsively insane, you lost it.

When we talk about balance, we are not talking about sanity, we are talking about finding that perch between sanity and insanity where you can venture and adventure. Madness is an adventure. It is a most wonderful thing as long as it is in control. If you lose control it will become ugly. Similarly, sanity is a beautiful thing but if you become perfectly sane, you are as good as dead. This ability to venture and adventure into whatever you want at any moment will come to you if your muladhara is well-established.

~ Sadhguru

Swadhisthan Chakra: The Seat of Creativity

Swadhisthan Chakra is the second chakra related to creativity, pure attention and pure knowledge. It is the one which connects us to the inner source of inspiration, and enables us to experience the beauty around us. The pure knowledge given by this chakra is not mental, but it is direct perception of the Reality, that can be felt in our palms and indicates our subtle blockages. Also this is the center of pure, steady attention and power of concentration.

It has six petals and caters on the physical level to functions of the aortic plexus, and is the one which supplies us with the energy of creativity, of thinking, of being futuristic. It supplies Power to the brain cells by converting fat cells into brain cells.

In the course of evolution, humans translated his need for shelter and security into the building of homes. As his sense of aesthetics developed he continued to improve on these forms of shelter (until eventually architecture came about). This creativity evolved into abstract form, where he could imagine, project and create an image which had no previous counterpart. From this burgeoning aestheticism came the creative arts.

The fundamental quality of the Swadhisthan Chakra is that of creativity. It is here that the energy for our creativity is generated. After Self-Realization we discover that the true key to creativity is in achieving the state of thoughtless awareness (nirvichara samadhi) through meditation.

From this we discover that all the beauty of Creation is reflected within us like a still and silent lake. Once we locate this pool of beauty we can become the channel for it. We become the Collective Unconscious, without ego to distort the purity of art.

The process of creativity in whatever form draws on the qualities of the Swadhisthan Chakra. If this process is accomplished in a balanced state (i.e., using the energies of the central or Sushumna channel in the subtle system) then the result is spiritually enhanced. After Self-Realization this is emphasized, and the resulting creation can become an inspired work. We can see this by looking at the classic works from artists of the past such as Mozart and Michaelangelo who were born as evolved realized souls. Works of this quality are immortal, and provide joy and beauty which define a whole epoch.

However in the modern process, we can see that even where the artistic endeavor starts out ‘with heart,’ there is a tendency for the artist to produce later works which are flat, lifeless or even exploitative. The primary cause of this tendency is the ego of the artist. As the artist becomes more successful, he or she works harder to maintain or grow this success. This requires more exhaustive use of the right channel (the Pingala Nadi or Channel of Action). A by-product of this channel becoming exhausted is that the ego of the artist becomes inflated. Note that in subtle terms the ego is actually situated at the end of the action channel (in the balloon-like shape on the left-hand side of the head). If one is confused by an inflated ego, the excessiveness drains the central channel of energy and exhausts the right side. In addition, the connection with the ego can take the attention away from the Spirit. As the artist starts to believe that he is the creator of all his works (thus eliminating divine inspiration) the process is accelerated and the ego expands to such an extent that the spiritual content of the work is removed completely.

The Spirit, which resides in our heart, is the real reservoir of creativity, and artists and people who think excessively or are obsessed with fame or success will usually suffer a weak Swadhisthan Chakra and tend to be off-balance personalities. Their ambition is to be superior to others or to be acclaimed by them for their talents comes from their ego, which is connected to the right-side of the Swadhisthan Chakra through the right channel. Their spontaneity is lost in this ambitious and competitive effort to create, and this explains why most modern creation in any aspect lacks Spirit.

One of the most important functions of this center is to generate the energy that fuels our thinking by breaking down fat particles in the abdomen to replace the brain cells. Excessive thinking and planning overworks this process and exhausts the centre. 

The Swadhisthan also looks after the liver (along with the Nabhi Centre). If the Chakra is having to cope with excessive thinking, then the other organs it is supposed to look after are neglected. The liver is particularly susceptible to this neglect.

The liver has a particular importance in that it is the seat of our Attention (chitta). Attention should not be confused with thought, which comes from ego (our I-ness) and superego (our past conditioning and upbringing). Attention is pure concentration minus thought/mental activity. 

For example when we look at a flower we put our pure attention on it (i.e., we observe it). However we will also think about it (“that’s pretty,””I wonder what’s it called,”etc.). Attention has no such associated thoughts — it is pure concentration/observation/witnessing. A balanced liver sustains and nourishes our Attention and filters it by scanning out any impurities and external clutter. From this purified attention comes the peace and stillness that we obtain in our meditation. The liver is susceptible to overheating (through alcohol or other stimulants), effecting our Attention, which ultimately weakens our meditation and so on.

The presiding deity for the Swadhisthan Chakra is Shri Brahmadeva. He represents the Creator, and has as His power Shri Saraswati, who is the Goddess of music and arts. He bestows purity, creativity, Pure Knowledge, and cuts the Knot of Maya (material attachment) and frees the seeker from earthly desires.

Ajna Chakra – The Third Eye Chakra

Ajna Chaka, the sixth Chakra, is known as the third eye. It is located at the forehead, and represents the visual, intuitive, psychic center of perception. It is here where our memories are stored, imagination develops, and where we perceive dreams.

Name: Ajna
The definition of Ajna is “to perceive.” It can also mean “to command.” Our memories and perceptions influence and shape the events that take place in our lives just as words shape the world. We command our visions to come into reality without realizing.

Element: Light
The element that represents Ajna Chakra is light. As you know, light is the most versatile element known to man, and has a higher and faster vibration than sound. Light travels at an unfathomable speed and distance. It continues across the universe for thousands of years, allowing us to see stars as they were long ago. When we look around us and see objects, it is in fact the reflection of light that helps us to see. Without light, we could see nothing at all.

Color: Indigo
All of the chakra points are associated with a specific color. The color associations have changes since the ancient Tantrics’ time, however. Now, the colors are based on the rainbow spectrum, beginning with red light, which is associated with the base chakra, and ending with violet, which is associated with the crown chakra. The order follows the rainbow pattern from the base to the crown: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

Attributes: Clairvoyance, memory, dreams, vision
The Ajna chakra is related to a rudimentary organ that is sensitive to light, called the pineal gland. The pineal gland, in the embryo, begins to develop in the precise center of the head as a third eye. Though this gland atrophies, it has been found that this area of the head remains sensitive to light. Some believe that the pineal gland in full-grown adults plays a role in mental visions that sometimes occur when individuals are in a deep state of meditation. The sixth chakra, our intuitive level, allows us to gather information from internal visions and images.

Hindu Civilizations of South East Asia

In a not too distant past Hindu culture stretched from the Philippines to Madagascar. Hindu merchants dominated trade, Hindu kings ruled over vast territories and the Hindu religion was practiced by millions of Malays, Indonesians, Thais, Cambodians, Laotians, Vietnamese, Burmese, Filipinos and Africans. 

Today, as we make a brief overview of the world, we find that the Hindu tradition and way of life is, in general, an Indian phenomenon. Mention of the word Hindu automatically brings to mind the religion and civilization confined to the borders of modern India. However, it was not too long ago that Hindu civilization was the dominant culture of most of South East Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Today the only reminders of this ancient legacy can be found in the Indonesian island of Bali and amongst the many ancient ruins scattered across this part of the globe. From Vietnam’s My Son Shiva Temples, Philippines ancient Sanskrit “Laguna Copperplate Inscription” and Hindu gold discoveries, Laos’ Wat Phou Hindu Temple, Vietnam’s Hindu Cham Balamon (Brahmin) peoples, the Ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya it is obvious that the imprint of Hindu/Vedic civilization on the region runs deep.

Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is famously the world’s largest Hindu temple and recent evidence shows that it is much more extensive than previously believed. The same can be said regarding the widespread influence of Hinduism. Its historic footprint is much larger and widespread than most believe and the influence of Hinduism is impacting us all to this very day.

PHILIPPINES

13th C. Gold statue

A case in point can be made when we look at the Philippines. Today the Philippines are predominantly Christian. Yet upon a closer look we find some startling evidences of Hindu culture still flourishing amongst the Filipinos. Most Filipinos themselves have forgotten their ancient history and are unfamiliar with their connections to India.

However these connections are obvious once highlighted.

According to the work of the Vatican Scholar Father Josemaria S. Luengo, PhD, in “A History of the Philippines: A Focus on the Christianization of Bohol (1521-1991)”, the Philippines were ruled over by Hindu Kings from the year 638 AD till 1565 AD with a brief period of Buddhist rule from 1389 – 1424 AD.(i) 


Therefore it is not surprising to find many common features between the Indian and Filipino cultures and languages.

The ancient Filipino alphabet originated from India. Its script is an offshoot of the Vatteluttu alphabet officially classified as a member of the Southern Brahmic language family.

(ii) The Brahmic family refers to writing styles descended from the Brāhmī script dated to India’s Mauryan period of 322 BC – 188BC. Brahmi may actually be much more ancient. Orissa’s Vikramkhol inscriptions, dated 3000 BC, are a hybrid of Brahmi and the Mohenjodaro script. 

(iii) Brahmi’s widespread use throughout Asia, in areas that included Mongolia, Tibet, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Manchuria is many times attributed to Buddhist monks. However the evidence suggests that Sanskrit based languages were indigenous to all these regions. We find that the words used for basic social structural and foundational aspects of society are many times pure Sanskrit. 

(iv) This is the case with the Philippines as well.

Many words in the Filipino languages are indeed pure Sanskrit. Among such words are:

• Budhi: conscience
• Dukha: one who suffers
• Guro: teacher
• Sampalataya: faith, Sanskrit – sampratyaya
• Mukha: face
• Laho: eclipse, Sanskrit – rahu
• Kalma: fate
• Damla: Dharma
• Mantala: mantra
• Upaya: power
• Lupa: face
• Salbe: sarva
• Galura: Garuda
• Lakshmana: admiral
• Seurga: heaven
• Neraka: hell
• Tamad: lazy
• Agama: religion and
• Naga: serpent

The chiefs of many Philippine islands were called Rajas, as in the Filipino King Raja Siaui of Butuan encountered by the crew on Magellen’s famous voyage. 

(v) To this day teachers are called Guro and the traditional martial art of the Philippines is called Kali and is widely recognized as an Indian rooted tradition.

The Moros of the Sulu archipelago would often go into battle dressed like Kali the Goddess of Destruction. 

(vi) Such a tribal based tradition bespeaks of a very deep indigenous Filipino Hindu based culture. The Hindu concept of Karma is understood culturally and recognized as a fact by Filipinos. The Philippines even have their own version of the Ramayana known as “Raja Mangandiri”. In 1953 the Philippine Government instituted a medal of honor called the “Order of Sikatuna-Raja” (Commander Laureate).

The 1989 discovery of the “Laguna Copperplate Inscription” dated to 900 AD is in a form of Kavi written in the Sanskrit language. It begins with the Vedic calendar day of Saka-year 822; the month of March-April, 4th day of the dark half of the moon. swasti shaka warshatita 822 waisakha masa ding jyotisha, chaturthi krishnapaksha’.

This discovery has pushed back Philippine history by 621 years and it gives the Philippines a documented existence among the other ancient kingdoms of the world.

The repeated discoveries of Vedic Golden ornaments and Hindu deities also testify to the Indic influences on Filipino culture. Golden images of Garuda, known as Sulu Galura the eagle-mount of Vishnu, have been found in the Philippine island of Palawan. A 4 lb, 1 foot-high, gold Hindu deity of a goddess, now resting in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, IL, USA, was discovered on the island of Mindanao, in 1917. 

Ancient examples of Hindu Filipino craftsmanship are stored in the Philippine Central Bank (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas BSP). Golden Sri Yantras, Mt Meru replicas and Vedic Mandalas are among some of the artifacts as revealed in Laszlo Legeza’s “Tantric elements in pre-Hispanic Philippine Gold Art,” Arts of Asia, Jul-Aug 1988

VIETNAM

Moving on to Vietnam, we once again find an incredibly rich Hindu heritage still existing to this day. Ancient Vietnam was home to a vibrant Hindu kingdom known as Champa. Today their descendants, the Cham people continue to exist but in two communities, the Cham Balamon and the Cham Bani.

The Balamon (Vietnamese for Brahman) are Hindus to this day and the Bani are Muslim. Muslim or Cham Bani constitute about 80-85% of the Cham, and Hindu or Balamon constitutes about 15-20%. It is claimed that the Balamon Hindu Cham people of Vietnam consist of 70% Kshatriyas (pronounced in Vietnamese as “Satrias”)

Vietnam has a very ancient Hindu past. The first Cham king mentioned in ancient inscriptions is named Bhadravarman. He reigned from 349 to 361 A.D. at My Son. The capital at the time of Bhadravarman was the citadel of Simhapura or “Lion City”. We know that India was important to the Cham because they named the five regions of their Kingdom after historic places in India. Historic Champa was divided into the following five areas:

• Indrapura: The city of Indrapura is now called Dong Duong.
• Amaravati: present-day Quảng Nam
• Vijaya: The city of Vijaya is nowcalled Cha Ban.
• Kauthara: The city of Kauthara isnow called Nha Trang.
• Panduranga: The city ofPanduranga is now called PhanPanduranga and was the last of the Cham territories to be annexed by the Sino-Vietnamese.

LAOS

Wat Xieng Thong is one of the most important temples in the country of Laos and it is covered with gold carvings with scenes from the Ramayana. Laos is another forgotten chapter in the history of Hindu SE Asia. Like the Philippines, Laos has its own version of the Ramayana. It is called Phra Lak Phra La. The title comes from the Lao names for Lakshmana and Rama.

INDONESIA

Modern Indonesia, sometimes called Nusantara, is yet another ancient center of Hindu culture and civilization.

Today only the island of Bali remains officially Hindu in identity. As Hinduism declined throughout Indonesia, the Balinese responded in an effective manner. With great foresight, Bali’s Hindu leadership redesigned the temple system so that each village would have its own temples. Thus a closer bond between the people and their Hindu gods was forged. This was a bond unlike that of any other Hindu Kingdom and it was a bond Islam would find difficult to sever. Thus in Bali, the world has a sample of the Indonesian Hinduism of the past. It is a microcosm of a flourishing Hindu world that has been long forgotten.

For thousands of years high advanced civilizations were present on the Indonesian archipelago. Wealthy and prosperous, ancient Indonesian Hindus traveled and traded far and wide. Over two thousand years ago the gold from Hindu Sumatra reached as far west as Rome. The Indian Ocean trade controlled by the Hindus stretched from the shores of East Africa to the islands of Japan.

“Between the fifth and tenth centuries AD, the Vijaynagaram and Kalinga kingdoms of Southern and Eastern India had established their rules over Malaya, Sumatra and Western Java. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands then served as an important midway for trade between the Indian peninsula and these kingdoms, as also with China.”

The naval expertise and experience of the ancient Hindu mariners was incredible.

“A fourteenth century description of an Indian ship credits it with a carrying capacity of over 700 people giving a fair idea of both ship building skills and maritime ability of seamen who could successfully man such large vessels. 

(vii)

Indonesia’s Majapahit Empire was the last of the major Hindu empires of the Malay Archipelago and is considered one of the greatest states in Indonesian history. It was based in eastern Java from 1293 AD to around 1500 AD. Its greatest King was named Hayam Wuruk. He was also known as Rajasanagara and he ruled Majapahit in AD 1350–1389. During his period, Majapahit Empire reached its zenith with the help of Hayam Wuruk’s Prime Minister, Gajah Mada.

Many other Hindu Kingdoms rose and fell. Despite sharing a common heritage, Indonesia’s ancient Hindus competed and battled each other. Often at war with one another, trade routes and commodities were fiercely contended. As Islamic merchants from Gujarat and Arabia began to dominate the trade in the Eastern seas, the Hindu kingdoms began to lose their ability to compete.

The Indonesian Hindu Kingdom of Wak Wak decided to do something in order to counter the threat posed by the expansion of Islam. Wak Wak responded in a manner that is no doubt an extraordinary effort rare in the annals of Hindu history. Severely challenged by the loss of the East African trade routes the Kingdom of Wak Wak responded by assembling an immense naval fleet. They sailed across the Indian Ocean for one year and attacked several important East African trading ports in an effort to regain control of the lucrative African trade.

“Ibn Lakis has imparted to me some extraordinary pieces of information concerning them. It is thus that in 334 AH (945-6 CE) they came upon Qanbalu in a thousand ships and fought them with the utmost vigor, without however achieving their end, as Qanbalu is surrounded by a strong defensive wall around which stretches the water-filled estuary of the sea, so that Qanbalu is at the center of this estuary, like a fortified citadel.”- Kitab aja’ib al-Hind of Buzurg ibn Shahriyar (955 CE)

Unfortunately for the people of Wak Wak, this effort, as reported on above by Arabic historians, was none too successful and the Kingdom collapsed shortly thereafter. 

Another Hindu Kingdom and rival of Wak Wak, was known as Zabag or Suvarnadwip. Zabag faced the same challenges and threats as Wak Wak. The loss of the African trade was crippling their Kingdom as well. The response of Zabag was to send ambassadors to India and Tibet and make grants for temples there. 

(viii)

Zabag attempted to counter the growing threat of Islamic domination of the regional trade by building alliances with the Hindu and Buddhist Kings of India and Tibet. In this regard it is said that some of these Javanese kings personally traveled to India for both political and spiritual purposes.

As we look at all the evidence regarding Hinduism in South East Asia, the picture that emerges is one of fluid interactions with the wide spread growth of extremely advanced and flourishing civilizations. The impact of this dynamic past is felt even today.

THE PRESENT

Currently outside of Bali, the condition of Hinduism in South East Asia is but a shadow of its former glory. Yet still the influence of Indonesia’s Hindu past is profound. As an example, the impact and history of the Hindu Majapahit era on Indonesian consciousness is at the heart of the modern Indonesian experience.

Indonesian Nationalists and Freedom Fighters, have frequently invoked the Majapahit Empire. Many of modern Indonesian national symbols are based on Hindu elements from the Majapahit era. 

The Indonesian national flag “Red and White” is called “Dwiwarna” (“The bicolor”), derived from Majapahit royal color. The Indonesian Navy flag of red and white stripes also has Majapahit origin. The Indonesian coat of arms, Garuda Pancasila, is also derived from Javanese Hindu elements. Indonesia’s National airline is named Garuda Airlines in keeping with the commitment to Hindu emblems and symbology.

Recognizing their ancient links with Mother India, the National leadership choose Indonesia to be the name for their new Nation over the native name of Nusantara (Entire Islands.) 

The modern capital of Indonesia, Jakarta features a magnificent sculpture of Partha Sarathi Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of the Mahabharat War. This is a testament to the immense popularity and respect for Hindu culture that can be found amongst the people of Indonesia.

Hindu revival movements are also taking place in Indonesia. Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia was started in 1960 by D.R. Ida Bagus Mantra and led by Gedong Bagus Oka. According to the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia the Indonesian Hindu population is closer to 18 million rather than the 6 million claimed by the Government.

According to an article in Hinduism Today magazine it is Java rather than Bali that is the home to most of the Nation’s Hindus.

“Most recently, a back-to-Hinduism movement which first emerged in Java in the 1960s has gathered new momentum in the turmoil of Indonesia’s economic and political crisis. Some of its members are prophesying that a natural cataclysm or final battle is at hand, in which Islam will be swept from the island and Hindu civilization restored to its past glory. Or as the Jayabaya prophesies put it, the time “when iron wagons drive without horses and ships sail through the sky.”

The movement in Java is part of a wider national phenomenon of reconversion to Hinduism. In part, this is a reflection of the rapid Islamization of Indonesian society in recent decades, and especially after the fall of Suharto in 1998, which has made it difficult for many Javanese to carry on their Hindu traditions and retain a nominal Muslim identity. As a result, the Hindu community of Java is now the largest in Indonesia.”

Vietnam’s Hindus have yet to receive official recognition for their government but major efforts have been made to highlight the history and art of the Cham. The ancient Shiva temples of My Son have been selected by UNESCO as a world heritage listed site. 

My Son’s Hindu ruins are recognized as an example displaying the evolution and change in culture, and as a foremost evidence of an Asian civilization which is now extinct. The Cham Museum in Danang houses one of the world’s greatest collections of South East Asian Hindu art.

Annual Cham festivals such as the Hindu Cham Kate festival are held and Cham cultural displays are frequently subsidized by the Vietnamese government. Some expatriate Cham communities are also maintaining and continuing to practice their traditions and culture. A Cham youth magazine published in California is named Vijaya in honor of the ancient Champa capital of the same name.

THE FUTURE

The future of Hinduism in South East Asia is not clear. Currently many aspects of Hindu culture in the region are at best protected ruins, visited by tourists and researchers. Folk traditions and customs are rapidly becoming nothing more than entertainment. Many young people are turning away from the past and are out of touch with their own roots and heritage. As knowledge is lost and the wisdom of the ancients labeled as superstition, it is humanity itself that suffers.

Buried within this very same wisdom of the ancients are many solutions and remedies to our modern traumas and tragedies. It is imperative to discover ways to reinforce humanity’s connection to the past. 

Perhaps with the rise of the Indian middle class, Hindu pilgrims and tourists can begin to facilitate and empower a new awakening of Hindu culture in the region. India’s new economic might is a great asset that could be dovetailed towards the restoration and revival of Hinduism amongst the countries of South East Asia. Efforts such as education, multi-media and cultural tourism can go a long way towards re-awakening the dormant Hindu culture of the region.

The world has a great boon in Hinduism. It is the world’s largest and continuous cultural paradigm. Its very longevity is a testament to its sustainability. Its history is a hopeful reminder of a time when humanity actually lived in balance with itself, with Nature and with the Gods. 

It is a reminder that humanity is truly capable of greatness built on compassion and a sense of genuine gratitude. Looking back at the dynamic Hindu Kingdoms of yesteryear we see human civilization at its best. If Nature in all her bounty harnessed by mankind’s tremendous genius ever reached its fullest potential, surely it was in the magnificent Hindu kingdoms of the ancient world. These Hindu civilizations represent much more than mere histories.

They are testaments to the fact that humanity truly is capable of creating Heaven right here on Earth.

~ Bhaktivejanyana Swami

References: 

(i)  A History of the Philippines: A Focus on the Christianization of Bohol (1521-1991), Josemaria S. Luengo, Ph.D Copiague, NY: Mater Dei Publications, Tubigon, Bohol, Oct 1991, 2nd Ed, Nov 1992, IMPRIMATUR, NIHIL OBSTAT, CENSOR LIBRORUM
(ii) The Dravidian Languages. Steever, Sanford B. (1998). London; New York: Routledge
(iii) History of Library Development B. D. Panda 1992 Anmol Publications
(iv) El Sanscrito en la lengua Tagalog – T H Pardo de Tavera, Paris 1887
(v) First Voyage Around the World (1519-1522)” by Antonio Pigafetta in Gregorio F. Zaide, Documentary Sources of Philippine History. Manila: National Bookstore, 1990
(vi) History of Filipino Martial Arts Center for Southeast Asian Studies Northern Illinois University
(vii) Maritime History Of India 
(viii) Sailing the Black Current: Secret History of Ancient Philippine Argonauts in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Beyond Paul Kekai Manansala BookSurge Publishing 2007

http://www.sanskritimagazine.com/india/global-influence-of-hinduism/hindu-civilizations-south-east-asia/