A brief respite from war, death and bombings. Some encouraging news from South East Asia.
I have had the privilege to visit the Angkor Wat Complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The ASI has done some decent work there in restoring some of the buildings within. The Prambanan temple complex dates back to the 10th century and after Angkor, its the largest one in SE Asia. I would love to visit someday.
I did visit Bali briefly a couple of decades ago, which was a wonderful rabbithole to fall down into, in terms of Indic influence and syncretic culture in SE Asia. Balinese Hinduism is a fascinating fusion of what we Indians think of as ‘core’ Hinduism, along with local animist influences. What superficially can feel slightly alien and almost jarring – in terms of pooja thalis adorned with whole skinned chickens, is in fact, incredibly typical of how the Dharmic faith has spread all over the Indian sub-continent and beyond, absorbing local totems and figures into its mythology as manifestations and ‘Avtaars’ of its primary dieties.
Has anybody on BP or the commentariat visited Yogyakarta or any other Indonesian sites with Buddhist/Hindu influence?
i have been there, parambanan has seperate temples for brahma, vishnu and maheshvara. the idols are intact. worship happens probably once a year. many peripheral structures had fallen down in a recent earthquake. i think this is being reassembled.
barabodor with its magnificent buddhist stupa along with almost a thousand idols of buddha is worh seeing. its walls are covered with buddha’s life stories.
if berlin, dresden can be rebuilt, why not hampi. nobody ( muslims) is worshipping in hampi, and the domestic travellers are increasing. it is high time that hampi temples are rebuilt and worship started.
Haven’t been to Hampi yet, #1 on my list when I head to India next.
Having been to Angkor, and also to Ajanta-Ellora and Lothal, I despaired at the relative levels of presentation built around these wonders of the world. But this will iteratively get better, with more funding.
I have been to Angkor but I do need to do the others.
This is a big part of BRAHM (www.brahmcollection.com); how to present art, culture and decor from the Indian Subcontinent in the best possible way.
Great post btw and thank you for mixing it up!