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Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 10-22-2003
I am presenting two news reports: one, of Pres. Bush's visit to Hindu Bali; the second, of Muslim News report on the request from Governor of Bali to promote Hindu culture in Bali.
Here is an opportunity which should be seized to promote Hindu-Indonesia relationships which were very strong for a millennium between 8th and 18th centuries. Jakarta has the most magnificent edifice of Gitopades'am sculpture adoring the centre of the capital city. Indonesia has a 20,000 rupiah note which shows Vinayaka. A Garuda-Vishnu dhvaja stambha is being built in Jakarta, which will be a spiritual marvel.
The response of 'secular' Min. of External Affairs of Bharat, that is Indis is indeed shocking and shows the state of affairs in Bharat created by the Marxist, pseudo-secular mind-set.
When there is an opportunity to build up the traditions in Indonesia where Mahabharata and Ramayana episodes are still taught to school children and celebrated in theatrical shows adored by millions of Indonesians, Bharat also can learn from Indonesia on how to introduce Dharma in educational system and in the cultural affairs of a nation.
Bali is representative of the Hindu states of South-east Asia. There is a magnificent book by George Coedes titled Indianized States of Southeast Asia which is replete with Sanskrit inscriptions between 8th and 18th centuries in the region. Cambodia has the largest Hindu temple in the world: Angkor Wat (Nagara Va_t.ika). Every Cambodian family has a temple in every house and every Cambodian venerates the values of Hindu Dharma. Ayodhya is the second capital city of Thailand which has a King whose princess daughter is a Sanskrit scholar. Tiruppavai, Tiruvembavai are sung in Thailand during the King's coronation.
Now is the time to launch an Indian Ocean Academy to intensify people and scholar exchanges among Bharat and Asian States promoting Dharma-Dhamma. Bharatiyas should donate a jagannath ratha to Cambodia to celebrate a car-festival in Angkor Wat. Bharatiyas should send priests to train the local devotees in the Asian countries to perform puja-s according to a_gama-s..
Kalyanaraman
Bush, in Bali, Listens to Leaders' Complaints
By JANE PERLEZ
Published: October 22, 2003
ENPASAR, Indonesia, Oct. 22 â President Bush made a three-hour visit to the world's most populous Muslim nation today, a visit that was restricted for security reasons to Bali, the Hindu part of the country, and just to the airport area of the resort island.
The president is unpopular in Indonesia, but his appearance was mandated by what planners of the stopover called his desire to visit his firm ally, Australia, at the end of his Asian tour, and the political embarrassment that would be caused by flying over a moderate Muslim nation on his way south.
In a session intended to show that Mr. Bush was in a listening mode, the president heard complaints about his foreign policy from three Indonesian Muslim leaders selected by the White House for their moderate views.
Indonesia's most popular Muslim television preacher, Abdullah Gymanstiar, who has been embraced by the American Embassy in Indonesia as the model of a moderate Islamic leader, refused an invitation to meet Mr. Bush, calling him a man without compassion.
After the encounter with the president, Hasyim Muzadi, the chairman of the largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, with an estimated membership of 40 million, said he told Mr. Bush that his Middle East policy unfairly favored Israel.
He asked the president when American troops would leave Iraq to the Iraqis and told Mr. Bush, he said, that the United States should stop seeing Indonesia as a "terrorist's nest because Indonesia is a terror victim."
Mr. Bush tried to make the best out of what many Indonesians seemed to regard as an awkward visit, saying in a short speech that the United States and Indonesia held some common values: religious diversity and respect for liberty.
"Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith which is professed by a growing number of my own citizens," Mr. Bush said. "We know Islam is fully compatible with liberty, tolerance and progress. We see the proof in your country."
Mr. Bush spoke from a thatched-roof pagoda, especially crafted for the occasion to give him and the Indonesian leader, Megawati Sukarnoputri, a Balinese context even though they were on the edge of the island's international airport.
American officials had deliberated for days over the exact spot for the pagoda so that the cameras would capture a photo-perfect backdrop: the azure blue Indian Ocean with gently cresting waves, two potted palms waving in the breeze and tubs of flowers personally designed by the staff of Ms. Megawati, who is a plant lover.
In the distance, American warships, especially diverted for Mr. Bush's visit, patrolled the waters, and an extraordinary number of Secret Service and other security officials patrolled the grounds of the airport hotel where Mr. Bush held his official meetings.
Regard for the United States has plummeted in Indonesia since the war in Iraq, largely because the war was seen as a battle against Islam. A recent Pew poll showed that 61 percent of Indonesians held a positive view of the United States in mid-2002, but only 15 percent held a favorable view in June 2003.
Indonesia is the base for Jemaah Islamiyah, a terrorist group that has been held responsible by the United States for the attack on a Bali nightclub last year that killed more than 200 people. The same group is blamed by the United States for the suicide bombing of the Marriott Hotel in the capital, Jakarta, in July.
Mr. Muzadi said he told Mr. Bush that people in Indonesia viewed the United States campaign on terror as a fight against Islam.
According to an American official, Mr. Bush seemed puzzled by the accusation, and pushed back, saying that as president he did not equate Islam with terrorism.
Mr. Bush also insisted that his Middle East policy was balanced because he was the first American president to call for an independent Palestine, the official said.
Before the visit, some Indonesians said they hoped Mr. Bush would modulate his usually stern message on terrorism, which they said often offends many Indonesians.
In a nod to a more nuanced approach, Mr. Bush offered $157 million for Indonesian education over the next six years. American officials said this would go chiefly to primary schools, including Islamic boarding schools.
The Bali locale turned out to be politically and logistically convenient, even though it meant that Mr. Bush skirted the Muslim heartland of Indonesia, American officials said.
The president's presence in Hindu Bali was justified because Bali was the site of the terror attack last year, they said.
In his speech, Mr. Bush paid tribute to the victims of the blast, and their families. He also thanked the Indonesian government for making headway in rounding up terrorists, some of whom have been sentenced to death after guilty verdicts in the Bali nightclub trials.
But while the Indonesians have arrested scores of Jemaah Islamiyah members, American officials have said the group still maintains cells.
The White House was also vexed by a recent speech by Ms. Megawati to the United Nations General Assembly in which she criticized the war in Iraq for causing more problems than it solved.
But despite these irritations, the Bush administration has decided that Ms. Megawati, the daughter of Indonesia's founding father, Sukarno, is the best bet among the many candidates in next year's national elections, the first direct polling for a president in the nation's history.
Whether a show of support from Mr. Bush will do much for Ms. Megawati's fortunes, given his lack of popularity among Indonesians, remains to be seen.
Indonesia's most prominent intellectual Muslim leader, Nurcolish Madjid, who has a doctorate from the University of Chicago, and has entered the presidential race, gave the clear signal that he thought Mr. Bush was not much help to him.
Mr. Madjid said he believed that his Islamic colleagues were wasting their time in meeting with Mr. Bush. "It will be in vain," he said before today's meeting.
Aside from Mr. Muzadi, the other Muslim leaders who met with Mr. Bush were Syafii Maarif, the head of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim group in Indonesia, with about 30 million members, and Azyumardi Azra, the director of the State Islamic University in Jakarta, where secular as well as religious subjects are included in the curriculum.
At the last minute, after the refusal of Mr. Gymanstiar, a Christian, the Rev. Natan Setiabudi, and a Hindu from Bali, Ida Pedanda Gede Made Gunung, were included in the session. Indonesians are taught in school that Indonesia respects five main religions: Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism and Christianity, which is usually interpreted in Indonesia as Protestantism.
[url="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/22/international/asia/22CND-BALI.html?pagewanted=2&hp"]http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/22/internat...pagewanted=2&hp[/url]
India denies Bali Govt sought help to promote Hindu culture
12-10-2003, Muslim News
By Chiang Mai (Thailand)
Press Trust of India:
India on Sunday denied media reports that the governor of Bali had written to it requesting cooperation in protection and promotion of Hindu culture among younger generations in Bali in Indonesia.
"No such communication was received" by the government, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said.
According to media reports the Indian External Affairs Ministry had asked Bali governor Dewa Made Bertha to use the phrase "Indian culture" rather than "Hindu culture" since India was a secular country.
Bertha had called on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on October 7 in Bali on the sidelines of the second India-ASEAN summit there. He had thanked Vajpayee for all the cooperation by India, including scholarships for students of Bali in Sanskrit and Indian studies.
The spokesman said the Bali governor had requested the Prime Minister for additional scholarships for students in technical education.
Vajpayee in turn had assured Bertha on possible cooperation and instructed the Indian ambassador HK Singh to implement the request for additional scholarships in technical education.
[url="http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=5939"]http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=5939[/url]
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 10-22-2003
Quote:According to media reports the Indian External Affairs Ministry had asked Bali governor Dewa Made Bertha to use the phrase "Indian culture" rather than "Hindu culture" since India was a secular country.
This is a typical example of the secular sickness that has gripped the country. Instead of making these idiotic statements such as 'please no sex, we are secular', it would have been far better to refer the request to one of the Hindu religious trusts(e.g. the Shankaracharyas) and let them handle the request,saying the Government does not get involved in religious matters. Any number of private religious organizations in India would be happy to deal with the Balinese.
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 10-22-2003
Is megawati a hindu, i read some where she is quite pro-india. Is this true <img src='http://www.india-forum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 10-23-2003
Megawati is not Hindu but Muslim, Mr.Patniak ex CM of Orissa gave her name.
In Indonesia Hindu/Sanskrit names are common. My name is more common in Indonesia than in India.
However, it should be remembered that although Megawati is nominally Muslim, her principal cultural allegiance is often seen as being to the Hindu Javanese system, especially because her paternal grandmother was a Hindu Balinese.
Back in January 1947, Patnaik was in Indonesia to visit his old friend Sukarno, whose wife Fatmawati had just given birth to a baby girl. It was a rainy day and Patnaik named the baby Mega (meaning ârain cloudâ or megha in Sanskrit).
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 10-23-2003
The late Biju Patnaik(the present Orissa CM Patnaik's father), played a big role in Indonesia's independence fight against the Dutch and in fact helped Soekarno escape by acting as his pilot from the hands of the Dutch..I believe Soekarno's mother (or one of his wives) was Balinese Hindu.Soekarno was defnitely a friend of Patnaik and for a while a friend of India. But as in so many other instances India failed to capitalize on the Indonesian friendship.
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 10-23-2003
[quote name='Mudy' date='Oct 23 2003, 12:35 AM'] Sukarno, whose wife Fatmawati had just given birth to a baby girl. I [/quote]
Is Fatmawati a vikriti of Padmawati or is it more cognate with Faatima?
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 10-23-2003
Fatmawati is a vikriti of Padmawati.
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 10-25-2003
I wonder why we always manage to squader such opportunities, there is a huge amount of Indic influence still present in South East Asia and its a pity that we can't establish greater ties with those who cling to their Hindu traditions then overtly brushing them off with, you tarnish our 'secular' image crap.
Ankgor Wat is a marvel of Hindu architecture...but how many of the 'western' world realise this...as a matter of fact how many Indians?
Not too long ago i saw a documentary on Angkor wat and a Cambodian kept harping that it was Brahminism?? that powered the growth of such monuments and temples...buddhism was to peaceful.
Brahminism? More Psy ops to tarnish Hindus...aparently the newer trend is to project Brahmins as the Pharoahs and slave drivers of the other castes to achieve their bidding...
SuryaVaman II built the main Angkor Wat gopuram to Vishnu, while many others built by SuryaVaman I are dedicated to Shiva...
Magnificent structures now lie disregarded and in disarray....can we not expand on our 'look east policy' and see to the revival of Indic/Hindu culture in Cambodia and SE asia.
I would gladly love to see the day, when milk falls yet down the side of these reconstructed lingas, while every morning the Suprabhatam resounds loudly out of Angkor Wat across the plains of Cambodia.
Tons of pics all over the web
Angkor Lingam :
[url="http://www.peterwalker.com/Galleries/G08/Pages/G08-gallery.html"]http://www.peterwalker.com/Galleries/G08/P...08-gallery.html[/url]
Angkor :
[url="http://www.vwam.com/vets/angkor/angor1.htm"]http://www.vwam.com/vets/angkor/angor1.htm[/url]
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 02-12-2004
Nice pictures
Bali - Temples and a Hindu Festival
Hindu Bali Religion
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 02-12-2004
<b>Hindu Dharma in Bali </b>
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In Bali, many religious activities performed by the people, in devotional, magical and artistic spirits. They are kind of social affairs that bond people together. Prayer, music, dance, song, painting, carving, beautiful offering, flower, incense, fragrance, costume, etc. all give their charm to the activities. It is not like some people might think about some form of Hindu rituals, yoga practice in all of it's form, various postures, meditation, liberation through quest for knowledge for the absolute, through selfless actions, even fasting and penance, etc. The Balinese practice more on the devotional aspect of Yoga, known as the path of Bhakti.
Some people even think that the Balinese practice more the form of animistic rituals rather than practicing ritual of one of the world greatest religions. Other people still call the religion of the Balinese Hindu Bali. In fact that is not true. The Balinese learn, practice and have the spirit of Hindu Dharma religion more than other form of animistic and primitive religions, without losing respect to the later religions mentioned.
Sure that the Balinese have many things that still need to enhance, in the ritual, daily life, the quest for the ultimate, etc. in order to achieve the goal stated by Hinduism as the goal of Dharma; it is soul liberation and earthly welfare for all sentient beings. No direct meaning of Dharma in English, but we can say that it's include righteousness, duty and cosmic order.
The following are some fundamentals of Hindu religion which also called Sanatana Dharma
( Eternal Dharma ) as learned to be practiced by the Balinese.
Tri Pramana, three means to know something:
1. Agama Pramana, through knowledge from the scripture and sage.
2. Anumana Pramana, through experiment and analytical study.
3. Pratyaksa Pramana, through direct experience.
Panca Shrada, five holy convictions:
1. Belief in the existent of the ultimate One.
2. Belief in the existent of the Soul.
3. Belief in the existent of Karma Law.
4. Belief in the existent of Reincarnation.
5. Belief in the existent of Moksa or Liberation.
Tri Guna, three intrinsic qualities of matter:
1. Satwam, truth and goodness.
2. Rajas, active and full of passion.
3. Tamas, passive or inertia.
Catur Asrama, four stages of life:
1. Brahmacari, learning knowledge and wisdom.
2. Grehasta, build a family, collecting wealth.
3. Wanaprasta, toward more spiritual life.
4. Sanyasin, renounced earthly matter.
Catur Yoga, four ways to achieve unity with Brahman or the absolute:
1. Jnana Yoga, unity through knowledge and wisdom.
2. Bhakti Yoga, unity through devotion.
3. Karma Yoga, unity through selfless action.
4. Raja Yoga, unity through spiritual practice or meditation.
Catur Warna, four professional division of society:
1. Brahmana, religious matter profession.
2. Ksatrya, political and military profession.
3. Waisya, business profession.
4. Sudra, employee and physical work profession.
Tri Warga, three means to achieve Moksa or liberation:
1. Dharma, righteousness.
2. Artha, financial.
3. Kama, pleasure or desire.
One of the messages is, whenever we collect material things or wealth, and whenever we enjoy pleasures, we should always do such things in accordance or based on Dharma or truth.
Sadripu, six enemies:
1. Kama, pleasure or desire.
2. Lobha, greed.
3. Krodha, anger.
4. Mada, drunk or under influence of strong emotion.
5. Moha, confusion.
6. Matsarya, jealousy.
Sadatatayi, six types of sadistic killer:
1. Agnida, burn other belonging.
2. Wisada, poisoning.
3. Atharwa, practicing negative magic.
4. Sastraghna, run amok.
5. Dratikrama, raping.
6. Rajapisuna, slandering to the result of some one death.
Saptatimira, seven darkness or drunkenness:
1. Surupa, beautiful face.
2. Dhana, wealth.
3. Guna, knowledge.
4. Kulina, genealogical matter.
5. Yowana, youth.
6. Sura, alcoholic or unhealthy drink.
7. Kasuran, victory.
Trikaya Parisudha, three type of conducts that should be purified:
1. Kayika, physical action.
2. Wacika, speech.
3. Manacika, thought.
Panca Yama Brata, five things concerned with moral life:
1. Ahimsa, non violence.
2. Brahmacari, self control on passion.
3. Satya, faithful or sincerity.
4. Awyawaharika, act based on peace and sincerity.
5. Asteya, non stealing and non cheating.
Panca Niyama Brata, five things concerned with moral life:
1. Akrodha, not controlled by anger.
2. Guru susrusa, loyal to implement the teacher's teaching.
3. Sauca, purity of body and mind.
4. Aharalagawa, eat as much as needed.
5. Aparamada, sincerity in learning and practicing holy teaching.
Dasa Yama Brata, ten things concerned with moral life:
1. Anresangsya or Arimbawa, not egoistic.
2. Ksama, forgiving.
3. Satya, faithful or sincere.
4. Ahimsa, non violence.
5. Dama, able to advice one own self.
6. Arjawa, honest in defending the truth.
7. Ijya, loving all creature.
8. Prasada, purity of heart and never thinking about reward.
9. Madurya, polite and have good manner.
10. Mardawa, humility.
Dasa Niyama Brata, ten things concerned with moral life:
1. Dana, giving charity.
2. Ijya, devotion to the absolute and ancestors.
3. Tapa, self exercise for self endurance.
4. Dhyana, focus to the absolute.
5. Swadhyaya, learn and understand the holy teaching.
6. Upasthanigraha, controlling sexual desire.
7. Brata, faithful to one own oath.
8. Upawasa, fasting.
9. Mona, controlling speech.
10. Snana, purifying the body-and-mind, and praying.
Veda scriptures often mention sacrifice, in which Brahmana groups often refer to this as physical religious sacrifice such as using fire, water, food etc. Although some other Vedic scholars and Hindu sages refer to this as a general sacrifice that can be performed and offered by human, this include non-egoistic actions, learning knowledge and wisdom and propagate them to the society, devotion, etc. which is not always associated with physical religious offering. In Bali today, the first mentioned meanings of sacrifice is more prominent, although some more philosophical based Ashram and Hindu or Dharma religious groups has born in Bali to bring forward also their more philosophical meanings.
Panca Yadnya, five sacrifices:
1. Dewa Yadnya, sacrifice to God.
2. Pitra Yadnya, sacrifice to ancestor.
3. Rsi Yadnya, sacrifice to sage.
4. Butha Yadnya, sacrifice to nature and its spirit.
5. Manusa Yadnya, sacrifice to people and society.
Other mantras from Veda and other Hindu scriptures familiar to the Balinese are the followings.
Om Swastyastu, used when opening speech, writing etc. O The Supreme, may all in good condition.
Ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti. One existence, the wise call it with different names.
Ekam eva advityam brahman. Only one without a second is Brahman.
Tat tvam asi. That is you. It means all is one.
Aham brahmasmi. I am Brahman.
Satyam sivam sundaram. Truth, goodness, beauty.
Moksartham jagaddhitaya ca iti dharmah. The objective of dharma if for soul liberation and welfare of the world.
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 02-20-2004
Bali: More Hindu than the Indian Hindus
The names on houses, the statues at traffic junctions and even the road names strike a note of familiriaty. A tourist also does not miss the odd flower that is prominently placed on the dashboard of the taxi and the incense stick burning near the steering of the taxi he is travelling in or, the temples that dot the landscape.
So, one is greeted with a huge statue of the mythological character Ghatotkacha of Mahabharat fame as one enters Bali from the Denpasar international airport or turns into a road named Arjuna while visiting various districts of the island.
There might be a huge painting of Krishna advising Arjuna on his chariot in an internet cafe.
This is Bali. One of the thousand-odd islands in the Indonesian peninsula. The island in Muslim Indonesia that has 95 per cent of its population of Hindus. We are more Hindus than the Hindus in India, says the taxi driver who proudly proclaims that he is a Hindu pointing towards the offering placed on the dashboard. The Indonesian Government protects our religion assiduously. Most schools have a Hindu religion teacher who, besides parents and priests, is the Balinese equivalent of a guru, he says.
Continued,....
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 05-31-2004
Here is some posts and a discussion on Balinese Hinduism as well as some very good photos.
http://www.siddha.com.my/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000031.html
Regards.
Pathma
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 05-31-2004
Pathma, add your site to the India Links at the top. <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 06-01-2004
rhytha,
Thanks man. But I just dont know how to do the link, although I tried several times.
Could you do it for me please?..
www.siddha.com.my
Regards.
Pathma
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 06-01-2004
<b>Pathmarajah :</b>
You have a PM and E-Mail from me.
Please confirm you have read them
Cheers
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 06-01-2004
Read your email Peregrine. Thanks.
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 06-01-2004
<!--QuoteBegin-Pathmarajah+Jun 1 2004, 02:14 AM-->QUOTE(Pathmarajah @ Jun 1 2004, 02:14 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> rhytha,
Thanks man. But I just dont know how to do the link, although I tried several times.
Could you do it for me please?..
www.siddha.com.my
Regards.
Pathma <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You link has been added To India Links
A reciprocal link of our forum, would be of help <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 06-01-2004
<!--QuoteBegin-Pathmarajah+Jun 1 2004, 11:54 AM-->QUOTE(Pathmarajah @ Jun 1 2004, 11:54 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> Read your email Peregrine. Thanks. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Pathmarajah :</b>
Sorry - unable access the India-Forum E-Mail URL.
My E-Mail Address : peregrinelondon@yahoo.co.uk
Cheers
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 06-02-2004
Thanks rhytha,
A reciprocal link of our forum, would be of help <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Consider it done.
Check email Peregrine.
Thanks a lot.
Kaushal,
check email.
Pathma
Hindu Bali, Indonesia, Malacca, Malayasia - Guest - 12-25-2004
Please move the post as necessary, or change thread title to 'Indian Civilisations in South East Asia'.
Kadaram and the Bujang Valley Civilisation
LINKING INDIA TO KEDARAM
21 December 2004
The President of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, welcomed delegates to the first workshop of IIUM's Institute of Oceanography and Maritime Studies (INOCEM) on 21st December 2004, in which he talked of how Malaysia's history was shaped by the Indian ocean, which brought Indian culture here more than two thousand years ago. He is a former Malaysian minister of agriculture and mentri besar (chief minister) of Kedah state.
"One of the former Ambassadors of Iran did a degree on the Bay of Bengal. Before he left Malaysia he told me of his finding on the ocean current of the Indian Ocean. It contributes to Malaysian history. According to him, the Indians from the Coromandel Coast need not even use an oar to arrive in Malaysia. They need only drift on a raft and would land on the coast of Yan, Kedah, specifically Dulang and Sungai Limau.
Kedah, in those early days, was known to the Indians as Kedaram or "sceptre" or "tombak" which is used by Hindu priests and warriors.
You might not be aware that the Kedah Sultanate is one of the oldest, if not the oldest monarchy from the same family line in the world. The first Kedah ruler was a Hindu whose name was Maharaja Derba Raja of Kedah, better known as Merong Maha Wangsa.
Subsequently there were 8 more Hindu Maharajahs of Kedah, making a total of nine Maharajas altogether. The ninth Maharaja was Maharaja Derba Raja XI or Phra Ong Mahawangsa. He was converted to Islam by an Arab from Aceh. He changed the title of Maharaja to Sultan, and ruled as Sultan Muzaffar Shah from 1136 to 21st July 1179.
The present Sultan of Kedah, HRH Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah is the 27th Sultan of Kedah, from Sultan Muzaffar Shah. With the Hindu predecessors, Sultan Abdul Halim becomes the 35th ruler of Kedah.
<b>The first arrival of the Indians was around 100 BC. The first Hindu temple was in the Bujang Valley at the foot of Gunung Jerai.</b> The Tamil Sanskrit world for gunung or mountain is Malai. Thus the name of this country is Malaya. Himalaya means 'mountain of snow' as the Sanskrit word for snow is Hi. All of this history would not have happened without the Indian Ocean and the characteristics of the currents."
end
[Bujang Valley is a vast area covering Pattani in Southern Thailand to Teluk Intan which is just 80 miles north of Kuala Lumpur. More than 200 archeological sites have been discovered ranging from temples, jetties, palaces and town halls. Dated 2nd century to 10th century - the first Indian/Hindu civilisation in south east asia.]