Ganesha's picture on Indonesian Currency

[Blackwater]

How this can be possible.??? Where is thakedar of Islam, Pakistan. Pakistan must order to stop this in Indonesia

 

[Ray]

Hinduism arrived in Indonesia as early as the second century CE through Indian traders on the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi. By the sixth century Buddhism had also taken root in Indonesia, and peacefully coexisted and blended with Hinduism and preexisting native traditions. The Hindu-Javanese culture was rich and vibrant and at one time spread across all of current Indonesia, culminating in the Majapahit Empire in the fourteenth century.

The dominant belief systems of the Majapahit Empire were Hinduism, with either Siva or Visnu as the principle deities, and Mahayana Buddhism. In addition there was a diversity of Hindu-and Buddhist-derived sects, ascetic groups and yogic traditions, and ritual practices belonging to ancient indigenous faiths, which held various fertility, nature-centered, ancestor and death-related beliefs. The general populace also held firm to ancient beliefs in gods, spirits, and other protectors (Fic 88-89). Today the Majapahit Empire is upheld as a golden age of culture and prosperity and looked to as a source of inspiration for the modern Hindu revival movement.

Arab Muslim traders began commerce with Indonesia in fourth century CE; however, Indonesians did not begin converting to Islam until the eleventh century. By the thirteenth century Islam was established in North Sumatra. It then spread through Malaya, Brunei, Java and Malacca. Two main factors contributed to Islamic conversions in Java:

1) Islamic traders who married local women and set up Islamic commercial communities on the coast and

2) Sufi teachers who penetrated the heartland of Java and taught mystic doctrines which were easily added to the existing synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist traditions (Fic 149-150). By the fifteenth century the Majapahit Empire was in decline, and in 1520 the last Hindu kingdom in Java fell to the Sultanate of Demak. The last major independent empire on Java, prior to Dutch colonization was the Sultanate of Mataram, which ruled from the late sixteenth century to the early eighteenth century.

Although the majority of the population eventually converted to Islam, Indonesians retained much of the previous blend of Hindu, Buddhist, and native religious traditions, with unique practices, rituals, and ceremonies. Anthropologist of religion Clifford Geertz popularized the terms abagan Islam and santri Islam, to refer to the syncretic, indigenous and more ritualistic forms of Islam found in Java, versus the more pious, orthodox, Arab-influenced form. Until recently, the majority of Muslims in Indonesia would be categorized as abagan Muslims, with a minority of santri Muslims. Since Indonesia's independence there has been a trend of Islamization, increase in observance and turn towards a less culturally-influenced, more universal form of Islam. Today, the largest Muslim organizations in Indonesia are the "traditionalists" (Nahdlatul Ulama) and "modernists" (Muhammadiyah), both promoting santri Islam.

International Portrait

 

[Galaxy]

This is Indonesian Rupiah with Ganesh inscription.

Statue of Bheem in Indonesia.

The official mascot of Military Intelligence in Indonesia is Hanuman.

In India very few would be able to identify who Ghatotkach is. But very popular in Indonesia. Indonesian knows more about Ramayana and Mahabharata than Indian.

Krishna-Arjuna statue at Jakarta main square

The recently adopted above new brand logo for the Island of Bali is a manifestation of country's Hindu traditions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali

 

[KS]

Well Hindus are relatively safe in Indonesia because they are concentrated on a single island, Bali, where they form the absolute majority - about 93% and Bali is one of the engines of Indonesian economy wit high tourist inflows who are interested in the elaborate Hindu rituals there...

Frankly the SE asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia are more appreciative/proud of their Hindu heritage and roots than India - the birthplace of Hinduism and where about 1 billion ppl practise it..

 

[Blackwater]

Pakistan will not tolerate this. Pak is sending his Holiness for Gazwa -A- Indonesia ..

:taunt1::taunt1::taunt1:

 

[Ray]

The Indonesian national carrier is called GARUDA.

 

[Galaxy]

Indonesian people knows more about Ramayana and Mahabharata than us.

The official mascot of Military Intelligence in Indonesia is Hanuman. The question is can we do the same? No, We are some kind of strange secular country that we are ashamed of our own ancient history.

Samudra Manthan exhibit at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand

Churning of the ocean depicted in the bas-relief from Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, shows Vishnu in the centre, his turtle Avatar Kurma below, asuras and devas to left and right.

Suvarnabhumi Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Yusuf]

Wow fantastic! I have heard a lot of people calling Indonesia as too radical Islamist.

 

[trackwhack]

Pleasantly surprised.

 

[Galaxy]

Wow fantastic! I have heard a lot of people calling Indonesia as too radical Islamist.

Indonesia is turning into A radical Islamic country. Process already started. There are 100's of known facts/news. They are not adopting Indian culture but their own. It's their history. Hinduism/Buddhism had influence in South-East Asian countries even before Islam came into existence.

 

[Yusuf]

Indonesia is turning into A radical Islamic country. Process already started. There are 100's of known facts/news. They are not adopting Indian culture but their own. It's their history. Hinduism/Buddhism had influence in South-East Asian countries even before Islam came into existence.

Agreed that Hinduism was in Indonesia long before Islam but where there are nut jobs, history is erased. Something that Taliban did in Bamiyan. In that light, something like this in Indonesia is heart warming.

 

[Ray]

Wow fantastic! I have heard a lot of people calling Indonesia as too radical Islamist.

It is not TOO radical, but it is changing.

Even now, it is just COOL!

 

[devgupt]

Arab Muslim traders began commerce with Indonesia in fourth century CE; however, Indonesians did not begin converting to Islam until the eleventh century. By the thirteenth century Islam was established in North Sumatra. It then spread through Malaya, Brunei, Java and Malacca. Two main factors contributed to Islamic conversions in Java:

How can muslim traders come to Indonesia in fourth century ? Islam wasn't even born then.

 

[LurkerBaba]

Google Indonesia came up with this: http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/religion-culture/37054-ramayana-html5-google.html

 

[pmaitra]

How can muslim traders come to Indonesia in fourth century ? Islam wasn't even born then.

Islam was born around 600 years after Christ, so I think it is a typo and Ray Sir meant 14th century.

Muḥammad ibn `Abd Allāh

Born c. 26 April 570 Mecca (Makkah), Arabia (now Saudi Arabia)

Died 8 June 632 (aged 62) Yathrib, Arabia (present-day Medina, Hejaz, Saudi Arabia)

Muhammad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[civfanatic]

Borobudur in Indonesia is one of the most famous Buddhist monuments in the world. You can see the influence of the Gupta-era architecture.

 

[Ray]

How can muslim traders come to Indonesia in fourth century ? Islam wasn't even born then.

A good point.

That must be a mistake in the article.

Around the year 610 CE, Muhammad, while in Mecca (presently in Saudi Arabia) began to receive Quran revelations from God

When did the religion of Islam begin

The earliest evidence of Islamised populations in Indonesia dates to the 13th century in northern Sumatra; other Indonesian areas gradually adopted Islam which became the dominant religion in Java and Sumatra by the end of the 16th century. For the most part, Islam overlaid and mixed with existing cultural and religious influences.

History of Indonesia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Ray]

Borobudur in Indonesia is one of the most famous Buddhist monuments in the world. You can see the influence of the Gupta-era architecture.

What a magnificent piece of architecture!

 

[ejazr]

The 4th century probably refers to 4th century in Hijri calendar which is around 10th-11th century in Gregorian calendar. Contacts were mostly from Indian Muslim traders from Gujarat and South India. Although Arab and Chinese Muslims also were involved in the spice trade as well.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spread_of_Islam_in_Indonesia

 

[devgupt]

The 4th century probably refers to 4th century in Hijri calendar which is around 10th-11th century in Gregorian calendar. Contacts were mostly from Indian Muslim traders from Gujarat and South India. Although Arab and Chinese Muslims also were involved in the spice trade as well.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spread_of_Islam_in_Indonesia

That makes sense.