Hinduism
and Hindu Resurgence in Indonesia
Hinduism in South East Asia – Great Ancestry
Prominent Hindus like Dr
Raghu Vira, Dr Satyavrat Shastri, Dr Amarjiva Lochan,
Dr S.M.Ponniah, Dr Lokeshchandra, Dadasaheb Apte, Laxmanrao Bhide, Lallan Prasad Vyas, Dr Shankar Tatwawadi and Rajesh Mudholkar have visited South East Asia several times for the purpose of exploring and explaining Hinduism in these places.
Dr S.M.Ponniah, Dr Lokeshchandra, Dadasaheb Apte, Laxmanrao Bhide, Lallan Prasad Vyas, Dr Shankar Tatwawadi and Rajesh Mudholkar have visited South East Asia several times for the purpose of exploring and explaining Hinduism in these places.
Non-Indian Hindus of Indonesia
18
million (1 crore and 80 lacs) people practicing Hinduism in Indonesia as on
2007 (according to Parisada Hindu Dharma) are the largest non-Indian ethnic
Hindus in the world. Non Indian Hindus in smaller numbers also live in South
East Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia (Malacca Chetties).
Continuously increasing number of ISKCON devotees are also non-Indian Hindus.
Indonesian
Hindus form the fourth largest Hindu populated country in the world after Bharat
(India), Nepal (2.5 Crores) and Bangladesh (1.2 crores). Pakistan with 70 lacs
and Sri Lanka with 15 lacs are also home to large Hindus.
Majority
of the Indonesian Hindus are located in Bali Island. Java, Sumatra, Lombok,
Kalimantan and Sulawesi islands also have significant Hindu populations.
Central Kalimantan has a 15.8% Hindu population. In recent times several lacs
of Javanese have embraced Hinduism.
14 million Romanies or
Gypsies of Europe cannot
be truly considered as non-Indians since they have an Indian origin. Their
nomadic ancestors migrated from Rajasthan and Sind during the periods of
Islamic invasion starting from Mohammed Gazini in 1001 CE (Common Era). These
artistic, mild and peace-loving people were religiously and ethnically
persecuted, hunted, humiliated, targeted and sent to Nazi gas chambers throughout
history. Yet they have contributed enormously to the knowledge and culture of
Europe. Thousands of health volunteers and mid-wives were tortured and killed
during inquisition periods in Europe.
Nobel
laureate Dr. August Krogh (of Denmark for medicine in 1920), Brazilian
Presidents Washington Luís (1926-30) and Juscelino Kubitschek (1956-61), actors
Sir Charles Chaplin, Sir Michael
Caine, Yul Brynner, singer Elvis Presley,
several Olympic medal winners and Mother Teresa have been gypsies of Indian
origin.
Antiquity
Hinduism and Buddhism arrived in the Indonesian archipelago in the first century. This resulted in a number of Hinduism-Buddhism empires such as Kutai, Mataram and Majapahit. The greatest Hindu empire in the Indonesia was Majapahit. The age of Hindu-Buddhist empires lasted until the sixteenth century, when the archipelago's Islamic empires began to expand. This period, known as the Hindu-Indonesia period, lasted for sixteen centuries. The influence of Hinduism and classical India remain defining traits of Indonesian culture; the Indian concept of the god-king still shapes Indonesian concepts of leadership and Sanskrit is used in courtly literature and adaptations of Indian epic poetry.
Hinduism and Buddhism arrived in the Indonesian archipelago in the first century. This resulted in a number of Hinduism-Buddhism empires such as Kutai, Mataram and Majapahit. The greatest Hindu empire in the Indonesia was Majapahit. The age of Hindu-Buddhist empires lasted until the sixteenth century, when the archipelago's Islamic empires began to expand. This period, known as the Hindu-Indonesia period, lasted for sixteen centuries. The influence of Hinduism and classical India remain defining traits of Indonesian culture; the Indian concept of the god-king still shapes Indonesian concepts of leadership and Sanskrit is used in courtly literature and adaptations of Indian epic poetry.
The
Prambanan Temple complex was built
during the era of Hindu Mataram in the 9th century in central Java near
Yogyakarta. It is dedicated to the Trimurti,
the expression of God as the Creator
(Brahma), the Sustainer (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). Originally
there were 240 temples in this temple compound. The temple, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, and is one of the
largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia. It is characterized by its tall and
pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the towering
47-metre-high (154 ft) central building inside a large complex of individual
temples. One of the most majestic temples in Southeast Asia, Prambanan attracts
many visitors from across the world.
Borobudur, or Barabudur is another 9th-century
monument built in the reign of Shailendra Dynasty, It is also located in
Central Java near Yogyakarta.
It is a Mahayana Buddhist monument. The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside a perforated stupa. The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction. The monument is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is a Mahayana Buddhist monument. The monument consists of six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main dome, located at the center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside a perforated stupa. The monument is both a shrine to the Lord Buddha and a place for Buddhist pilgrimage. once a year Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak at the monument, and Borobudur is Indonesia's single most visited tourist attraction. The monument is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Religious Beliefs
Hinduism
in Indonesia is conspicuously different from India as they never applied the Indian caste system rigidly.
Jamu or Indonesian Ayurveda
Jamu
is traditional medicine in Indonesia. It is heavily influenced by Ayurveda
from India. It is predominantly herbal medicine made from natural materials,
such as parts of plants such as roots, leaves and bark, and fruit. There is
also material from the bodies of animals, such as bile of goat or alligator used.
In many large cities jamu herbal
medicine is sold on the street by hawkers carry a refreshing drink, usually
bitter but sweetened with honey. Herbal medicine is also produced in factories
by large companies such as Air Mancur, Nyonya Meneer or Djamu Djago, and sold
at various drug stores in sachet packaging. Nowadays herbal medicine is also
sold in the form of tablets, caplets and capsules.
Hindu Resurgence in Indonesia
For
1600 years from 1st century CE onwards, Indonesia was predominantly
a Hindu country. Muslims from Arabia, Kerala and Gujarat slowly converted them
to Islam in the last 5 centuries. Today Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim
country. It is still a wonder that over 6 million Hindus of Bali and Java
islands have withstood the onslaught of conversions for the past 400 years
without much help from Bharat.
In
recent years, the resurgence of Hinduism in Indonesia is occurring in all parts
of the country. In the early seventies, the Toraja people of Sulawesi were the first to be identified under the
umbrella of 'Hinduism', followed by the Karo
Batak of Sumatra in 1977 and the Ngaju
Dayak of Kalimantan in 1980. In a report in 1999, the National Indonesian Bureau of Statistics admitted that around 100,000 Javanese had officially converted
or 'reconverted' from Islam to Hinduism over the previous two decades.
There are several reasons for their reconversion. The Ministry of Religious
Affairs, as of 2007 estimates there to be at least 10 million (1 crore) Hindus
in Indonesia. (18 million or 1 crore 80 lacs according to Parisada Hindu
Dharma, Indonesia).
Reasons for Hindu Resurgence
1.
Similarities with Indigenous Belief Systems
The Indonesian government has recognized
Hinduism as one of the country's six officially sanctioned monotheistic
religions, along with Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism and
Confucianism. However the government do not recognize indigenous tribal belief
systems as official religion. As a result, followers of various native
animistic and tribal religions (such as Dayak Kaharingan, Sundanese Sunda
Wiwitan, Torajan Aluk To Dolo, and Batak Malim) have identified themselves as
Hindus in order to survive and avoid pressure to convert to Islam or
Christianity.
2.
Inspirations from Hindu Majapahit Empire
 |
| Trowulan Archeological Site, Mojokerto |
A local Hindu movement is struggling to gain control of a newly excavated temple building which they wish to see restored as a site of active Hindu worship. The temple is to be dedicated to Gajah Mada, the man attributed with transforming the small Hindu kingdom of Majapahit into an empire.
 |
| Gajah Mada |
3.
Influence of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Sanskrit Language
The
wayang puppet performance as well as wayang wong dance and other Javanese
classical dances are derived from episodes of Hindu epics Ramayana and
Mahabharata. Although the majority of Javanese now identify as Muslim, they
still practice these art forms. Hinduism has survived in varying degrees and
forms on Java.
He also subsidizes the world’s only daily performance of a dance ballet based on Ramayana, performed with the Prambanan towers as its backdrop. The highlight of the extraordinary show is that all the two hundred artistes are Muslims. When the leading actors were asked how they perform Ramayana with such passionate involvement, the spontaneous reply was, “Islam is our religion. Ramayana is our culture.”
One of
the most important landmarks of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, is a gigantic
modern sculpture, an extraordinary work of art of Krishna and Arjuna in the
chariot with their horses almost flying. Garuda is the national insignia of Indonesia
The Southeast Asian
Games in 1997 used Sri Hanuman as its mascot.
He is a popular figure or diety in all these countries.
Hanuman or Hanumat or Aanjaneya or Anjata or Maruti is known by different names
in these countries: Hanoman in Balinese, Anoman and Senggana in Javanese,
Haliman in Karbi, Anjat or Anujit in Khmer, Hanmone(e), Hulahman, Hunahman,
Huonahman, Huorahman in Lao, Haduman, Hanuman Kera Putih, Kera Kechil Imam
Tergangga, Pahlawan Udara, Shah Numan in Malay, Laksamana (yes, and Laxman is
known as Mangawarna) in Maranao, Hanumant in Sinhalese, Anuman in Tamil, Anchat
or Wanon in Thai and Hanumandha or Hanumanta in Tibetan.
Many Hindu-Buddhist mythical beings have made their way into
Javanese and Balinese mythology, such as numbers of Hindu gods and heroes,
devatas, asuras, apsaras, kinnaras, etc
Mr
Gus Dur Abdul Rehman Wahid, the former President of Indonesia, who was
requested to attend the consecration of an ancient mosque in Surabaya City in
the island of Java asked the organizers to arrange for a Hindu pundit from
India to perform the Vigneswara Pooja before the Quran could be recited by the
Islamic priest. A Hindu Tantrik priest was flown in from Kerala exclusively for
the purpose and Mr Wahid sat through the Hindu ceremony.
Sukarno,
the late Indonesian president, was named after Karna, the legendary hero of
Mahabharata. Sukarno's father used to read Koran on Fridays and Ramayana and
Mahabharat on other 6 days. Karna was his favourite character in Mahabharat. He
wanted his son to be as brave and philanthropic as Karna. He also wanted his
son to be on the right side of Dharma or Righteousness which made him name his
son as “SuKarno” meaning a honourable or virtuous Karna.
The name of his daughter, “Sukarnoputri
Meghawati” is yet another indication of the influence of Sanskrit in
Indonesia. Meghawati is the Sanaskrit word for "full of clouds".
Sukarnoputri is yet another Sanskrit word meaning Sukarno's daughter.
She was
the president of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004. The name of the present President
of Indonesia is another proof of the country's link with Sanskrit and Indian
heritage. The name Susilo Yudhoyono speaks lot about the individual's
personality. We in India may
hold our breath when we are told that one of the prominent politicians in Indonesia
Late
Swami Ranganathanandaji, in his book "Eternal Values For a Changing
Society", has mentioned about a discussion he had with Sukarno during
his visit to Indonesia
In the nineties
most Asian countries went through a severe financial crisis. Indonesia
4.
Hindu Temples or Puras and Religious Sites
The new Hindu communities in Java tend
to be concentrated around recently built temples (pura) or around
archaeological temple sites (candi) which are being reclaimed as places of
Hindu worship. An important new Hindu temple in eastern Java is Pura Mandaragiri Sumeru Agung, located
on the slope of Mt. Semeru, Java's
highest mountain.
 |
| Pura Mandaragiri Sumeru Agung |
Mass
conversions have also occurred in the region around Pura Agung Blambangan, another new temple, built on a site with
minor archaeological remnants attributed to the kingdom of Blambangan, the last Hindu polity on Java, and Pura Loka Moksa Jayabaya, where the
Hindu king and prophet Jayabaya is said to have achieved spiritual liberation
(moksa).
 |
| Pura Agung Blambangan |
Another
site is the new Pura Pucak Raung in
East Java, which is mentioned in Balinese literature as the place from where Maharishi Markandeya took Hinduism to Bali
in the 5th century AD.
Although there has been a more
pronounced history of resistance to Islamization in East Java, Hindu
communities are also expanding in Central Java near the ancient Hindu monuments
of Prambanan.
An ancient 9th
century Hindu temple was accidentally discovered on 11 December 2009 during land excavations to lay
foundations for the construction of a new university library. It is located
within the premises of Universitas Islam
Indonesia (Indonesia Islamic University or UII), Yogyakarta, Central Java,
Indonesia. The discovery drew public attention and sparked excitement and
curiosity. This temple called Pustakasala
or Kimpulan temple, was buried about five metres underground. Excavations
reveal square stone walls and statues of Ganesha, Nandi and Shiva Lingam.
 |
| Pustakasala or Kimpulan Temple |
Certain
ethnic groups, such as the Tenggerese and Osing, are also associated with Hindu
religious traditions. Many recently built Hindu temples (pura) have also helped
in mass conversion of local populace.
5.
Prophesies of Sabda-Palon and Jayabaya
Prophesies
of Sabdapalon and Jayabaya and their acceptance among Indonesians Is another
reason for mass conversions to Hinduism.
Sabda-Palon
is said to have been a priest and an adviser to Brawijaya V, the last ruler of
the Hindu empire Majapahit. He is also said to have cursed his king upon the conversion of the latter to Islam in 1478.
Sabdapalon then promised to return, after 500 years and at a time of widespread
political corruption and natural disasters, to sweep Islam from the island and restore Hindu-Javanese religion and
civilization.
Some
of the first new Hindu temples built in Java were indeed completed around 1978,
for example Pura Blambangan in the regency of Banyuwangi. As the prophesies
foretold, Mt Sumeru erupted around the same time. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami killed over 220,000 Indonesians. The May 2006 Java earthquake in the
Indian Ocean around 25 km south-southwest of the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta,
caused 5,782 deaths, while 36,299 people were injured, 135,000 houses damaged,
and an estimated 1.5 million left homeless. The July 2006 Java earthquake, off the southwestern coast of Java,
Indonesia claimed approximately 668 lives; 65 were missing and 9,299 were
treated according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).
All
this is taken as evidence of the accuracy of Sabdapalon's predictions and have
helped in Hindu revival.
A
further prophesy, well-known throughout Java and Indonesia, is the Ramalan Jayabaya. A recent publication
on these prophesies by Soesetro & Arief (1999) has become a national best
seller. The predictions of Jayabaya are also discussed frequently in daily
newspapers. These ancient prophesies, indeed, are very much a part of a current
public debate on the ideal shape of a new and genuinely democratic Indonesia.
The
historical personage Sri Mapanji
Jayabaya reigned over the kingdom of Kediri in East Java from 1135 to 1157 AD. He is known for his
efforts to reunify Java after a split had occurred with the death of his
predecessor Airlangga, for his just
and prosperous rule, and for his dedication to the welfare of the common
people.
Many
believe that the time for the arrival of a new ratu adil is near (as the
prophesies put it, "when iron
wagons drive without horses and ships sail through the sky [i.e. cars and
airplanes]"), and that he will come to rescue and reunite Indonesia
after an acute crisis, ushering in the dawn of a new golden age. Many are therefore, returning to their
ancestral religion of Hinduism to escape the catastrophes.
As a result of this renaissance, the
Hindu population of Java is more than that of Bali and now the largest in
Indonesia.
Hinduism in other Parts of Indonesia
Many
sects in the islands of Lombok and Sulawesi, the Dayaks of Kalimantan Tengah
and the Bataks of Sumetra follow a mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism and animism.
The Tamils of Sumetra and the Indians in Jakarta follow Indian Hinduism.
Glorious Hinduism in Bali Island
4 million (40 lacs)
Hindus in Bali (an
island in Indonesia) are a class by themselves. They form 93% of the island
population. With an estimated 20,000 puras (temples) and shrines,
Bali is known as the "Island of a
Thousand Puras", or "Island of the Gods". Each temple is
more beautiful than the other. Most Balinese temples have stone throne for the
Gods when they come down to earth.
Bali is heavily Hindu
influenced; probably even more than any place in India is. Massive and extremely artistic
statues adorn the Bali streets. One is astonished to see large statues of
Ghatotkaja – Karna war, Bhima serpent fight in the river bed and Arjuna in
action.
Garuda Vishnu Statue – World’s Tallest
Statue & the Commercial Complex
Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a massive, unfinished statue in
Bali that currently exists in pieces. Conceptualized by the Balinese artist
Nyoman Nuarta, the statue (if completed) would depict the Hindu god Vishnu (or
Dewa Wisnu, as he is known by the Balinese) riding aloft on his winged mount
Garuda.
Once
completed, the statue will rise 479 feet above the ground, taking first place in the world's tallest-statues contest (compare
it to the Statue of Liberty which stands 151 feet). When completed, the statue
will use up about 4,000 tons of brass
and copper.
Even
in its uncompleted state, what does exist is a breathtaking insight into
Balinese culture. Not just the folklore that Balinese religion lives by, but
also the artistic and cultural push-and-pulls that make Garuda Wisnu Kencana such
an ambitious undertaking.
Even in its
present half-complete state, Garuda Wisnu Cenkana attracts up to 2,000 to 3,000
visitors every day.
No Rigid Caste System
Hinduism
in Indonesia takes on a tone distinct from India and other parts of the world.
For instance, Hinduism in Indonesia, formally referred as Agama Hindu Dharma, never applied the Indian caste system
rigidly. Bali Hindus follow what Lord Krishna proclaimed in Bhagwad Gita
chap 4.13 “ Chaturvarnyam maya shrishtam guna Karma Vibhagashah” (the four
divisions of human society were created by me according to the modes of
material nature and the work associated with them). Bali Hindus practice this pristine
form of Hindutva.
When
I visited Bali in 1986, Dr Ida Bagus Oka Puniatmadja, Member Parliament was my
host. He once told me that being a University professor he was still a Bali
Hindu Brahmin but his elder brother who recently had changed his profession
from a school teacher to a restaurant owner, had become a Vaishya.
Shudras to the fore in Besaki Pura
Besakih
Pura in Bali is the chief Hindu temple of Indonesia. There I could recognise
the Brahmin priest by his long shikha (tuft) and his white dhoti dress code. I
saw him entering the temple inner precinct only upto one point. But the person
besides him was able to go further inside. Dr Punyatmadja told me that the
other person belonged to shudra caste, employed by the temple for the upkeep of
the pura or temple. In Bali only a shudra had access to inner sanctum
sanctorum. He further showed me a list of 50 persons belonging to various
castes who would like to convert to shudra caste in order to take this sacred job
of temple upkeep. Shudra Rishis like Valmiki, Ved Vyas, Matang and Vidur would feel proud of
Bali Hindu society.
Very Low Crime Rate
http://indahnesia.com/indonesia/BASHAS/hassles.php
Bali
is one of the world's least policed territories and violent crimes are
practically unheard of. Singapore, with about the same population, has five
times the crime and five times the police. The secret to the low crime rate is
the stabilizing influence of their belief in Karma Theory (Cause and Effect
which says that all our acts both good and bad will come back to us) and the
banjar (village council). Most crimes in Bali are committed by non-Hindus from
Java or Lombok.
In
1986 I was in Bali to attend a Hindu Conference organised by Parisada Hindu
Dharma, Indonesia. Hindu delegates had arrived from various islands of
Indonesia and were staying in the hostel of Bali Hindu University. The bell
rang at 8.00 am to signify that the breakfast and tea was ready and after that
we should move to the conference hall for the inauguration. As I was sipping my
tea, one of the delegates approached me and told emphatically, I was in this
Bali Island for the first time. I smelled he has caught me doing something
inappropriate and so asked what mistake I had committed. He said I have closed
my room. I agreed saying I did this for the sake of safety and security of my
passport, camera, tape recorder etc. He said, “all the delegates staying in
this hostel have come from far off places and they all have their valuables.
But just look if anyone has closed his room”. I turned around and saw that none
had closed their rooms. “This is Bali. Theft or crime is unheard of here” he
said with pride. He further added that “the Dutch Europeans who ruled Bali for
over a century did not find any robbery or misdeeds taking place”. Hence in Bali,
the police, lawyers and jailors do not have much work unless a foreign visitor commits
a crime.
Bali Hindu Culture
Balinese
Hinduism is deeply interwoven with art, ritual and a myriad of local and
ancestral spirits. Balinese place great emphasis on dramatic and aesthetically
satisfying acts of ritual propitiation of these spirits at temple sites
scattered throughout villages and in the countryside. Statues of characters
from Ramayan, Mahabharat and Puranas are seen more in Bali and Indonesia than
in Bharat.
The
Balinese temple is called Pura. The
Balinese temple has intricately decorated gates. Rituals of the life cycle are
also important occasions for religious expression and artistic display.
Ceremonies at puberty, marriage and most notably, cremation at death provide
opportunities for Balinese to communicate their ideas about community and the
afterlife.
Balinese
Hinduism also holds to the concept of Tri
Hita Karana, nurturing and maintaining a harmonious relationship between
human and human, human and nature, human and God. In Bharat these may be called
respectively as Samashti, Srushti and
Parameshti. The sacred texts found in Agama Hindu Dharma are the Vedas. They are the basis of Balinese
Hinduism. Other sources of religious information include the Puranas and the
Itihasa (mainly Ramayana and the Mahabharata).
One
of Hinduism's primary ethical concerns is the concept of ritual purity. Another
important distinguishing feature, which traditionally helps maintain ritual
purity, is the division of society into the traditional occupational groups, or
varna of Hinduism: Brahmins (priests, brahmana in Indonesian), Kshatriya
(ruler-warriors, satriya or "Deva" in Indonesian), Vaishya
(merchants-farmers, waisya in Indonesian), and Shudra (commoners-servants,
sudra in Indonesian). The caste system, although present in form, was never
rigidly applied. The epics Mahabharata (Great Battle of the Descendants of
Bharata) and Ramayana (The Travels of Rama), became enduring traditions among
Indonesian believers, expressed in shadow puppet (wayang) and dance
performances. Thus Hinduism was greatly modified when adapted to Indonesian
society.
Hindu Festivals of Bali
Hari Raya Galungan,
This
is the most important holiday symbolizing the victory of Virtue (Dharma) upon
Evil (Adharma). The holiday is specialized by the fitting of 'penjor', a tall
bamboo pole splendidly decorated with woven young coconut leaves, fruit, cakes
and flowers, on the right side of every house entrance. People are attired in
their finest clothes and jewels this day.
Hari Raya Nyepi Tahun Baru Saka
Balinese
New Year - the day of total silence throughout the island. No activity, no
traffic at all on the roads, no fire may be lit for 24 hours. Great
purification and sacrificial rites are held the day before so as to exorcize
evil spirits from every corner of the island.
Hari Raya Siwaratri
Hindus carry
out activities that lead to self-purification business, making the presence of
mind to Sang Hyang Shiva, in an effort to create awareness of self.
Hari Raya Saraswati
Books of knowledge,
manuscripts and the Vedas are blessed and special offerings are made for them.
Krishna
Arjuna Chariot statue in Jakarta
 |
| Krishna - Arjuna chariot statue and fountain in Central Jakarta. |
Krishna
- Arjuna chariot statue and fountain in Central Jakarta. In the background is Bank Indonesia
Towers. The statue depicts a scene from Mahabharata epic; Krishna riding the
chariot with Arjuna holding a bow and arrow, the chariot is being pulled by
eleven divine horses.
