Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c10.65

c10.65

The facts stated above leave no doubt that all the essential features of Indian religion penetrated to South-east Asia during the first five hundred years of Hindu colonisation. The numerous Sanskrit inscriptions of Champā and Kambuja, the Indo-Javanese literature, the Buddhist religion still prevailing in Burma, Siam and Cambodia, and the Brāhmanical religion and Vaiṣṇava sects, and show a thorough acquaintance not only with the various gods and goddesses in their numerous names and forms but also with the philosophical conceptions lying behind them. The prominent place occupied by religion in the life of the people is also demonstrated by the large number of temples and images erected and installed by kings and others. Most of the inscriptions refer to these pious foundations, and ruins of many of them are now lying scattered all over the country. But what strikes one more is that we find in Kamboja not only the external forms of Indian religion but that ethical and spiritual view of life which was the most distinguishing feature of ancient Indian civilization. Anyone who carefully studies the inscriptions of Kamboja cannot fail to be struck with the spirit of piety and renunciation, a deep yearning for emancipation from the trammels of birth and evils of the world, and a longing for the attainment of the highest bliss by union with Brahman, which are frequently referred to and expressed with beauty and elegance in language at once sombre and serene.