Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c11.44

c11.44

“There can be no doubt that the architects who planned and built the Ānanda were Indians. Everything in this temple from *śikhara* to basement, as well as the numerous stone sculptures found in its corridors and the terracotta plaques adorning its basement and terraces, bear the indubitable stamp of Indian genius and craftsmanship, except in one particular (namely the Mon legends). It may be here remarked *en passant*, that from 1056-57 when, after the conquest of Thaton, the extraordinary architectural, sculptural and painting activity began in Pagan, to about the beginning of the XIIIth century, practically nothing is to be found that does not bear the stamp of Indian workmanship; this may be affirmed even of such early votive tablets which bear the inscriptions in old Burmese characters and the language of which is either Pali or Burmese (these latter rather rare); everything on them…but the inscription, is Indian. In this sense, we may take it therefore, that the Ānanda, though built in the Burmese capital, is an Indian temple.”²⁰