South-east Asia

Indian culture also spread to South-east

Asia, but not through the medium of Buddhism Except in the case of Burma it was

mostly diffused through the brahmanical cults. The name Suvarnabhumi was given

to Pegu and Moulmeiri in Burma, and merchants from Broach, Banaras and

Bhagalpur traded with Burma. Considerable Buddhist remains of Gupta times have

been found in Burma.

From the first century A.D. India

established close relations with Java in Indonesia, which was called Suvarna diva

or the island of gold by the ancient Indians, The earliest Indian settlements m

Java were established in A D. 56. In the second century of the Christian era

several small Indian panicle polities were set up.

When the Chinese pilgrim Fahsien visited Java in the fifth century A.D, I do found the brahmanical religion prevalent there. In the early centuries of the Christian era the Pallavas founded their colonies in Sumatra. Eventually these flowered to the kingdom of Sri Vijay, which continued to be an important power and a center of Indian culture from the fifth to the tenth century A.D. The Hindu settlements in Java and Sumatra became channels for the radiation of Indian culture. The process of founding settlements continued afterwards.

Indo China

In Indo china, which is at present divided into Vietnam, Kampuchea and Labs, the Indians set up two powerful kingdoms in Kamboja and Champa The powerful kingdom of Kamboja, identical with modern Kampuchea, was founded in the sixth century A D. Its rulers were devotees of Siva! They developed Kamboja as a center of Sanskrit learning, and numerous inscriptions were composed in this language.

In the neighborhood of Kamboja at Champa, embracing

southern Vietnam and the, fringes of northern Vietnam, it seems that the

traders set up their colonies. The king bf Champa was also a Saiva, and the

official language of Champa was Sanskrit. This country was considered to be a

great center of education of the Vedas and Dharmasastras.

Indian settlements In the Indian Ocean

continued to flourish till the thirteenth century and during this period

intermingled with the local peoples. Continuous comingling gave rise to a new

type of art, language and literature. We find in these countries several art

objects, which show .a happy blending (of both Indian and indigenous elements.

It is astonishing that the greatest Buddhist temple is found pot in India but

in Borobudur m Indonesia Considered to be the largest Buddhist temple in the

whole world, it was constructed in the eighth century A D., and 436 images of

Buddha were engraved on it.