Ancient Maritime trade connections between the two witnessed not only the establishment of key trading settlements in ports like Funan (present-day Cambodia), Srivijaya (Sumatra), but also led to exchange of ideas between 500 AD to 1500 AD.
- Inscriptions like Veal Kantel (Cambodia); Yupa (Indonesia); Devanika (Laos) bear a testimony to it.
Impact of Indian Ideas in Southeast Asia in Key areas
- Language and Literature: Many Southeast Asian languages, including Thai, Khmer, Malay, Javanese, and Balinese, borrowed extensively from Sanskrit.
- Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata were translated and adapted into local literary traditions.
- Religious Adaptations:
- Temple complexes built by Cham Civilization (Vietnam) like My Son Sanctuary was dedicated primarily to Shiva with Sanskrit Inscriptions and Linga worship.
- Angkor Wat Temple Complex (Cambodia) was originally dedicated to Vishnu; Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple later expressed Buddhist influence.
- Sites like Dvaravati in Thailand reflected strong Buddhist presence.
- Plains of Baganin Burma (Mynamar) contained thousands of temples and stupas.
- Borobudur, a massive Buddhist monument built by Sailendra dynasty of Java, Indonesia.
- Political Adaptations: Religion legitimised kingship where king was seen as devaraja, or god-king, echoing Indian ideas adapted to local political needs.
- Performing Arts: Graceful movements, intricate hand gestures, and storytelling aspects of Indian dance were incorporated into dance forms like Thai and Cambodian classical dance (Apsara dance).
- Music and musical instruments, including sitar, tabla, and mridangam, also found way into Southeast Asian musical traditions.
- Architecture: Sites like Angkor Wat, Borobudur, and My Son temples, focused on Indic iconography and sacred architecture.
