ARCHITECTURE
Many Southeast Asian architectures contained motifs from Indian mythology and beliefs. This is seen especially seen in Javanese temples and Moslem tombs, which had attributes of Hinduism. More detailed and concrete examples of Indian culture on architecture can be found in our next gallery on Angkor Empire.
Even though Southeast Asia adopted many parts of Indian culture in different aspects of their lives, be it architecture or art, Southeast Asia was unique in a sense that these Indian ideas and beliefs have been modified to suit their own kingdom. For example, one temple innovation of Southeast Asia was the sand stone lintels. These lintels were unique to Southeast Asia and were not used by the Indians. Also, the syncretism (blending of religions) practised in Southeast Asia is unique as unlike in India where there were conflicts between the beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism, both these religions coexisted peacefully in Southeast Asia. This is evident in the fact that Buddha images, Shiva, Vishnu and indigenous gods were located together on statues, monuments and temples.
Many Southeast Asian architectures contained motifs from Indian mythology and beliefs. This is seen especially seen in Javanese temples and Moslem tombs, which had attributes of Hinduism. More detailed and concrete examples of Indian culture on architecture can be found in our next gallery on Angkor Empire.
Even though Southeast Asia adopted many parts of Indian culture in different aspects of their lives, be it architecture or art, Southeast Asia was unique in a sense that these Indian ideas and beliefs have been modified to suit their own kingdom. For example, one temple innovation of Southeast Asia was the sand stone lintels. These lintels were unique to Southeast Asia and were not used by the Indians. Also, the syncretism (blending of religions) practised in Southeast Asia is unique as unlike in India where there were conflicts between the beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism, both these religions coexisted peacefully in Southeast Asia. This is evident in the fact that Buddha images, Shiva, Vishnu and indigenous gods were located together on statues, monuments and temples.