Ancient Temples of Malaysia and the Forgotten Past.

Location of Historical/Archeological sites

Mohd, Supian Sabtu, Tamadun Awal Lembah Bujang,2002

Introduction

Temples have long been part of the local landscape of South East Asia, with great monuments such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Indonesia built by the Hindu and Buddhist Kingdoms of the Pre-Islamic era. Having said so, one would wonder why no monuments were built in the Malay Peninsular of modern day Malaysia. It is generally accepted by historians that a Hindu civilisation was established in the Bujang Valley up north in the ancient Kingdom of Kedaram. Tamil traders established settlements in the Bujang Valley as early as the 3rd century AD

In ancient Kedah there is an important and unmistakably Hindu settlement which has been known for about a century now from the discoveries reported 1840s by Col. James Low and has recently been subjected to a fairly exhaustive investigation by Dr. Quaritch Wales. Dr. Wales investigated no fewer than thirty sites round about Kedah. The results attained show that this site was in continuous occupation by people who came under strong South Indian influences, Buddhist and Hindu, for centuries.

(Sastri, K.A. Nilakanta (1949). South Indian Influences in the Far East)

Over 50 Buddhist and Hindu temples have been excavated from various sites in the valley, Artifacts and relics found at various sites, dating back to the 4th century includes pottery shards, stone statues of Hindu Icons, inscribed stone tablets, and metal tools,Song and Ming Dynasty ceramic wares, ornaments, beads and semi precious stones. The artifacs and relics are on display at the archeological museum located here. The remains found here are either bases of Budhist Stupa's or Hindu Shrines.Physical evidence of Hinduism were partly destroyed in the 12th century when the 9th ruler of Kedah(first Sultan) converted to Islam.

http://www.mymalaysiabooks.com/Kedah/kedah_bujangvalley.htm

The Lost Temples and a New Beginning.

Over many centuries these temples were lost swallowed by the jungles of Malaya. Though almost 30 sites were discovered, none of them have matched the collosal size of those discovered in neighbouring countries. However it is widely believed that deep in the jungles of Malaysia lay hidden monuments which will enrich the Pre-Islamic history of Malaysia.

There is a strong presence of Indians of Tamil origin from the 3rd century onwards till the annexation of Kedaram by the Chola Empire in the 11th century. However, Indian settlements mysteriously disappear after that period, probably due to intermarriage with the locals and the decline of Chola imperialism thus a unique fusion of cultures enriches the local landscape.

The Tamils and Malays were already using the Dravidian script to write which later evolved into the old Kawi script which was used in Java and Bali. It is evident that the Malay culture boasts a unique blend of Indian culture beautifully fused with their later Islamic tradition. What remains of the early Indians of Malaysia is their legacy of Temple-building and probably the earliest case of inter-cultural exchanges in this region and contribution to the Malay culture.The Malay Wedding Ceremony is a lasting legacy of early Indian influence.

Related maps.

The Chola Empire at the height of its power (c. 1050)

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chola_dynasty

 http://empires.findthedata.org/q/18/2515/How-long-did-the-Chola-Dynasty-exist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chola_Navy


Special thanks to:

http://empires.findthedata.org/q/18/2515/How-long-did-the-Chola-Dynasty-exist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chola_Navy

http://www.mymalaysiabooks.com/Kedah/kedah_bujangvalley.htm

Mohd, Supian Sabtu, Tamadun Awal Lembah Bujang,2002