Indonesia Facts: Even today, the imprints of Ramayana, Garuda, Lord Ganesha and Hindu temples are visible in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country. Know 5 interesting facts
Indonesia Hindu Culture: On Monday, July 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Indonesia for the third time. As soon as PM Modi’s plane reached the border, Indonesian fighter jets surrounded him from all sides in the air and gave him a grand and royal welcome. President Prabowo Subianto himself arrived at the airport to receive him. The most talked about on this tour is the expectations of a BrahMos missile deal worth about Rs 2,500 crore, but what is even more interesting is the 1200 year old Prambanan temple of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma, where PM Modi is going to visit. A glimpse of Indian civilization is still visible in the culture, traditions and history of this country with the world’s largest Muslim population. Despite the Muslim population being in majority, the influence of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Sanskrit and Hindu-Buddhist traditions is visible here. Let us know 5 such interesting facts, which make this country different from other countries…
Picture of Lord Ganesha printed on the note
There was a time when the picture of Lord Ganesha was printed on the 20 thousand rupiah note of Indonesia. There Ganesh ji is considered the god of education and wisdom, hence he was given a place on the note. Despite more than 85% of the population being Muslims, the picture of Lord Ganesha on the currency note is quite interesting.
Chariot of Arjun and Shri Krishna in the middle of the city
In one of the most famous areas of the capital Jakarta, there is an 85 feet high statue of the chariot of Arjun and Shri Krishna from Mahabharata. This statue has been installed here not for any tourist attraction, but as a symbol of Indonesia’s identity.
Ramayana is still staged today
In areas like Bali and Java, dance and song programs based on Ramayana and Mahabharata are still held. Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists come every year to see them. That is, the stories which are told in every home in India, the same stories are alive on the stage there.
The airline is also named after a Hindu god.
The name of the government airline of Indonesia is ‘Garuda Indonesia’. Garuda is considered the vehicle of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism. Taking the name of the national airline of an Islamic country from Hindu mythology is a big deal in itself.
Army slogan also in Sanskrit
The official motto of the Indonesian Navy, ‘Jaleshwava Jayamahe’, is also in Sanskrit language. Not only this, the national slogan of the country is also taken from an old Javanese book, which contains many Sanskrit words. That means, from everyday life to government documents, the imprint of the Indian language is present everywhere.
Where did Indonesia’s Hindu connection come from?
The sea distance between India’s Andaman-Nicobar Islands and Indonesia is only about 160 kilometers. That means both the countries are as close culturally as they are geographically. About 2000 years ago, Indian traders reached Indonesia by sea to trade in spices. Along with them, Hinduism and Buddhism also reached there. The special thing is that India never ruled Indonesia, yet the kings there adopted Hindu-Buddhist traditions of their own free will. Later, with the passage of centuries, Islam came here and today the majority of the population is Muslim, but the old culture and traditions were never left behind. This is the reason why even today, on India’s first Republic Day in 1950, the chief guest was the then President of Indonesia Sukarno, and today PM Modi is re-strengthening this old friendship by visiting the largest Hindu temple of the same country.