TAMIL INFLUENCES IN INDONESIA ASIAN STUDIES GROUP 2

KSHATRIA THEORY Kshatrias, in Hindu Caste System are known as the nobles or warriors. This theory states that the Indian emperors colonized Southeast Asia and that the kings of the Far East were culturally influenced by the Indians.

BRAHMIN THEORY Brahmas were known as the priests and scholars in the Hindu Caste System. This theory supports the evidence that the Brahmas spread the Sanskrit language in Southeast Asia. The Brahmas or the sacerdotes were the spiritual leaders of the Hindu settlers and could have served as counsels to the kings.

VAISHYA OR PROLETARIAT THEORY The traders or merchants are known as the Vaishyas in the Hindu Caste.

TAMIL INSCRIPTIONS IN INDONESIA

SUMATRA This is dated in the month of Masi of the Saka year This inscription is engraved in a stone and was found at Laboe Towewa, Baros, Sumatra. It records a gift by a body of persons who style themselves “the one thousand five hundred.”

BALI This inscription mentions the Sivan temple that had been erected in that place.

STUDY OF PLACE NAMES

PANAI This is located in Eastern Sumatra. Its present name is pane or panei. This is a very fertile land with water in its bathing ghats. PANNAI in Tamil means a fertile land suitable for agriculture.

KAMPAR This is located in central Sumatra Its relevance to the Tamil language is the name of the author of the Tamil epic Ramayana, otherwise known as Kamparamayanam or Kampar.

MADURA This small island is located in northern Java. The name Madura may have originated from the Pandyan empire whose capital was Madurai.

TARUMA This is situated in western part of Java. The name could have originated from Tarumapari which lies ten miles north of Cape Comorin in the Tamil country.

KOTA KAPUR Kota Kapur means Fort Kapur. In the Tamil language, the word kota means “fort”.

KERINCI This is a mountain in central Sumatra. In Tamilian language, the word kerinci means mountainous region wherein a species of large trees bloom once every twelve years. In this mountainous area of central Sumatra, lives the race of people carrying the Dravidian clan.

MEDAN This is a mountain in north eastern Sumatra. Medu in Tamil language means little hill.

KINTAMANI This is located in Bali. The word cintamani literally means “the bell of heaven”.

GELAM This is located in south eastern part of Borneo island.

LANGUAGE INFLUENCES

TAMIL LANGUAGE It was recorded by early historians that the Tamil language was the common language of trade in Indonesia as well as in Indonesia.

SOME EXAMPLES OF TAMIL LANGUAGE TAMILBAHASAENGLISH Akasamangkasasky Aranmanaiantanapalace Ayahayahnursemaid Ayulhayulife Basaibahasalanguage Devataidewatagoddess

RELIGION

AGAMATIRTHA The religion of Hindu origin which is still practiced in Bali, Indonesia. The word tirtha, which is used in Bali to refer to the water received from the temple. The word is only used in Tamil but not in any other Indian language.

ISLAM Some historians believed that the original bearers of Islam are the Muslim merchants of Gujarat in western India Trade contacts between the Tamils and Arabs; and between the Tamils and East Indies antedate the Mohammadian period or the rise Islam.

Islam was known in the East Indies as early as 9 th century and the earliest monument in Java was dated in 1082 A.D. Gujarat received Islam only during the early 14 th century. Islam had reached the Tamil country in the 8 th century A.D. Indonesians and Malays came to know about Islam through the Muslim traders of India.

CULTURAL TRAITS

MARRIAGE CUSTOMS The pre-marriage rituals followed by the Tamil speaking Brahmins include fasting, puja and exchange of gifts. The groom is received by the family of the bride. The wedding ceremony itself is elaborate, incorporating the rituals that are typical to the Brahmin community like njal, kashi yatra and kanyaadaan (wherein the bride sits on the lap of her father).