Nicolaes Visscher, Indiae Orientalis
The geographical bioregion of Indomalaya corresponds to the cultural region of the Indosphere, which divides itself roughly between Bharat (India) and Dvipantara (Southeast Asia).
The contemporary nations of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, the Philippines and Viẹtnam are part of a bioregion profoundly impacted by Indian culture, with its indigenous particularities and nuances.
Before and colonization by Western powers and the import of Abrahamic religions in the 1500s, it was all once an integrated Sanskrit Cosmopolis of connected mandalas, or “galactic polities” which shared a common culture and lifestyle based on the Sanskrit shastra.
All over Southeast Asia, people are now rediscovering this common culture, result of a harmonious blending of Sanskriti and Austronesian traditions.
We are part of this movement which aims to revive the authentic root-knowledge from all over the Indosphere.
The Cult of Ganesha in Southeast Asia
The Ramayana, the Niddesa and other classical texts include descriptions such as “Land of Gold” (suvarnadvipa), “Islands of Gold” (suvarnabhumi), “Islands of Camphor” (karpuradvipa) and “Island of Barley” (yavadvipa), where Brahmins migrated to in search of wealth.
Ancient travelers and traders of Maritime Southeast Asia had a famous motto: ‘Wasudhaiva-Kutumbakam’ (“the whole world is one family”).
The Indosphere: a circular, interlinked civilization
It is not as if Southeast Asia was some sort of Indian colony, but it was rather always a two-ways relationship between Dvipantara (Southeast Asia) and Jambudvipa (India), or even a circular relationship among all the kingdoms of Southeast Asia.
In the Matsya Purana is mentioned for the first time the cultural unity of Jambudvipa and Dvipantara.
There was no “Indianization” per se, but more of a continuum of civilization during a Golden Age over two millennia, local cultures and religious traditions were standardized within the fold of Hinduism in Southeast Asia, which became richer and more complete due to its integration of local wisdom.
Real Indonesian Culture
- Dvipantara: the Golden Age of Southeast Asia
- The Keris: sacred daggers of Indonesia and their esoteric significance
- Hidden Knowledge in the Indonesian Lontar Scriptures (Palm Leaf Manuscripts)
- Hindu-Javanese Revival in East Java
- Joglo and Limasan: the Art of Javanese Houses
- Wilwatikta: the ancient Indonesian capital of the Majapahit empire
- The Bilva (Pohon Maja): Shiva’s Tree in Java and Bali
- The Cult of Ganesha in Southeast Asia
- Indonesian Esoteric Buddhism and its influence in Dvipantara and Tibet
- Majapahit: the Peak of Indonesian Civilization
- Ikan Dewa: the mysterious fish of Mount Ciremai
- The Trimurti Temple of Prambanan
- The Kala Bhairava Tantra Lineages in Indonesia
- The sacred spring in Jolotundo temple and the mysteries of Mount Penanggungan
Hindu-Javanese Culture
- The Mysteries of the Sukuh Temple on Mount Lawu in Java that looks like a Mayan pyramid
- Alun-Alun: the Brahmasthan of Java
- The 9 sacred mountains of Java
- Hindu-Javanese Prophecies: the Return of Sabdapalon
- The Yadnya Kasada Sacrifice at Mount Bromo
- Kejawen, the Religion of Java
- The Tengger people of Java: descendants of Majapahit
- Javanese Shaivism and Shaiva Yoga in Indonesia
- Sang Hyang Bathari Durga: the Mother Goddess and the Candi of Indonesia
- Gunungan: the Javanese Cosmic Mountain
Hindu Science
- Kalpavriksha: the Primordial World Tree
- Vrikshayurveda: The Ancient Hindu Science of Organic Agriculture
- The Vatika: Hindu Spiritual Gardens
Temple Art
- The Balinese temple: spiritual architecture of the sacred space
- Kirtimukha: The ‘Face of Glory’ in Indosphere Temple Art
- The Dvārapāla: Guardians of Sacred Places
Balinese Religion
- Tri Hita Karana: the Three Causes of Prosperity in Balinese Culture
- Agama Tirtha: Types of Holy Water in Indonesian Hindu Rituals
- The Indonesian Shiva-Buddha Dharma: an elite syncretic religion of Southeast Asia
- Poleng: the Indonesian ‘Yin-Yang’
