Ankorvat in Kampuchea

The temple of Ankorvat in Kampuchea is

larger than that of Borobudur. Although this temple belongs to medieval times,

it can be compared to the best artistic achievements of the’ Egyptians and

Greeks. The stories of the Ramayanai and Mahabharala are written in relief on

the walls of the temple. The story of the foraying is so popular in Indonesia

that many folk plays are performed on its basis, The Indonesian language called

Bahasa Indonesia contains numerous Sanskrit words.

In respect of sculptures the head of the

Buddha from Thailand, the head from Kamboja and the magnificent bronze images

from Java are regarded as the best examples of the blending of Indian art with

the local art traditions of Southeast Asia. Similarly beautiful examples of

painting comparable to those of Ajanta have been found not only in Sri Lanka

but in the Tun Huang caves on the Chinese border.

Central Asia and Southeast Asia

It would be wrong to think that religion

alone contributed to the spread of Indian culture. Missionaries were backed by

traders and conquerors. Trade evidently played a vital part in establishing

India’s relations with Central Asia and Southeast Asia.

The very names Suvarnabhumi and

Suvarnadvipa given to territories in Southeast Asia suggest Indians search for

gold. Trade led not only to exchange of goods but also of elements of culture.

It would be inaccurate to hold that the Indians alone contributed to the

culture of their neighbors. It ‘was a two-way traffic The Indians acquired the

craft of minting gold coins from the Greeks and Romans.

They learnt the art of growing silk from China, that of growing betel leaves from Indonesia, and several other products from the neighboring countries’ Similarly the method of growing cotton spread from India to China and Central Asia.

However, Indian contribution seems to be

more important in art, religion, script and language. But in no case the culture

which developed m the neighboring countries was a replica of the Indian

culture. Just as India retained and developed its own personality in spite of

foreign influences, similarly the countries in Southeast Asia evolved their own

indigenous culture by assimilating the Indian elements.