Sunday, May 24, 2015

WHENCE KAMA SUTRA CAME TO THE ARCHIPELAGO?


Conjectures tracing the coming of Kama Sutra to the Malay Archipelago.


1500-1200 BC -  Vedas, the oldest religous document was introduced after the invasion of northwestern India by Indo-Europeans from the Iranian regions. The Vedic society that arised developed social strata (varnas) - Brahmins (priests), Ksatriyas (rulers), Vaisyas (traders), Sudras (non-Aryans). Kama was the god of love of the Vedic society.

1000 BC - Hindu calendar based on 12 lunar months began.

500 BC Hindu characters began to appear.

324 BC - Chandragupta found the Mauryan dynasty.





7th - 13th century AD - Srivijaya Empire, a maritime and commercial Hindu (Mahayana Buddhism) kingdom which began in Palembang flourished throughout Sumatra and Java (1000 AD). It controlled the Straits of Malacca. 

1025 AD - Cola, also a maritime and commercial kingdom of India seized Palembang and Srivijaya was reduced to a small kingdom by end of 12th century, following which a Malayu power (based in Jambi), a vassal of Java took over Srivijaya and the reign of Majapahit Empire began.

Conjecture I: Kama Sutra (Aphorisms on Love) attributed to a Hindu  sage Vatsyayana (centuries past) probably reached the shores of the Malay Archipelago through Brahmin literatures as early as 7th century AD in consequent to the  rise of Srivijaya.  

This could be so because by the time the Buddhist monument at Borobudur, central Java built about 800 AD under the Sailendra dynasty became replete with Kama and sensuous apasaris (angels), an indication of the infusion of Kama Sutra.




Conjecture II. Bujang Valley - earliest Hindu religous settlement in Malay Peninsula probably  originated from Srivijaya. 



The temple complex at Angkor Wat, Cambodia was built in the 12th century by the Khmer king, Suryavarman II. 



Conjecture III. From Srivijaya, the Brahmins introduced Kama Sutra to the Khmer Empire at Angkor Wat in the 12th century.

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