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Swaveda - Articles - Great Expectations: Hindu Revival Moveme...
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By Thomas Reuter | May 13, 2005
Hindu empires had flourished in Java for a millennium until they were replaced by expanding Islamic polities in the 15th century, setting the stage for Indonesia becoming the world's largest Muslim nation. In the 1970s, however, a new Hindu revival movement began to sweep across the archipelago. Hinduism is gaining even greater popularity at this time of national crisis, most notably in Java, the political heart of Indonesia. Based on preliminary...
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| Comments | Peter Pratir Jul 23, 2004 - 15:16 PM (PT) [ 1 of 9 ]
This is another gem of an article. Until now, very little was known about Hindus/Hinduism in Indonesia.
I would like to recommend a great book on Hindu Diaspora by Prof T S Rukmani of Concordia University, Canada:
http://www.swaveda.com/books.php?action=show&id=2020
V Ravi Jul 24, 2004 - 01:30 AM (PT) [ 2 of 9 ]
Very interesting paper. I have this question to the author.
Is it possible to socially organize a mass without promises of an idealistic future society?
Ravi
Anand Ramanujan Jul 28, 2004 - 22:56 PM (PT) [ 3 of 9 ]
That's a pretty interesting question. I think a few other ways to organize society are:
- Common identity (misguided notions of "pure race" in Nazi Germany?)
- Common mission/ideology (Marxism? To some extent the whole idea of a "Western" civilization).
- Promise of a better after-life (Christianity/Islam?)
Peter Pratir Jul 29, 2004 - 07:25 AM (PT) [ 4 of 9 ]
Great question Ravi. Anand, in addition to your answers, here is answer from Indic perspective:
- Congregations based on Bhakti/devotion or Gnaan/knowledge(Satsangs, Pravachans)
- Congregations based on performances based on Dharma, such as RAAM-LEELA, the drama/dance-portrayals of Ramayana in millions of streets of Bhaarat during Diwali days. Similarly Krisna Leela (based on Krishna's life)
- Congregations based on cooperative concepts, such as dairy movement of Gujarat etc
Sridharan Srinivasan Aug 05, 2004 - 12:02 PM (PT) [ 5 of 9 ]
Brings me to an important question: whenever people say democracies and Islam don't mix, people usually point to Indonesia - the largest Muslim country that is also a democracy. But based on this articles and others, it seems like Indonesia is Muslim by religion and Hindu by culture. Could this explain the paradox?
Prasad P.V.N Sep 20, 2004 - 03:34 AM (PT) [ 6 of 9 ]
It is surprising and happy to know that mass re-conversions into Hindu fold are taking place in Indonesia. Since they are returning to their religion which matches with their heritage and culture, this revival should open eyes of many Indians to reject any kind of forced or induced foreign religious conversions in the guise of social service.
putu kresna Oct 15, 2004 - 09:38 AM (PT) [ 7 of 9 ]
I am a Balinese Hindu, born in East Java, more than 30 years ago. This paper is good, but to write an even better paper, I suggest the author interview a javanese that embrace Hinduism, why they embrace Hinduism, and please ask them why they let their children converted into christianity and islam again... to my fellow Hindu everywhere in this world, let it be known that Hinduism in Indonesia is left behind very far. We don't have Veda translation available, we don't have sanyasin, and brahmacary is only spoken but almost nobody practice it, worse of all , majority of Hindus eat beef !!!! , very few Hindus perform daily pooja, we desperately need help. O Hindu teachers all over the world, please come and settle in Indonesia. We desperately need you all, to teach us Veda and Wisdoms of Sanatana Dharma. We, Indonesian Hindu don't have ambition to convert our brother or sisters from other religion to become a Hindu. We just desperately want to become a good Hindu. A Hindu that living this live based on Dharma. Please take a look at Hindu people live in Bali. You will see people drink alcohol, men gamble, eat beef, never touch or see Weda (Veda). Worse of all, just like in India and Nepal, Missionaries have entered Bali and have started converting Balinese into their religion. PLEASE HELP US, HINDU SAGES ALL OVER THE WORLD, PLEASE HELP US...!!! PLEASE COME TO INDONESIA AND TEACH US INDONESIAN HINDUS, HOW TO BECOME A GOOD HINDU !
Raymond Lum Nov 17, 2004 - 23:07 PM (PT) [ 8 of 9 ]
I have been to Bali and East and Central Java. Along the journey I had the opportunities to witness the religious practices of many Javanese.In my opinion it is far too exaggerating to talk about "revivalism" and "mass conversion to Hinduism" among the Javanese. What I could see was that only small communities of Hindu Javanese exist in a sea of Muslims. As the process of Islamisation is deepening, even these tiny prockets of Hindu adherents are under extreme pressure from Islamic encroachment. Just look at the foot hill of Mount Bromo, traditionally a strong hold of the Tengger Hindu, is now almost uniformly a Muslim settlement.
The Islamisation of Java is an irreversible trend. Although not a Hindu myself (I'm a Taoist-Bhuddhist), I lament as much as other Hindu in the world about the death of a religion which once gave Indonesia it's beautiful and charming "old" culture. In recent years, Java is losing its traditional Hindu-Buddhist culture rapidly and becoming more Islamic Othodox which can be witnessed by the increasing prevelence of mosques and veiled women.
Hindu revivalists are fighting a lost case in Java. All one can hope is that the Balinese would carry on the great tradition and beautiful, marvellous culture of the ancient Javanese of which the Javanese themselves have abandoned.
tam thatcher Dec 13, 2004 - 03:33 AM (PT) [ 9 of 9 ]
I have lived in India among Hindus for some time. I had a chance to learn the Hinduism, their way of life, eating habits, rituals and many more. To my dismay I found that they have 330 million gods; small and big. They worship any thing and every thing. For some Hindu Cow is the god but many lower caste Hindus(Caste system is an essential part of this religion) it is a less expensive food. The rituals in Temples are lead by Brahmins (the upper cast hindu). The other caste have no right to perform pujas. Women are treated as slaves. In states like Rajastan, Bhahu(dauther-in law) is not allowed to stand in front of the in -laws with uncovered head and face. Even some times they practice SATI; self burning (mostly forciful pushing by relatives of husband's family)in the pyre of dead husband. Minors of under 5 years of age are alos forced to marriage. For every tribe, every caste, there are gods and goddesses. The religious rituals are conducted in a very dirty and unhygenic surroundings. The river Ganges considered to be most sacred river by the Hindus is the most polluted river in the world. Half burnt human bodies, human escreta, the cattle waste etc are thrown into this river. Hindus take a holy dip in this river. One can imagine the foul smell of the water they are plunged into. There are many other rivers like Pampa, Godavari, Brahma putra and lakes like Panchavadi which are equally polluted.
I also had a chance to witness the political Hinduism mooted by RSS (a militant Hindu outfit). The RSS has many branch organizations like VHP (world hindu organisation), Bajrang Dal etc. competing each other to become more militant. Then there is BJP, the political outfit of the RSS who was ruling india until recently. These are the terrorist organisations who is masterminding the killing of monorities, women and children. They worship a Goddess called Maha Kali, the symbol of terror. The followers of these organisations keep Tridents to attack the people of other faith. There is one state in India called Gujrat where it is the main ajenda of the local government to eliminate monorities like Muslims and christians.
In short I am concerned about the future of Indonesia. I am concerned about the militant hinduism coming to this country destablising the national integrity of this nation. Though I am not a muslim, I regard Islam as a gift given by the God the world. If people of Indonesia had accepted this, they have done the right thing. Let us not promote any more obsolete and irrational faiths like Hinduism in these modern times.
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