Contents: Preface. 1. Vibrations of classical Indonesia. 2. Prof. Raghu Vira and President Sukarno 1951. 3. My first visit to Indonesia 1967. 4. Dr. Mrs. Sharada Rani in Indonesia 1970. 5. My second visit to Indonesia 1976. 6. Continuing quest of Indonesia’a culture. 7. Kawi and Sanskrit heritage of Bahasa Indonesia. 8. Ramayana flourishes in Indonesia. 9. Mahabharata in the literary and performing arts. 10. Exploring old Javanese literature. 11. Buddhist monuments, texts and icons. 12. Borobudur: a new interpretation 2013. 13. Saivism. 14. Bali: the isle of temples. 15. Malaysia. 16. Sanskrit words in the languages of the Philippines. 17. Literature cited. Visits to Indonesia. Works on Indonesia in the Satapitaka series. Index.
This volume narrates the shared culture of India and Indonesia for fifteen centuries in the domains of polity and societal norms, language and literature, architectonics and aesthetics. This inter-flow began in the first century but is documented by the inscriptions of Mulavarman and Purnavarman around 400 AC. Indonesia shared with India words and kavyas, Mahabharata and Ramayana, Saiva and Buddhist Philosophy, wayang and lakons, sculptures and paintings, dance and music. From the classical centuries down to the hymn to Merdeka Freedom from Sanskrit Maharddika, to the architectural wonders of Prambanan and Borobudur, or the jottings and sketch of President Sukarno in the diary of Prof. Raghu Vira are a panoramic view. In the words of Toynbee Borobudur holds my heart: it is a holy of holies for me. A new interpretation of the reliefs of the Borobudur enriches the chapter on Buddhist monuments, texts and icons. Continuation of the Kawi Sanskrit heritage in modern names and in Bahasa Indonesia in general, Sanskrit in Indonesia by Prof. Harimurti Kridalaksana , the letters of the alphabet as auspiciousness recall the rich intensity of the Hindu Javanese tradition. Ramayana kakawin in its Zen-like simplicity, as reliefs at Prambanan, as a guide to good governance in the advice of President Suharto, in the wayang ballet which moved Charles Chaplin to say dying at such a moment could only mean one thing.
