Lesser-Known South East Asian Monuments reflecting Indian Culture

New Delhi, Sept 19: The Internation Centre for Cultural Studies (ICCS) organized a webinar called 'Lesser-Known South East Asian Monuments' in relation to reflections of Indian Culture. The webinar was focussed on the lesser-known Indian-related monuments in different Asian countries and explaining the historical perspective of these monuments.

 

 

Amarjiva Lochan, Vice President International Association for the History of Religions was the host of the webinar. Meanwhile, the key speakers were Dr. Chanratna Chen, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Ms. Chanthiva Keokanya, World Heritage Office, Laos: Professor San Shwe, University of Yangon, Myanmar and Dr. Prachark Wattananusit, National Library of Thailand.

 

 

Being the first speaker, Shwe explained about Buddhist structures and monuments between the 2nd century BC to the 9th Century including the early Pyu settlements in Myanmar. He explained about the ancient Pyu cities. He mentioned about the Nagajunakonda temple, a lesser-known temple in India, which has ruins of several Mahayana Buddhists and Hindu. It had a similar Buddhist architectural style, displayed in the below picture. He said, "Many of the temples of the temples in India that are either in square or rectangular shape which reflects Buddhist architectural style."

 

  

 

The other speaker, Chanthiva Keokanya, informed about Lesser Known Hong Nang Sida temple, Vat Phou, Champasak, Laos. She said, "Hong Nang Sida is a Hindu temple which is built around the middle of the 11th century or beginning of the 12 century," adding the information about the maintenance, excavation, and restoration. She explained about this temple in which the prang and the roof of the mandapa were collapsed. She informed that the temple was built somewhere between in the middle of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12 century. Later on, she also explained the library, platform, and other places of the temple.

 

On the other hand, Dr Chanratana Chen spoke about the Beng Mealea temple which is a religious monument surrounded by jungle.   He mentioned the relation between the temple Lord Rama and Lord Ganesha. He also mentioned Lord Vishnu during the webinar.  He explained the whole structure of the temple. 

 

 

 Beng Mealea temple