Reminiscing Indonesia and the Idea of a Mini-Bharat
BJP Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, Surinder Singh Ahluwalia, has received a letter from Dr. Mahinder Singh, a friend of his in Bahrain, expressing immense satisfaction about the blog I had written a fortnight back about Indonesia. Dr. Mahinder Singh has actually enclosed a copy of the blog also to Ahluwalia, saying that he found the piece so “interesting and informative†that he had sent copies of it to numerous “friends all over the world.â€
Responses to that blog which have come directly to my office are equally appreciative. As I had mentioned, I visited only Jakarta and Bali. Both places are situated in the island of Java. I wish I had also gone to Yogyakarta (pronounced Jogjakarta) about which it is often said: “If Jakarta is Java’s financial and industrial powerhouse, Yogyakarta is its soulâ€.
I could not visit Yogyakarta. I was told about the Prambanan Temples there. Built between the 8th and 10th century these temples are believed to be outstanding examples of Hindu art.
Here in India there are hundreds of Shiva Temples, hundreds of Vishnu Temples, but I have known just one Brahma Temple, at Pushkar, in Rajasthan. In Yogyakarta there is a Shiva Temple, a Vishnu Temple and a Brahma Temple as well, making it perhaps the second Brahma Temple in the world !
The Brahma temple in Taman Mini
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Legend has it that Brahma the Creator divorced his wife Savitri Devi because she did not turn up to participate in his yagna to ‘create’ the Brahmanda (Universe). At Pushkar a temple dedicated to Savitri Devi is in the vicinity of the Brahma temple. Going through Pavan Varma’s thought-provoking book BEING INDIAN, I read an interesting episode about the fall-out of this ancient legend in modern times.
The hereditary priests of the Savitri Devi temple went to court in 2001 to claim a share in the large offerings received by the Brahma temple from its devotees. The Savitri Devi temple lawyers argued that the divorcee deity had a right to alimony! Comments Varma: “This attempt to marry mythology to alimony in the quest to raise income must certainly have very few parallels in the world†!!
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Even while I am talking about my Indonesian visit, I may as well refer to my family’s meeting with Ketut Liyer, the “toothless medicine man†about whom my daughter, Pratibha and I had read in the famous book by Elizabeth Gilbert titled “Eat, Pray, Loveâ€.
This book is not fiction. It is a true and tender story now converted into a film. The tale begins in Italy, proceeds to India and finally ends in Indonesia.
With Ketut Liyer
This is Gilbert’s debut book and has already sold more than five million copies. All tourists who meet Ketut are aware that he is a palmist and a soothsayer. Ketut himself is conscious of the interest of those who meet him. So when my wife and daughter met him, without their even asking him for anything, he took their palms and after scanning through them for a little while told both of them quite a few gratifying tidbits.
The synopsis of this book on its cover has this about the author: “In Rome, she indulges herself and gains nearly two stones. In India, she finds enlightenment through scrubbing temple floors. Finally in Bali, a toothless medicine man reveals a new path to peace, leaving her ready to love again.â€
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I could not visit Yogyakarta proper. But I did have the satisfaction of having glimpses of replicas of its excellent temples in Jakarta itself in what is popularly known as Taman Mini. In the city’s south-east, a massive cultural park has been set up in which Mini Indonesia has been recreated. I had seen something similar in Thailand some years ago called Little Thailand. In Indonesian language, Taman means Park. This important tourist attraction is known as Taman Mini Indonesia. The park has full-scale traditional houses for each of Indonesia’s provinces, with display of regional handicraft and clothing.
I have discussed the idea of a Mini Bharat with some of the State Governments ruled by the BJP in which certain inspiring features of our culture or history can be highlighted. Uttarakhand for instance is dotted with pilgrim spots. I have discussed with the C.M. as also some Sants like Swami Chidanand of Parmarth Ashram, how wonderful it would be if within a large-scale relief map of Bharat, all the principal pilgrim spots of the country such as Tirupathi, Jagannath Puri, Rameshwaram, Dwarika, Amritsar, Vaishno Devi can be recreated ! The idea is being actively pursued, and I am sure would become a reality.
L.K. Advani
New Delhi
July 31, 2010
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August 1st, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Respected Advaniji,
There is a change happening in INDONESIA. Radical muslims are grouping and plotting to convert it into an ISLAMIC country with SHARIA as its base and ruled by the ULEMAS.
Please go through the artilce by Sadanand Dhume,a Washington-based journalist who has reported from New Delhi and Jakarta for the Far Eastern Economic Review.
Please find the link below
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/all-that-matters/Indonesian-lessons-for-secular-India/articleshow/5256318.cms
REGARDS
PUNEETH KUMAR
BENGALURU
August 1st, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Dear Advaniji,
Please carry on with your blogging. It is truly enlightening.
Regards,
Nachiketh
August 2nd, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Sir,
Please put Narendra Modi ji in forefront for 2014 elections. I am not from Gujarat and from south India but heard great things about him. He will definitely revive BJP and give them victory. Youth and cadre connect to him very well. He is also getting old. He will be too old for 2019, so please understand the urgency before its too late.
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:12 am
Dear Shri Advaniji
Please also intereact with H.H Swami Dayananda Saraswathiji of Rishikesh - Arsha Vidhyapeet about the concept of MINI BHARAT for its timely, effective and fruitful implementation.
Regards
Jayasankar .V
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I have visited many religious places related to Hindus. Brahma ji’s temple that is situated at Pushkar in Rajasthan is also one of them. Before visiting it I had the strong desire to visit it being the only Brahma’s temple in the world. But through Advani ji’s Blog I came to know that there is one more Brahma ji’s temple which is situated in Indonesia. When I visited Brahma ji’s temple at Puhkar, I was told that Savitri Devi, Brahma’s wife had vowed him; his temple wouldn’t be built anywhere in the world except this one which exists in Pushkar. It is strange why did the Pundits of Pushkar don’t have this knowledge.
August 4th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Mr. Advani,
I have been regularly keeping in touch with your speeches after the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai which was shameful to both state and central govt. I respect your speech in Lok Sabha on this issue. I am an NRI. I am frustrated and feel depressed thinking about the security of the Indian people if the situation continues for another decade. I am also worried about my family in India.
I wish you all the very best in future endeavours.
Regards,
Jaganath Ganapure
August 6th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Respected Advaniji,
I congratulate and thank you for your thoughtfulness in raising the failure of the UPA governrment in handling the KASHMIR issue and also your frank opinion to the PM on the same.
While OMAR ABDULLA has failed in KASMIR is a issue which has been discussed in the media,the failur of Mr.Manmohan Singh in all fronts of governance is not discussed by the media nor the opposition parties,while BJP has been partially siccessful in highlighting the PRICE RISE issue,the security failure,CORRUPTION in theh gvernment,error in diplomacy and foreign policy are not highlighted
The UPA governmrnt should go.Please lead the ousting of this “FLOP’ government
Regards
PUNEETH
BENGALURU
September 22nd, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Dear Advaniji…
I just want to inform you that there a Brahma Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Its actually an old Sri Parashuram Temple. Here also we have Lord Brahma Lord Parashuram and Lord Siva.
This is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Sree Parasurama, the mythological creator of Kerala. This 2000 year-old temple is a venue for the Bali ritual for departed souls.
Thanks & Regards,
Sanjith Nair
September 29th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Thai Culture…
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February 9th, 2011 at 12:14 am
Respected Advaniji,
Contrary to general opinion, there are quite a number of Lord Brahma Temples in India.
One of the oldest Temples for Lord Brahma is situated in Trichy, Tamilnadu on the Trichy Chennai National Highway.
Mythological legends relate that Lord Brahma installed 13 Shiv Lingams at this Temple, and worshipped Lord Shiva. The temple also has the Jeeva Samadhi of Yogi Pattanjali, the founder of Yoga.
The Temple is under the management of the HRCE Department, Government of Tamilnadu. The official website of the temple is http://www.brahmatemple.org
Regards,
Vijay, Trichy