New Delhi: Amid preparations for the G20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Indonesia for the ASEAN summit. There he again emphasized Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Last year, the Prime Minister visited a special temple during his visit to Indonesia. Uluwatu Temple located in Bali is quite old and is believed to have played an important role in preserving Hinduism in this Muslim-majority country, Indonesia.
How many Hindus are there in Indonesia?
It is the country with the third largest Muslim population in the world. Even then, the Hindus remained here and, in fact, they increased. According to the 2018 census, more than 46.5 thousand Hindus live in the country, while in 2010 there were only about 400,000 Hindus.
How many Hindu temples are there?
The influence of the south is clearly visible on the Hindu population of Indonesia. Here the temples are built on the same line. It is believed that between one thousand and one thousand five hundred large and small temples were built here.
Of these, Bali and Sumatra have the largest number of temples. Almost every major Hindu settlement in Bali has a small temple called Sangah.
Was Indonesia formerly part of India?
It is often said how the Hindus got to the country that shares a maritime border with us, while the Muslim population there is very important.
Historians say different things about it. The strongest argument made is that Indonesia was once ruled by a Hindu king. The kings of the Chola Empire ruled not only Indonesia but also Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Maldives. Rajaraja, the most powerful ruler of the Chola dynasty, reigned here the longest.
How is Uluwatu Temple?
This temple was built when the religion of Islam was spreading rapidly in the country. Under such circumstances, Hindus built many temples to protect their symbols and beliefs. Uluwatu is considered key in this regard. It was built in the 11th century by the Hindu monk Empu Katuran.
