PERFORMING PROWESS ESSAYS ON LOCALIZED HINDU ELEMENTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN ART FROM PAST TO PRESENT

Performing prowess: essays on localized Hindu elements in Southeast Asian art from past to present For this inaugural volume, I chose the theme that explores diverse aspects of Hindu elements in Southeast Asian art because it helps us see the long process of how cultural elements of a religion from one place were accepted, modified, utilized, and localized in another place, not only in the ancient times, but also in an on-going process in the modernday world. In our case, the cultural forces of Hindu belief, based on its connection to sublime deities, sophisticated recitations, magical power, and personal prowess, continued for at least 1,500 years, mixed with indigenous practices, and remained strong in Southeast Asia, even after that religion were overshadowed by Buddhism and Islam. Also, the largest Hindu community outside India is in fact Bali, an enchanting island in Indonesia.