SHRI SAI LEELA - Under Construction

SHRI SAI LEELA – APRIL 1986Malayas were called Hindus when they were conquered by theMuslims in the 15th century. Even after Islam prevailed in Malaya"The Malaya still cared enough for the Mahabarata and theRamayana to translate them into a vernacular already full of Arabicwords. In addition he borrowed from India folk romances tricked outwith motifs and descriptive passages from the two great Hindu epics.Some other Malaya rhapsodist tales exhibit traces of borrowing fromthe Tamil Buddhist story of Manimekalai. Thus to a large extent thecultural background of Malaya retained its identity built from thebeginning of the Christian era to the advent of Islam and theEuropeans. This was Indian and Hindu. Even today many Malayanursery Tales are derived from the Panchtantra or Bidpai's Fablesthe Jataka Tales and Somadeva's Ocean of story.Many religious ceremonies in Malaya show marks of Indian influence;some Sanskrit words are still used in rituals. Many Malay marriagecustoms are Indian.... Though he is ignorant of his indebtedness, aMalay parent follows the code of Manu in regarding physicians,userers, sailors, dancers, the one-eyed and the hairy as suitors to berejected.... Though he is unconscious of it, from the cradle to thegrave the Malay is surrounded by survivals of Indian culture."Before the Tains arrived in Saim from Yunan in South.Qhjna thecultural influence in that land was of the Hinduised Mons from Burmaand of the Hindu Kingdom of Funan in Cambodia. Independent Hinduand Buddhist immigration from India also go back to the beginning ofthe Christian era and even a couple of centuries earlier. Tradition isstrong in Siam that the conversion to Buddhism of what we know todayas Thailand was due to the missionary efforts of evangelists sent16WWW.SAILEELAS.ORG