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Southeast Asia, Hinduism in

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Hinduism and Tribal Religions

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Indian Religions ((EIR))

Definition

Hinduism is also practiced in the countries of Southeast Asia. In most countries, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines, it is practiced by the South Asian diaspora. In Bali Indonesia it is practiced by the local indigenous Balinese. In countries like Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore, there is a large South Asian community, which is predominantly Tamil, and those countries accommodate several remarkable Hindu temples and celebrate religious Hindu festivals. In Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia, Theravada Buddhism is intertwined with Hindu beliefs and practices that have surfed particularly in Thailand in recent years. The neo-Hinduistic movements like Hare Krishna and Ananda Marga also have a presence in Southeast Asia.

Past and Present Hindu Bastions

Hinduism was introduced to Southeast Asia nearly 2000 years ago in an “Indianization” process. Southeast Asian kingdoms such as Funan, Champa,...

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References

  1. Coedes, George (1946) L’Etats Hindouisees d’Indochine et d’Indonesia. Translated in 1968 as Indianized States of Southeast Asia. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu

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  2. Hobart A, Ramseyer U, Leemann A (2001) The people of Bali. The peoples of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Blackwell, London

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  3. Sandhu KS, Mani A (eds) (2006) Indian communities in Southeast Asia. ISEAS, Singapore

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  4. Rodrigues Y (1992) Nat-Pwe. Burmese supernatural subculture. Kiscadale, Gartmore

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  5. Both Hare Krishna and Ananda Marga have websites and Facebook pages advertising their activities in Southeast Asia. See: www.iskconmalaysia.com www.iskconid.org and similar pages and the Facebook; www.anandamarga.net.my, www.anandamarga.org and the Facebook

  6. Kent A (2005) Divinity and diversity: a Hindu revitalization movement in Malaysia. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mahidol University International College, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

    Marja-Leena Heikkilä-Horn

Authors
  1. Marja-Leena Heikkilä-Horn
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Correspondence to Marja-Leena Heikkilä-Horn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Anthropology, The University of North Texas Dept of Anthropology, Denton, Texas, USA

    Pankaj Jain

  2. The Graduate Theological Union , Berkeley, California, USA

    Rita Sherma

  3. Jamia Millia Islamia, Centre for the Study of Comparative Reli Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

    Madhu Khanna

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Heikkilä-Horn, ML. (2018). Southeast Asia, Hinduism in. In: Jain, P., Sherma, R., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_70-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_70-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

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