TAMIL CULTURAL INFLUENCES IN MALAYSIA BSED I – F Group I

TAMIL TAMIL CULTURAL CULTURAL

INFLUENCES INFLUENCES IN MALAYSIAIN MALAYSIA

BSED I – FBSED I – FGroup IGroup I

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE TAMILSTHE TAMILS

► They occupied the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu They occupied the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu – Southern tip of India { referred to as river with a – Southern tip of India { referred to as river with a sweet water, not salty}sweet water, not salty}

► They are part of the large Dravidian group – a major They are part of the large Dravidian group – a major component of the populations of Indiacomponent of the populations of India

► Is the oldest of all the languages under the Is the oldest of all the languages under the Dravidian familyDravidian family

► They were the most important trading peoples of They were the most important trading peoples of maritime Asiamaritime Asia

3 Kinds of Craft 3 Kinds of Craft ► Light coasting boatsLight coasting boats► Larger vesselLarger vessel► Ocean-going vessel – The trade relations of Tamil merchants Ocean-going vessel – The trade relations of Tamil merchants

had with the ports of Malaya led to emergence of Indianized had with the ports of Malaya led to emergence of Indianized kingdoms – Gangga Negara, Old Kedah, Srivijaya 1500 years kingdoms – Gangga Negara, Old Kedah, Srivijaya 1500 years agoago

3 THEORIES 3 THEORIES REGARDING THE REGARDING THE

TRANSMISSION OF TRANSMISSION OF INDIAN CULTURE TO INDIAN CULTURE TO SOUTHEAST ASIA - SOUTHEAST ASIA -

MALAYSIAMALAYSIA

I. I. THE KSHATRIYA or THE KSHATRIYA or ARISTOCRAT THEORYARISTOCRAT THEORY

► States that the Indian Emperors colonized Southeast Asia States that the Indian Emperors colonized Southeast Asia ► There was no much proof of any Indian king as having had There was no much proof of any Indian king as having had

direct political control over any regime in Southeast Asiadirect political control over any regime in Southeast Asia► The Indianized countries of Southeast Asia were never The Indianized countries of Southeast Asia were never

political dependencies of India, but rather CULTURAL political dependencies of India, but rather CULTURAL COLONIESCOLONIES

II. THE BRAHMIN or SACERDOTE II. THE BRAHMIN or SACERDOTE THEORYTHEORY

► States that the Indian culture was spread through the States that the Indian culture was spread through the religious activities of the Brahman priest who entered the religious activities of the Brahman priest who entered the region as spiritual leadersregion as spiritual leaders

► There are archeological evidences such as inscriptions and There are archeological evidences such as inscriptions and icons shiva and different deities – coming from the Tamil icons shiva and different deities – coming from the Tamil countrycountry

III. THE VAISYA or III. THE VAISYA or TRADERS/PROLETARIAT THEORYTRADERS/PROLETARIAT THEORY

►States that the spread of Indian States that the spread of Indian culture was through the efforts of the culture was through the efforts of the traders traders

►Of the 3 theories , only the Brahmin Of the 3 theories , only the Brahmin theory has been accepted by a vast theory has been accepted by a vast numbers of historians numbers of historians

INSCRIPTION IN MALAY INSCRIPTION IN MALAY PENINSULAPENINSULA

►Takuapa inscriptionTakuapa inscription►Tambralinga inscriptionTambralinga inscription

►Tanjore inscriptionTanjore inscription►Borneo inscriptionBorneo inscription►Kedah inscriptionKedah inscription►Ligor inscriptionLigor inscription

TAKUAPA INSCRIPTIONTAKUAPA INSCRIPTION

► It is short inscription indicating that an artificial It is short inscription indicating that an artificial lake Avani-naranam was dug by Nangur-udaiyan lake Avani-naranam was dug by Nangur-udaiyan [ a military fief in Nangur, famous for his abilities [ a military fief in Nangur, famous for his abilities as a warrior], the lake was place under the as a warrior], the lake was place under the protection of the members of the Manikkiramam protection of the members of the Manikkiramam [ a merchant guild ] living in a military camp[ a merchant guild ] living in a military camp

TAMBRALINGA INSCRIPTIONTAMBRALINGA INSCRIPTION

►There is a bronze image of ganesha There is a bronze image of ganesha bearing in a tamil inscription “ bearing in a tamil inscription “ MAJAPISIDESA “MAJAPISIDESA “

TANJORE INSCRIPTIONTANJORE INSCRIPTION

► In the ancient city of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu are In the ancient city of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu are inscription dating from 1030 AD which mentions the inscription dating from 1030 AD which mentions the victory of Rajendra Chola I over Southeastern victory of Rajendra Chola I over Southeastern countriescountries

► In other inscription dated 1070 AD, the king of In other inscription dated 1070 AD, the king of Kamboja [Java] sent a chariot to the Chola king to Kamboja [Java] sent a chariot to the Chola king to seek his help and save his kingdomseek his help and save his kingdom

THE VICTORY OF RAJENDRA CHOLAN I THE VICTORY OF RAJENDRA CHOLAN I AND OTHER TANJORE INSCRIPTIONSAND OTHER TANJORE INSCRIPTIONS

BORNEO INSCRIPTIONBORNEO INSCRIPTION

► In Kutei island of Borneo, 7 inscriptions In Kutei island of Borneo, 7 inscriptions have been found. They all relate to the have been found. They all relate to the Kundungan clan’s rule over Borneo, his Kundungan clan’s rule over Borneo, his princely family migrated from Tamil princely family migrated from Tamil Nadu to Borneo to established a Nadu to Borneo to established a kingdomkingdom

►All thes inscrptions are both written in All thes inscrptions are both written in Sanskrit and TamilSanskrit and Tamil

KEDAH INSCRIPTIONKEDAH INSCRIPTION

► An inscribed stone bar, rectangular in shape , bears An inscribed stone bar, rectangular in shape , bears the ye-dharma formula in South Indian characters the ye-dharma formula in South Indian characters of the fourth century AD.Proclaiming the buddhist of the fourth century AD.Proclaiming the buddhist character of the shrine [ Pallava inscription]character of the shrine [ Pallava inscription]

► An inscription in Sanskrit left by Kulothunka Cholan An inscription in Sanskrit left by Kulothunka Cholan I,it shows the commercial contacts the Chola I,it shows the commercial contacts the Chola empire had with Malayaempire had with Malaya

LIGOR INSCRIPTIONLIGOR INSCRIPTION

►Refers to the trade relationship Refers to the trade relationship between the Tamil country and Malayabetween the Tamil country and Malaya

TAMIL ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTTAMIL ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPT

►A manuscript which shows that Tamils A manuscript which shows that Tamils were active in spreading Islam in were active in spreading Islam in Malaya. This ancient folio dated 1192 “ Malaya. This ancient folio dated 1192 “ WARUSHAM SHA’BAN MASAM 4 TIRAM WARUSHAM SHA’BAN MASAM 4 TIRAM “, a prayer booklet containing 15 “, a prayer booklet containing 15 pages, written in 2 idioms – Tamil and pages, written in 2 idioms – Tamil and MalayMalay

TAMIL INFLUENCES IN MALAYSIATAMIL INFLUENCES IN MALAYSIA

►Name of placesName of places

►LanguageLanguage

►ReligionReligion

►CultureCulture

NAME OF THE PLACESNAME OF THE PLACES

►Malaya and Malayu/MelayuMalaya and Malayu/Melayu Is a combination of 2 Tamil words, Malay or Is a combination of 2 Tamil words, Malay or

Malai [hill] and ‘ur’ meaning hilltownMalai [hill] and ‘ur’ meaning hilltown The word Malaysia means “Mountains of The word Malaysia means “Mountains of

Asia” Asia”

PattaniPattani

Northern part of Malaysia, Pattani in Tamil Northern part of Malaysia, Pattani in Tamil means peameans pea

ManigramamManigramam

Gem- like town, Trading center of TamilGem- like town, Trading center of Tamil

TondiTondi

►Occurs in the Tamil epic SilappdikaramOccurs in the Tamil epic Silappdikaram►There are 3 Tondi, one in Chera There are 3 Tondi, one in Chera

empire, the other one is Pandayan empire, the other one is Pandayan empire and the third Tondi in the empire and the third Tondi in the Malay peninsulaMalay peninsula

TakkolamTakkolam

►A Tamil word for “piper cubebaA Tamil word for “piper cubeba””

Kedah or KadaramKedah or Kadaram

►West coast of MalaysiaWest coast of Malaysia►Known as kadaram in tamil. Kadaram-Known as kadaram in tamil. Kadaram-

kondan “conqueror of Kadaramkondan “conqueror of Kadaram’’’’

Northern part of Malay Northern part of Malay peninsulapeninsula

►MayirudinggamMayirudinggam

►MappappalamMappappalam

►MewilimbwnggamMewilimbwnggam

►MadamalingamMadamalingam

TAMIL WORDS in MALAYTAMIL WORDS in MALAY

TAMILTAMIL MALAYMALAY ENGLISHENGLISH

akkaakka kakakkakak elder sisterelder sister

kadaikadai kedaikedai shopshop

kappalkappal kapalkapal shipship

katikamkatikam ketikaketika minuteminute

muthiraimuthirai mutiaramutiara pearlpearl

nagaramnagaram negaranegara countrycountry

purvapurva purbapurba ancientancient

rajaraja rajaraja kingking

suniyamsuniyam SunyiSunyi empty/silenceempty/silence

RELIGIONRELIGION

►HinduismHinduism

►BuddhismBuddhism

► IslamIslam

HINDUISMHINDUISM

► I. I. ShivismShivism Oldest of the 4 sect of HinduismOldest of the 4 sect of Hinduism Believe in Shiva as the supreme godBelieve in Shiva as the supreme god

► II. VishnuII. Vishnu Believes in Rama and Krishna as supreme Believes in Rama and Krishna as supreme

godgod

BUDDHISMBUDDHISM

►Believes in Siddhartha Gautama – the Believes in Siddhartha Gautama – the awakened oneawakened one

ISLAMISLAM

►Believes to Allah as the one true god Believes to Allah as the one true god and Mohammad as his last prophetand Mohammad as his last prophet

CULTURECULTURE

►CustomsCustoms

►FestivalsFestivals

CULTURECULTURE

►Marriage CustomsMarriage Customs

FESTIVALSFESTIVALS

► ThaipusamThaipusam a religious festival dedicated to the Tamil deity Murugana religious festival dedicated to the Tamil deity Murugan

3 theories

KSHATRIYA BRAHMIN VAISYA

INSCRIPTIONS

TAKUAPA TAMBRALINGA

KEDAHBORNEO

TANJORE

LIGOR

INFLUENCESINFLUENCES

NAME OF PLACESNAME OF PLACES

LANGUAGESLANGUAGES

RELIGIONRELIGIONHinduism-Buddhism-IslamHinduism-Buddhism-Islam

CULTURECULTURECustoms-FestivalsCustoms-Festivals