Topic started by GOKILAN SATHASIVAM (@ 202.185.77.66) on Sun Sep 1 10:45:18 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I'm a geographer and a archeologist.Currently I'm doing some research about Bujang Valley,Kedah, Malaysia.I come to know that, Bujang Valley have close relationship with tamil civilisation ( I'm very proud of it becoz I'm a tamil too).Can anyone help me to find or suggest where can I find the structure of the temples particularly in Bujang Valley.Are Hindu(south indian) temple structure remain same for the past 2000 years? Thank you.

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: siva (@ 210.186.110.214) on: Sun Jul 4 06:15:04 EDT 2004
  
  hi
  i am glad with your work in Bujang Valley
  i really proud that a Tamil people is doing it because myself also really intersted in archeology esp with Indian civilazition and i think u can find some information by searching the
  Srivijaya history because as Kadaram fell then only Srivijaya came as the main power of strait of malacca. Can i have ur mail add plz n i am onli
  19 n really intersted to be an archeologist plz teach me how to be one......hope mr.gokilan understand my desire
  
  
• From: siva (@ 210.186.110.214) on: Sun Jul 4 06:19:38 EDT 2004
  
  hi
  i am glad with your work in Bujang Valley
  i really proud that a Tamil people is doing it because myself also really intersted in archeology esp with Indian civilazition and i think u can find some information by searching the
  Srivijaya history because as Kadaram fell then only Srivijaya came as the main power of strait of malacca. Can i have ur mail add plz n i am onli
  19 n really intersted to be an archeologist plz teach me how to be one......hope mr.gokilan understand my desire n this may mail add archeoz_democrats@hotmail.com
  
  
• From: IndianaJones (@ cupm-r18-a130.time.net.my) on: Fri Aug 20 04:16:31
  
  I am an avid researcher on the Lembah Valley civilisation and have gone on trips and expeditions many, many times for quite some time now and so I feel I am in the right knowledge to comment to certain biased "information" from a writer earlier. Being someone in an unbiased position, with truly the history on my minds, and years of research experiences on the Bujang Valley Civilisation and collaborations with many international researchers who have been here in the 60s and 70s, I will give a few points.
  
  1. I had the great opportunity to inspect many original ruins deep in the forest untouched by many and some documents and manuscripts kept by the earlier British archeologist. Some relevant manuscripts are also found in the ruins of the Pallavas and Cholas kingdom in India and in the great manuscripts libraries' of China which talks about the merchant's ruled and controlled civillisation of Bujang Valley. In fact the names of certain chieftains have been found recorded. There is even a manuscript that recorded the name of a certain ruler/chieftain in the Bujang Valley Muzium itself but many are missing or destroyed over the years.
  
  2. As the years went by, assimilation of the local culture and intermarriages naturally and thus was more "localised". DNA testing will show concrete evidence of some present day local Kedah Malay's link with ancient South Indians, a proof of the assimilation process. But the language was never spared as can be seen by the many manuscripts found. With obvious reasons, the lingua franca of the entire civilisation was the ancient Tamil language and Sanskrit. The Malays could never would have run the kingdom speaking the ancient languages of South Indians. There was not even a Malay writing system at that time and also no architectural knowledge to build such a complex civilisation
  
  3. The civilisation stood without much fear from neighbouring kingdoms as it enjoyed the protection from the Cholas military might as stated by Chinese writings. Ancient Chola military existence and their station ruins are also found on the Indonesian side of the straits. The very first temple build were also recorded in the writings of the Chola kingdom (as suggested by the temple priest to overcome bad karma collected by the conquering king) and it was also recorded that originally there were some 1500 temples built all over the valley right up to Perlis, not counting Siam into the picture.
  
  4. Another very important information is that the very structure of the temple ruins which constitutes stone structures and black stones to sculpt certain deities in the temple has nothing to do with the Malay indigenous people. And they have no knowledge whatsoever in building complex Hindu temples, with very high level of astronomy and astrological relevance. Besides the Lembah Bujang ruins, Malaysia has no stone structures or monuments made in their entire history, the reason why we do not see any stone buildings or structures in any latter Malay Kingdom. If they had learned to build with stones as far back as 1500 years, the methods and technology employed are all Indian, Cholas to be precise, there should be many, many structures made from stone all over Malaysia, but we see none. In India, every dead civilisation showcases stone structure marvels. Another important relevence is that the black stone from which the Ganesha statue in Lembah Bujang Muzium is made is first of all never found in Malaysia. The stone is of the same type as found in temples in Kasi, Varanasi and Benares, whch can last thousands of years without getting destroyed, the reason why it withstood the harsh Malaysian weather for so long. The stone comes from a few places in India and Sri Lanka.
  
  When one studies the Bujang Valley Civilistation with a clear, unbiased mind, like what the Europeans (though it has nothing to do with their culture) has done with their work with Angkor Wat, Borobodur and others in South East Asia, with the exception of the Malay States, one will see the actual gathering of knowledge. Many may write based on sentiments and their poor knowledge of history, but facts will always be facts. The right frame of mind will gather this wonderful stories forgotten for ages but those who harp on racial sentiments will never be able to gather knowledge and information.
  
  Truly Malay has written some facts a true researcher and archeologist would never even think, as quoted by himself, "as far as we Malays are concerned, this historical site is our past, our history and we have all the right to preserve or to do whatever necessary with regards to our current beliefs". First of all he generalised all Malays, which I dont think is true. Secondly, and archeological site is an archeological site, whether it is a Muslim based civilisation or any other. No one has the right to destroy it according to any current belief. The very act of thinking to destroy is already a sin. The very sin that destroyed the Talibans, when they destroyed the ancient Buddha statue, which were there even before the advent of Islam.Archeology has nothing to do with religions or the proud or egoistic nature of the local people. Lastly, Truly Malay has no right to tell others to back off or chase others away from the study of any archeological site. If someone with no understanding or experience with the civilisation could write all that in such a harsh tone, can you imagine what others who had many, many years of experiance and who had spent so much time and money in gathering the knowledge would say to a person like Truly Malay..? Go back and do unbiased research in a true researcher like mind and if you still cant except the truth, stay in your own imaginary world, the truth may be too much for you.
  
  
• From: Mala (@ 61.213.181.82) on: Tue Aug 24 04:06:15 EDT 2004
  
  GOD BLESS YOU, IndianaJones....
  I was thinking of replying yto that article but am not a knowledgeable person and am glad that a very knowledgeable person such as your goodself could explain the whole thing very clearly and quite frankly. Thank you so much.
  
  
• From: beena (@ 203.193.139.83) on: Tue Sep 14 06:34:28 EDT 2004
  
  it was too good to know all about china
  
  

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