Make Hinduism the largest religion Southeast Asia

[Screvier20]

How would you get Hinduism and Buddhism to be equals in mainland Southeast Asia and have Hinduism makeup at least 80% of the population of Indonesia. Have Philippines at least 50% Hindu.

Thinking best way keep Indonesia Hindu is weaker Islam and make the Indianized kingdoms of Indonesia stronger to survive the coming of the Arab trader and Islam. Mainland Southeast Asia maybe easier to keep Hindu than Indonesia. With Indonesia still Hindu it would very easily keep the Philippines Hindu.

 

[mrmandias]

Or maybe have Buddhism never develop quite so clearly as a separate religion.

 

[Oracle of Sobek 𓆋]

For the mainland you could wank the Khmer Empire (obviously that entails avoiding the Khmer collapse). For Malaya/Indonesia... Hmm... Maybe a Chola Empire-in-Exile? Longer Indian rule fosters a more thoroughly Hindu Srivijaya? Either way I see an empire being involved... You need more stability in the region (as, in the mainland case anyway, Buddhism was seen as more attractive than Hinduism in the chaos following imperial collapse) and large states in which Hinduism features prominently.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

It's to note at least one kingdom of asia converted FROM buddhism into hinduism (back), but it was Nepal, I think.

 

[Screvier20]

For the mainland you could wank the Khmer Empire (obviously that entails avoiding the Khmer collapse). For Malaya/Indonesia... Hmm... Maybe a Chola Empire-in-Exile? Longer Indian rule fosters a more thoroughly Hindu Srivijaya? Either way I see an empire being involved... You need more stability in the region (as, in the mainland case anyway, Buddhism was seen as more attractive than Hinduism in the chaos following imperial collapse) and large states in which Hinduism features prominently.

Really like the idea of a Chola Empire-in-Exile. Maybe when Rajendra Chola III power in 1246 CE he decides move the capital to Srivijaya seeing the empire can not be save in India with the rise of the Pandyan empire. He begins to rebuild of Chola Empire in Sumatra.

Your right Khmer Empire would likely need to be wank to save with climate change and Black Death witch helped lead to it's decline. If you add in wars with it's neighbors. One way to save the Khmer Empire is for to conquer it's neighbors before they become strong.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

Would an Hindu Thailand a better bet then?

 

[Bulletsfromthegrassyknoll]

You gotta contain Buddhism for that to happen.

 

[Oracle of Sobek 𓆋]

Would an Hindu Thailand a better bet then?

Or, instead of the Thais sacking Angkor, they occupy it and establish a new dynasty that's eventually assimilated into Khmer culture/adopts the Hindu religion.

Cambodia Aeterna, anyone?

 

[Badshah]

What if Buddhism is developed as a sect of Hinduism? Buddha wasn't really preaching a religion, but a way of life. Early Buddhists still retained their old religion; it wasn't a conversion. If that happens, Hinduism would likely be dominant in SE Asia.

 

[Bulletsfromthegrassyknoll]

Hinduism is a way of life, not a religion. It was only considered a religion when colonization occurred. Calling it a religion may insult some Hindus.

 

[Badshah]

Hinduism is a way of life, not a religion. It was only considered a religion when colonization occurred. Calling it a religion may insult some Hindus.

Yes, but it also has Gods. That constitutes a religion. Buddhism doesn't have its concept, and in its early days, wasn't preached as such. It was simply the teachings of the Buddha.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

Hinduism is a way of life, not a religion. It was only considered a religion when colonization occurred. Calling it a religion may insult some Hindus.

If Buddhism is a religion, so it is.

So say indians around.

Maybe a set of religions, though.

And trollhole, religion can be atheistic.

 

[Screvier20]

Would an Hindu Thailand a better bet then?

Thailand does have strong Hindu roots. So likely would be easily to keep Thailand Hindu. Maybe when the Ayutthaya comes to power they adopt Hinduism in replace of Buddhism. But Buddhism would likely become a minority religion in Thailand.

I see states that border China would remain Buddhist with the remained of the states begin Hindu. States that border China would likely be about Buddhist 85% and Hindu 15% with the remained of the states begin 75% Hindu and 25% Buddhist.

 

[Badshah]

If Buddhism is a religion, so it is.

So say indians around.

Maybe a set of religions, though.

And trollhole, religion can be atheistic.

They can be. I was just making a point. Buddhism wasn't a religion at its birth. To be one, you didn't have to leave your previous beliefs. Only after the Buddha's death, it was publicized as a religion, and made him more than a man. But prior to this, it would be like following a different guru, not another whole religion.

 

[Max Sinister]

Were the states there Hinduistic before buddhism arrived? Or did they have other religions?

 

[The Ubbergeek]

One thing is sure, there was at least one Hinduist state in the Malay isles, I bet... The culture survived to nowaday.

 

[kasumigenx]

How would you get Hinduism and Buddhism to be equals in mainland Southeast Asia and have Hinduism makeup at least 80% of the population of Indonesia. Have Philippines at least 50% Hindu.

Thinking best way keep Indonesia Hindu is weaker Islam and make the Indianized kingdoms of Indonesia stronger to survive the coming of the Arab trader and Islam. Mainland Southeast Asia maybe easier to keep Hindu than Indonesia. With Indonesia still Hindu it would very easily keep the Philippines Hindu.

Have the Bruneians screwed before they can attack the Island of Manila(Luzon), their attack on Manila is a factor why it was occupied by the Spanish, I think one wild card for that is who marries Laila Mecanai of Sulu, if Laila did not marry Bolkiah, Brunei will not have the power of Sulu, which seceded later on from the Bruneian empire.

 

[Screvier20]

POD is when Rajendra Chola III come to the throne of Chola Empire in 1246 he sees that the empire can not be saved in India and makes plans to save the empire by move it to Srivijaya in Sumatra. By 1250 the capital has be moved to Srivijaya. Over the next 15 years Rajendra Chola III completely rebuild Srivijaya into the new Chola Empire capital and build a strong power base in Sumatra.Moving the capital to Srivijaya was not without problems with ethnic violence between the new Tamil immigrants and the native Malays population.

 

[Screvier20]

Thinking the best way to get Mainland Southeast Asia to have a Hinduism and Buddhism population a stronger Indian and Chinese present in the region. With what is today Burma, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, and Thailand as Hindu and Laos and Vietnam as Buddhist. In Hindu counties population is about 60 to 80% Hindu. And in Buddhist nations population are about 50 to 70% Buddhist.

In Maritime Southeast Asia East Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and East Timor are Hindu nations. With Brunei and Philippines begin Buddhist nations. In what is Indonesia only the island of Sumatra and Java are majority Hindu many of the smaller islands are still Animism. The island of Borneo is about 50% Hindu 30% Buddhist 12% Animism and 8% Other.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

Money is power, as political power as well can be tied to religious dominance, and vice versa.

If some hindu state unified a lot of India, like the southern... I forgot the name, sorry, Tamils I think, they had trade all over the ocean...