WHAT IS THE BRAHMINS THEORY?
The theory states that the Brahmin priests of India were the ones who caused immigration of culture. Brahmins had great amounts of knowledge with regard to law, government, architecture and so on. It was then inferred the people would have readily welcomed the Brahmins into their midst, since they could use their knowledge to advance and develop their own systems and societies.
Furthermore, the Brahmins had extensive religious knowledge, such as abstract knowledge with regard to the cosmic universe. Their Hindu religion encompassed animistic characteristics and customs, which was in line with the animistic beliefs of the indigenous people. When the Brahmins arrived in Southeast Asia, they affirmed their legitimacy by getting to know the local rulers and nobles, and insinuating the idea that one way to gain power was to get the Brahmins legitimise the Devarajas of the country or state, by “the power of god”, transferring “divine leadership” to the rulers. A devaraja was a god-king, a divine being who was a manifestation of a supreme god. In order to be appointed as a devaraja, one had to be legitimised by a Brahmin.
The animistic belief connected to the Hindu religion stated that the god-kings (rulers) are physical manifestations of the spirits, and and the priests were direct links to the god-kings. Therefore, the Brahmins, who had the authority to legitimise the rulers, were seen to be powerful figures that the people were in awe of.
Besides that, they also married women coming from wealthy families, further alleviating their status in the eyes of the locals, and gaining greater respect from them. Their elite status gave them much power and ability to spread their Indian beliefs, philosophies and ideologies to the indigenous populace.
WHY WAS IT DEBUNKED?
As the Brahmin were of a high caste, they were generally elitist. Therefore, it would be expected that if the Brahmins were truly responsible for the spread of Indian influence, it was highly likely that the Brahmins would have introduced the caste system into the region. However, if there was one aspect of Indian culture not commonly seen in Southeast Asia today, it would have to be the caste system. Therefore, the indianisation of Southeast Asia did not come solely from the Brahmins.
Furthermore, the Brahmins had extensive religious knowledge, such as abstract knowledge with regard to the cosmic universe. Their Hindu religion encompassed animistic characteristics and customs, which was in line with the animistic beliefs of the indigenous people. When the Brahmins arrived in Southeast Asia, they affirmed their legitimacy by getting to know the local rulers and nobles, and insinuating the idea that one way to gain power was to get the Brahmins legitimise the Devarajas of the country or state, by “the power of god”, transferring “divine leadership” to the rulers. A devaraja was a god-king, a divine being who was a manifestation of a supreme god. In order to be appointed as a devaraja, one had to be legitimised by a Brahmin.
The animistic belief connected to the Hindu religion stated that the god-kings (rulers) are physical manifestations of the spirits, and and the priests were direct links to the god-kings. Therefore, the Brahmins, who had the authority to legitimise the rulers, were seen to be powerful figures that the people were in awe of.
Besides that, they also married women coming from wealthy families, further alleviating their status in the eyes of the locals, and gaining greater respect from them. Their elite status gave them much power and ability to spread their Indian beliefs, philosophies and ideologies to the indigenous populace.
WHY WAS IT DEBUNKED?
As the Brahmin were of a high caste, they were generally elitist. Therefore, it would be expected that if the Brahmins were truly responsible for the spread of Indian influence, it was highly likely that the Brahmins would have introduced the caste system into the region. However, if there was one aspect of Indian culture not commonly seen in Southeast Asia today, it would have to be the caste system. Therefore, the indianisation of Southeast Asia did not come solely from the Brahmins.