A Life of Interest

Impact of the Three Ancient Dharmic (Indic - Indian) Faiths on the Continent of Asia • Hinduism (Sanskrit - Sanātana Dharma) has its roots laid deep down in the Indian Subcontinent for millenia. Originating somewhere around 7,000 to 10,000 years ago in the modern day areas of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan - it is the oldest active religion on planet Earth. • Jainism (Sanskrit - Jaina/Jina Dharma) evolved out of Hinduism during the Shramaņa movement around 3,000 years ago. It follows the teachings of the 24 Tirthankaras in order to achieve Moksha (Liberation) from Samsāra (Cycles of death and rebirth). • Buddhism (Pāli - Bauddha Dhamma) also evolved out of Hinduism with the awakening and attainment of Nirvāņa (Eternal bliss) by Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama 2,500 years ago. This faith was able to spread throughout Asia because of its revolutionary ideas and techniques to conquer one's mind - Mana. - Many societies converted to these foreign faiths. These faiths

  Sanskrit Origins of Thai, Lao and Khmer Province Names 🇹🇭🇱🇦🇰🇭 Since ancient times, the Indian Subcontinent has been in contact with Southeast Asia because of trade, religions and kingdoms. Hinduism and Buddhism had a huge influence on Southeast Asia. Sanskrit and Pali (The liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism) were also imported from India. The impact of this diffusion can still be seen in the Geography of mainland Southeast Asia. Many names in Thailand and Cambodia have a Sanskrit and native root present in one word. Such names have been put into (parentheses). Also, the longest Sanskrit names are given to the capital cities of the three nations - Bangkok, Vientiane and Phnom Penh. Hinduism was gradually replaced by Buddhism in almost all of Southeast Asia except the Malay archipelago and some parts of Burma. The names of the provinces however show how extensively, Hinduism and Sanskrit influnced these cultures.  Names like Rāma, Viśņu, Brahmā (Chaturmukha) and Indra