This is the first of three films following a pilgrimage made by Dr S Krishnaswamy, a Tamil historian, to some of the main Hindu centers in SE Asia. Although various forms of Buddhism prevail these days in these areas, they are all intermixed with both Hinduism and animism.
Hinduism, especially the reform religions worshipping Śiva and Viṣṇu, were very popular throughout SE Asian countries historically, and remain so in varying degrees to this day. Their remains can be seen in many of the historical sites in these lands, many of which were converted in later times from Hindu temples to Buddhist ones.
The first of these films follows Dr Krishnaswamy as he visits important centres in Laos (Champasak, Vientienne), Thailand (Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai) and Vietnam (My Son) and explores some of these centres, and meets with modern day devotees, still practicing the ancient religions.
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