In Thailand, Ramayana is told as a popular national epic Ramakien‘ Ramakien can be seen in an elaborate illustration at Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.
The gallery or Phra Rabiang is a covered corridor, walled on one side, that surrounds the Wat Phra Kaew temple like a cloister. Murals on the gallery walls depict the entire arc of the Ramakien epic, which is based on the Indian Ramayana. This version was translated and recomposed in Thai poetic form under the supervision of Rama I himself around 1797. The story is divided into five long episodes. The murals were commissioned by Rama I to tell his version of the epic. In fact, the main decorative theme throughout the temple is the Ramakien story. The concept of righteous kingship within the epic has long been recognised within Southeast Asia and has been appropriated by many kings to equate their countries with the legendary city of Ayodhya and the titular hero Rama. The murals were erased and completely repainted by the orders of Rama III. Ever since then they have been frequently restored. The murals along the walls are divided into 178 scenes with abbreviated synopses of the scenes below. The first scene depicted is to the right of Gate No. 7, the Wihan Yot Gate.[61][62]
Ramakien/ Ramayan is an important component of the culture of Thailand.
The Ramakien composed by King Rama I is considered a masterpiece of Thai literature & is taught in schools.
The stories in Ramakien are similar to those of Ramayan.
In Thai version, Sita is Ravan & Mandodri's daughte. Ravan's brother, an astrologer predicts calamity on Sita. Ravan throws her into the river from where Janak picks her up. Thai version also gives more importance to Hanuman.
Characters of Thai version of Ramayan:
Pra Ram/ Ram, is the son of Thotsarot/ Dasharath, & is the incarnation of Witsanu or Pra Narai meaning Narayan Shri Vishnu
Phra Isuan/ Ishwar
Phra Phrom/ Brahma
Phra Uma-thewi/ Uma, Gauri
Phra Laksami / Lakshmi, Consort of Narai
Phra A-thit/ Surya, Father of Sukreep/ Sugreev
Phra Phai/ Vayu, Father of Hanuman
Phra Witsawakam/ Vishwakarma, rebuit Lanka after Hanuman burned it down, creating Khitkhin/ Kishkindha
Nang Sida/ Sita, Incarnation of Lakshmi
Phra Lak/ Lakshman, Phra Phrot/ Bharat, Pra Satrut/ Shatrughn
Nang Kaosuriya/ Kaushalya
Nang Kaiyakesi/ kekai
Nang Samutthewi/ Sumitra
Hanuman
Phali Thirat/ Bali, King of Khitkhin/ Kishkinda, elder brother of Sukhrip/ Sugreev, uncle of Hanuman
Ongkhot/ Angad, son of the Pali Thirat/ Bali and Nang Montho/ Tara
Phiphek/ Vibhishan, brother of Thotsakan/ Ravan
Chomphuphan/ Jambavan, adopted son of Phali.
Intharachit/ Indrajeet.
Thai, Malaya, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam were part of Indian Subcontinent.
The Thai people originally lived in Khmer, Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia, refers to 'syam'/ dark brown people (Siam comes from shyam or Vishnu ji ) as vassals of the Khmer kingdom.
Ancient Thailand was Siam, meaning city of Vishnu ji its kingdom was called AYUTTHAYA.
Another ancient city in Thailand is Lavpuri from Shri Ram's son Lav.
Many versions of Ramayan in Ayutthaya were lost with the second Burmese invasion in 1765.
When the Thai relocated their capital at Bangkok, King Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok took upon himself the title of ‘Rama I' changed the name of the Rattanakosin dynasty to Chakkri meaning Vishnu ji’s Sudarshan Chakr.
He partly wrote & got the lost Ramakie/ Ramayan composed in 1797.
His son Rama 2 rewrote some parts of for Khon drama which had been performed since the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
The 9th king Bhumipal Athulyatej / Bhumibol Adulyadej lived in the true spirit of Shri Ram & following;
"जननी जन्म भूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी",
did not leave Thailand in 60 years and spent 6 months every year in serving the poor and needy in rural Thailand from his royal income.
In an Indianized state Lan Na Kingdom in present-day Northern Thailand, the Ramayan is called Phommachak.
Evidences of Ramayan in Thailand
1- Painted representation of the Ramakien/ Ramayan & statues of characters can be seen at What Phar Kaew temple.
2- Temple of Bimay has a lintel representing Ram and Laksman tied with magical snakes by Indrajit.
3- Huge statues of Sugriv & other characters from Ramayan decorate the courtyard of the Royal palace, surrounded by huge corridors depicting the whole story of Ramayan in large paintings from floor to ceiling.
4- Ramayan sculptures adorn the walls and balustrades of most temples in Thailand.
5- There is a huge statue of Hanuman on a hillock facing a major Buddhist monastery.
6- Thai kick boxing is based on the military skills of Bali and Sugreev.
Source/Credits: Meenakshi Sharan, Ayodhya Foundation, Global Ramayana Connect on Facebook
