cultural ties india thailand

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Namaskar Mitra,

Did you know that Guru Nanak Jayanti, Karthik Purnima & Festival of Lights in

Thailand (read significance below) were all celebrated on the same day ie

November 8, 2003. The most important significance of Karthik Purnima is that on

this day came the 'Matsya Avatar' of Lord Vishnu to protect & establish Dharma.

Also various astrological factors occasionally make this day significant, and

this varies. This year was the Lunar Eclipse.

Historical & Cultural Ties between India & Thailand by Mrs Wanna Sudjit,

Cultural Attache to the Thai Consulate Mumbai - the article covers historic

links, Indian influence on Thai dance, language and ceremonies.

http://www.esamskriti.com/html/new_inside.asp?cat_name=history&sid=162&count1=0&cid=983.

Excerpts from her article are -

1. “The ceremonies of Coronation of Thai kings are practiced more or less

in its original form even up to the present reign. The Thai idea that the king

is a reincarnation of the Hindu deity Vishnu was adopted from Indian tradition.

Though this belief no longer exists today, the tradition to call each Thai king

of the present Chakri dynasty Rama (Rama is a reincarnation of Vishnu) with an

ordinal number, such as Rama I, Rama II etc. is still in practice.

2. Thai literature and drama draws great inspiration from Indian arts and

legend. The Hindu epic of Ramayana is as popular in Thailand as it is in India.

Thailand has adapted the Ramayana to suit the Thai lifestyle in the past and has

come up with its own version of the Ramayana, namely, the

‘Ramakien’.

3. Thai language too bears close affinity with Indian An indication of the

close linguistic affiliation between India and Thailand can be found in common

Thai words like Ratha Mantri, Vidhya, Samuthra, Karuna, Prannee etc. which are

almost identical to their Indian counterparts. Thai language basically consists

of monosyllabic words that are individually complete in meaning. His Majesty

King Ramkhamhaeng the Great created the Thai alphabet in 1283. He modeled it on

the ancient Indian alphabets of Sanskrit and Pai through the medium it on the

ancient Indian alphabets of Sanskrit and Pali through the medium of the old

Khmer characters.

4.Loy Krathong – the Festival of Lights which is celebrated on the full

moon night of the twelfth lunar month, when the rainy season has ended and the

rivers and streams are filled with water. The floating of lanterns, which began

in the Sukhothai period, continued throughout the different stages of Thai

history. Prior to setting their krathong afloat, people place in it a lighted

candle, incense sticks, flowers, a coin and some food offerings. They make a

silent prayer of thanks for the water received, a request for forgiveness for

wrongs done, and a wish for the fulfillment of a secret dream. The present day

understanding is that the festival is celebrated as an act of worship to Chao

Mae Kangka-the Goddess of the Waters for providing the water much needed

throughout the year, and as a way of asking forgiveness if they have polluted

it or used it carelessly.

5.According to the Thai monk Venerable Buddhadsa Bhikku’s writing,

‘India’s Benevolence to Thailand’, the Thais also obtained

the methods of making herbal medicines from the Indians. Some plants like

Sarabhi of Guttiferae family, Kanika or hursinghar, phikun or mimusops and

bunnak or the rose chestnut etc. were brought from India. He pointed out that

Thai food too was influenced by India. He claimed that Thai people learned how

to use spices in their food in various ways from Indians”.

cheers & om, share the wealth

sanjeev