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Historical & Cultural Ties between India & Thailand


INDIA AND THAILAND
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


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