How do Ayodhya and Lord Ram link to Thailand’s Ayutthaya?

Although there are over 3,500 kilometers separating Ayodhya, India, and Ayutthaya, Thailand, from one another, these two countries and their people are united by Lord Ram. For the citizens of both nations, Lord Ram is everything.

In the early part of the thirteenth century, the kingdom of Siam, or Thailand, was founded. Approximately 70 kilometers north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya rose to prominence as the capital and most significant city of the Thai monarchy.

The origin of the term Ayutthaya is Ayodhya, the city where Lord Ram was born. Ayutthaya is linked to “Ramakien,” the Thai translation of The Ramayana, and suggests the presence of Hinduism in the area.

This city was named after King Ramathibodi, who is credited as being the first ruler of the kingdom of Ayutthaya. The Ramayana’s impact may also be seen in King Ramathibodi’s name. It is stated that Hindu Vedic texts served as the foundation for royal rites, and the royal family embraced the religious-political philosophy that Lord Rama, as described in the Ramayana, had represented.

When King Rama I came to power in 1782, he assumed the name Ramathibodi, precisely like the founder of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. King Rama I is the head of the current Chakri dynasty in Siam. Ever since then, Rama has been the name of every Thai king.

The Buddhist missionaries introduced the Ramayana to Southeast Asia. It is said that a Thai translation was composed during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Subsequently, the earliest known version of the Ramakien was composed by King Rama I.

So deeply ingrained in Thai culture is Lord Ram that dirt from Ayutthaya is being sent to Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, where the temple complex is scheduled to open in January 2024. The World Hindu Foundation and the Vishva Hindu Parishad took the initiative.

“We’ve determined that 51 nations will be present when Lord Ram is dedicated in Ayodhya. “I, Susheelkumar Saraf, and the World Hindu Foundation’s Swami Vigyananda will be in Ayodhya as well.”

The prior gesture of delivering water from two rivers in Thailand to Lord Ram’s shrine in Ayodhya was followed by this one with earth. These provide as another evidence of how similar these two nations’ cultural legacies are. The parallels don’t end here. Thailand celebrates Loy Krathong, popularly known as the “festival of lights,” on the same day that India celebrates Kartik Poornima and Dev Deepawali. Idols of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, and Indra are erected in conspicuous locations, where devotees offer their prayers.

From the 14th through the 18th centuries, the ancient city of Ayutthaya prospered, becoming one of the greatest cities in the world and a hub for international trade and diplomacy. In 1767, the Burmese army stormed and destroyed the city, forcing its residents to flee. The city was completely destroyed by fire. The city was never reconstructed and is now recognized as a significant archeological site.

The artistic output of the Ayutthaya school demonstrates the inventiveness of this civilization and its capacity to absorb a wide range of outside influences. All of the structures had exquisite decorations that combined ancient styles that had been preserved from Sukhothai, acquired from Angkor, and appropriated from the art of China, India, Japan, and other places.

The ground you are standing on represents a piece of India’s missing connection, according to Dr. Suresh Pal Giri, an Indian who has lived in Thailand for 22 years and lectures at a religious university. It was known as Thailand for a while; it is mostly Hindu by genetics, but throughout time, Buddhism continued to infiltrate Hinduism and cause it to become mixed. About 35 kilometers away is a temple dedicated to Brahma Vishu and Shankar, which dates back about 1,000 years. A Hindu temple that is said to be three thousand years old and was constructed by Indian monarchs at the time is located around 300 kilometers away from this location. When you are in Thailand, it seems like you are at home. However, things are evolving with the times. It is well known that the kings of Thailand have been referred to as Ram, namely Ram I, Ram II, Ram III, and now Ram X. What both nations seek is Ram Rajya.”

Singaporean resident Priyanka Shenoy, whose parents are Indian, said that moving to Ayutthaya helped her feel more connected to her faith and culture.

“To be honest, I think it’s great how the culture has spread so far, and the most significant thing is that nobody made them accept it. They incorporated it into daily life; it was a kind of soft power. There are a lot of parallels between Hinduism and everyday Thai life; no one holds a pistol to someone’s head and commands them to do anything, Chenoy explains. “This place is very serene; I think this makes you feel closer to your dharma (religion).”

Sanjay Kumar Arya, who was born in Delhi, lived in Singapore for 25 years, and visited Thailand as a tourist “I am a proud Karsevak, having visited Ayodhya.” I’ve come to see what the two locations have in common and what they have in common. It has been 200 years since the development of Ayutthaya. However, Ayodhya in India dates back thousands of years. I have discovered that the King of Thailand was a devoted devotee of Lord Ram.”

While visiting Ayutthaya, Urmila Sharma, a Myanmar citizen of Indian descent, remarks, “The greatest resemblance between our Lord Ram and the kings of Thailand is that both sacrificed a lot.” For their brother, they even offered their kingdom as a sacrifice. Invoking Lord Ram with the cry “Jai Shri Ram,” she continues, “So many of our Karsevaks have sacrificed their lives to restore the glory of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Now it should be our goal to bring back Ram Rajya in India and bring to light a new Ayodhya.”

Many of the stone temples and Buddhist monasteries in Ayutthaya survived when it was completely destroyed by fire by the Burmese army. The Ayutthaya temples and monuments’ captivating structural designs combine Sukhothai and Hindu influences, with striking similarities to the Angkor Wat ruins.

Traveler Paresh Sharma, who is in Ayutthaya, believes that it is important to maintain your past. “My main area of expertise is conservation, and I’m quite saddened by the events that have occurred there in the past. This location really emphasizes the need to protect the things that are important to you and to feel secure in those things.”

Bajrang Sharma, who was born in Myanmar but is of Indian descent, said, “I have strong ties to Hinduism. Every resident of Ayutthaya has feelings for Lord Ram. In Thailand, people hold their King in high regard, just as they would Lord Ram, and they have a profound affection for him. Some people believe in Lord Ram, while others do not. However, in Thailand, not a single person is against the concept of Lord Ram. In my ideal world, Ram Rajya would be introduced to India and the nation would emulate Thailand.”

According to Vivek Tiwari, a native of Bhopal who visited Thailand on vacation, Lord Ram is essential to both nations’ religious traditions. “Being called Lord Ram is the same as being called thousands of other gods or goddesses. The extent of the Hindu kingdom’s territory becomes clear to us when we go to Thailand and view the temples at Ayutthaya. Both in India and Thailand, there are those who worship Ram and have confidence in him. India has traditionally adhered to Vasudev Kutumbakam’s teachings, which state that “the world is one family.” Lord Ram is essential to our religion and culture, and he transcends politics.”

The ancient relationship between the towns of Ayodhya and Ayutthaya is about to be rekindled when soil from Ayutthaya reaches the Ayodhya Janmabhoomi Temple.

The World Hindu Foundation’s Swami Vigyananda states: “Thailand and India have a deep cultural and historical connection. The descendants of Lord Ram are the Kings. According to him, it is a long-standing custom for all kings in this region to have the title of Ram in their names. Thailand’s Bangkok is located in the Southeast Asian nation with a strong Hindu cultural legacy.”

Hindus from all over the world are expected to gather at the event and participate in kirtans, bhajans, puja, and recitation during the holy rite for the dedication of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. The event is also anticipated to be aired live in Bangkok.

“We placed an order with Ayodhya for Prasad. Here is a reproduction of the temple of Ayodhya. We have also given a picture of Ayodhya, the birthplace of Ram Lalla. All of the delegates (those attending the conference) will get copies of the photograph. “The joyous atmosphere in Ayodhya preceding the dedication of the Ram temple ought to be dispersed globally,” asserts Swami Vigyananda.

Ayutthaya serves as a reminder of the magnificence of Lord Ram’s kingdom and his teachings as the world waits for the dedication of the Holy Temple at the location of Lord Ram’s birth. The traditions and lessons that traveled great distances to arrive at Ayutthaya have had a lasting impact on Thai culture.