Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in?Thailand, is most known for its spectacular temples, ruins, and outstanding blend of Thai, Khmer, and Burmese architecture.?
Ayutthaya has long been an interesting site for both historians and tourists. Indian travellers, in particular, feel an uncanny link between Ayutthaya and Ayodhya, an ancient Indian city with its own fabled past.
Ramathibodi I founded the historic city of Ayutthaya in 1350. For more than four centuries, Ayutthaya was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom (modern-day Thailand), and it grew throughout time into a powerful and cosmopolitan commercial hub.
The city's advantageous location on the Chao Phraya River undoubtedly benefited marine trade and cultural interactions.
Ayutthaya and Ayodhya not only sound similar, but they also have cultural and religious affinities. Scholars and historians have been delving into historical narratives for as long as anybody can remember to investigate the possibility of a link between the two towns.?
Ayutthaya boasts a stunning blend of Theravada Buddhism and Hindu-Brahmanic traditions. This combination captures the region's cultural and religious diversity.
The ancient city of Ayutthaya is named after Ayodhya, Rama's birthplace, establishing a link between Hinduism and the Ramayana. King Ramathibodi, the first ruler of Ayutthaya, named the city, demonstrating the Ramayana's influence on the region's culture. Subsequent monarchs, notably those of the Chakri dynasty, used the name Rama, reinforcing the connection to Lord Ram.
What makes Ayutthaya interesting is that we can see how the Ramayana, which was imported to Southeast Asia by Buddhist missionaries, was modified into the Thai version known as Ramakien. This occurred in the Ayutthaya Kingdom. This is how we see Rama's life influencing Thai culture.
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