Ayodhya and Ayutthaya: A Tale of Two Cities United by Ramayana

via IndiaWest and IndiaTV News, 09 July 2024: Separated by 3,500 kilometers, Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand share a deep cultural connection through the Ramayana. Ayutthaya, once the capital of Siam, reflects Hindu influence with its name and heritage linked to Lord Ram. This connection underscores the cultural and historical ties between the two nations, celebrated through shared traditions and proposed cultural tourism initiatives.

The word Ayutthaya has its roots in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram. Ayutthaya indicates the influence of Hinduism in the region and is associated with ‘Ramakien’, the Thai version of The Ramayana.

King Ramathibodi is said to be the first king of the kingdom of Ayutthaya and had named this city. The name of King Ramathibodi also shows the influence of the Ramayana. It is said that Royal rituals were based on Hindu Vedic scriptures and the Royal household adopted the religious-political ideology that had been embodied by Lord Rama as mentioned in the Ramayana.

King Rama I, the founder of the reigning Chakri dynasty of Siam, when he ascended to the throne in 1782, he took the name of Ramathibodi just like the founder of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Since then, all the Kings of Thailand carry the name Rama.

The Ramayana was brought to Southeast Asia by the Buddhist missionaries. A Thai version is said to have been written during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Later King Rama I compiled the first version of the Ramakien that is recognized today.

Source: Ayodhya & Ayutthaya: Separated Yet Connected | IndiaWest