#Hanuman Nataka

[rrcraft-and-lore]

Ramayama- the Indian epic some of you know. But did you know of the Ramakien?

It's the Thai national epic which is their version of the Ramayama. It was Thai King Rama VI who traced back the inspirations of the Ramakien to:

Ramayana, the Vishnu Purana, and Hanuman Nataka but how did an Indian epic come to be shaped into a Thai national epic as well?

Simply put? Buddhism.

The more complicated answer? Buddhism but through missionaries after a long history of Indianized states already made it easy to spread parts of Indian culture, stories/myths, and obviously Buddhism.

What is an Indianized state? Well, some were parts of the Indochinese peninsula known as Funan (Phu Nam - Vietnam), Champa, and more (seriously, a lot more).

TLDR, Southeast and Western Asian lands that had heavy Indian influences and or rulers at one time.

Why/how? Well, interestingly, there are Chinese books that have myths/stories of this. The Book of Liang is the most popular source, and some of its stories are reiterated in Indian and Southeast Asian folkore/stories.

They are very beautiful and cool stories but the reality as argued by historians?

Likely Indian merchants seeking wider wealth (migrating through/over the Oceanic silk road routes) into parts of South East Asia who eventually shared stories/treatises and more of Indian political statecraft, eventually leading some merchants into positions of power, rulers marrying across countries to gain/strengthen power, so on. Eventually, voila. Indianized parts of the nearby world bearing Sanskrit inscriptions, Vedic/Hindu statues, and more.

A DNA sample taken from Funan from this time period shows an individual a lot of South Asian DNA admixture approximating 50 percent. The site is what is today known as Cambodia. Note: the sample dates to that time as when the individual lived, not that the sample was collected then. Now, this tradition continued of course over time. Asia was pretty well interconnected.

India and China have a rich tradition (documented) of trade of all sorts including, political craft/statecraft, ruling, censuses, well-being of people, religion/culture, philosophy, arts, and more.

So, dialed up over time, this same Indianization is what's influenced (in part, not wholly) Thailand (as it has a great deal of Chinese influence) as well. But for the purposes of the Ramakien, in the logical sense, this is likely what happened to bring the story of Ramayama, the Buddhist as well as Vedic cultural traditions found there or what evolved from them, such as the worship and reverence of/for Hanuman including him being involved in Muay Thai (note, not credited with/creating it) but he is often depicted in imagery, has a technique named after him, and regarded by many as the ultimate Thai boxer (within the culture) for the traits of the sport he embodies.

Now full circle back to Ramakien. There are some central differences, obviously given that it's more rooted in Buddhism and its tenants than the Vedic epics focused on Dharma (cosmic order/duty) vs. a Buddhist lens of living. Some of the characters are similar (not the same) and serve similar roles with name and slight changes, of course. Not to mention the history and traditions of the Jatka tales spread by Buddhism into the area over time evolved as performed by locals on stage and other venues to be more Thai, feature Thai topography and landmarks and takes.

And this is a light history on the Ramakien's coming to being and some of why there are 300 (yes 300) versions of Ramayama in the world. And, how Indianization happened in parts of the world and its effects. Which all circles back to how stories are traded, evolve and are coopted, adapted, shaped to serve/entertain the cultures they are presented/ended up in.

[rhianna]

Bibliographic Record

Author

Dutta, R. N.

Editor

Zemin, J. S.

Title    Tales from the Hindu Dramatists

ContentsSakuntala or the lost ring -- Vikramorvasi or Urvasi won by valour -- Malavikagnimitra -- The vira charita or the mahavira charita -- Uttar Rama Charita -- Malati and Madhava or the stolen marriage -- Hanuman Nataka, or Mahanataka, or the great drama -- Anergha Raghava or Murari Nataka -- Veni Samvarana or Veni Sanhara -- Chanda Kausika -- Madhuraniruddha -- Sridama Charita -- Kansa Badha -- Yayati Charitra -- Kautuka Servaswa -- Prachanda Pandava -- Probodha Chandrodaya -- Nagananda -- Dutangada -- Pradyumna Vijaya -- Vidagdha Madhava -- Dhananyaya Vijaya -- Hasyarnava -- Chitra Yajna -- Mrigankalekha -- Mudrarakshasa -- Viddha Salabhanjika -- Ratnavali or the necklace.

Language   English

LoC Class

PK: Language and Literatures: Indo-Iranian literatures

Subject

Sanskrit drama -- Adaptations

Category   Text

EBook-No.18285

Release Date   Apr 29, 2006

Copyright Status     Public domain in the USA.

[universaltheosophy]

Friday May 3, 2019 Weekly Theme for Contemplation: The Lotus I always offer my salutations to Him alone who is free from attachment and aversion, worldliness and ignorance, who is endowed with compassion towards all creatures, and is graced with the marks of magnanimity. — HANUMAN NATAKA In the ‘Chidagnikunda’ (the heart) dwells the Divine Fire. — BHAVANI SHANKAR http://bit.ly/2GVaJqW

[universaltheosophy]

May 2 , 2019 Weekly Theme for Contemplation: The Lotus I always offer my salutations to Him alone who is free from attachment and aversion, worldliness and ignorance, who is endowed with compassion towards all creatures, and is graced with the marks of magnanimity. — HANUMAN NATAKA In the ‘Chidagnikunda’ (the heart) dwells the Divine Fire. — BHAVANI SHANKAR http://bit.ly/2VfTj2g

[rhianna]

Bibliographic Record

Author

Dutta, R. N.

Editor

Zemin, J. S.

TitleTales from the Hindu Dramatists

ContentsSakuntala or the lost ring -- Vikramorvasi or Urvasi won by valour -- Malavikagnimitra -- The vira charita or the mahavira charita -- Uttar Rama Charita -- Malati and Madhava or the stolen marriage -- Hanuman Nataka, or Mahanataka, or the great drama -- Anergha Raghava or Murari Nataka -- Veni Samvarana or Veni Sanhara -- Chanda Kausika -- Madhuraniruddha -- Sridama Charita -- Kansa Badha -- Yayati Charitra -- Kautuka Servaswa -- Prachanda Pandava -- Probodha Chandrodaya -- Nagananda -- Dutangada -- Pradyumna Vijaya -- Vidagdha Madhava -- Dhananyaya Vijaya -- Hasyarnava -- Chitra Yajna -- Mrigankalekha -- Mudrarakshasa -- Viddha Salabhanjika -- Ratnavali or the necklace.

LanguageEnglish

LoC Class

PK: Language and Literatures: Indo-Iranian literatures

Subject

Sanskrit drama -- Adaptations

CategoryText

EBook-No.18285

Release DateApr 29, 2006

Copyright StatusPublic domain in the USA.