All posts tagged Thailand

RAMAYANA SCULPTURES IN THAILAND (Post No.5158)

compiled by LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Date: 28 JUNE 2018

Time uploaded in London – 14-20 (British Summer Time)

Post No. 5158

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Wikipedia, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks. Pictures may be subject to copyright laws.\

RAMAYANA sculptures in Cambodia are well known; but sculptures describing the scenes of Ramayana in Thailand are not known to many. Some of the sculptures were even interpreted earlier as scenes from Buddha Jataka stories. Now we know they are from Ramayana.

Mostly sculptures of Hindu gods are found in the temples of Prasat Phnom Rung and Prasat Phimai. Other sculptures of Hindu Gods are kept in Bangkok Museum.

Following book (Palace of the Gods by Smithi Siribhadra and Elizabeth Moore) give some pictures with explanation:

— SUBHAM —

RARE SANSKRIT INSCRIPTIONS WITH MEDICAL INFORMATION (Post No.5052)

Written by London Swaminathan

Date: 27 May 2018

Time uploaded in London – 20–39

Post No. 5052

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks. Pictures may be subject to copyright laws.

WARNING: PLEASE SHARE MY ARTICLES; BUT DON’T SHARE IT WITHOUT AUTHOR’S NAME AND THE BLOG NAME. BE HONEST; OTHERS WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU

RARE SANSKRIT INSCRIPTIONS WITH MEDICAL INFORMATION (Post No.5052)

Thailand has several inscriptions with interesting information. They provide documented history. Like India the donations to Brahmins and temples stand as historical documents. A very interesting inscription is the Hospital Inscription.

The Stone inscription is in Sanskrit language. Its from the Ku Noi Hospital, Khonkaen Museum. It belongs to Jayavarman VII of 13^th century CE. The inscription was discovered in the excavations at Kunoi.

It states that the site was a hospital at the time of Jayavarman VII. The bottom part of the stele is broken and missing. There are three different sizes of stone inscriptions- large, medium and small. Ku noi is in the middle group. All the stone inscriptions gave details regarding the hospital, such as the number of doctors, nurses and types of offerings etc.

The earliest inscriptions of Khmer history in Northern Thailand dated to the end of the 6^th century CE. One found in the province of Surin, north of Ta Muen, was erected by a king called Mahendravarman. The inscription written in Sanskrit, commemorates the installation of Shiva’s bull Nadin. Mahendravarman ordered the inscription carved after he has conquered ‘all the country’.

The interesting coincidence is that at the same time the great Pallava King Mahendravarman was ruling from Kancheepuram in South India.

There is another stele in Bangkok museum, a Sanskrit inscription giving the details of land given by the King Udyadityavarman II. Land was donated to priestly family of Brahmins. It is in Prasat Sdok Kok Thom. This is one of the most important inscriptions for the study of the Khmer history. Now housed in the National Museum in Bangkok, it dates to about 1052 CE and chronicles the history of Shivakaivalya dynasty of priests who served the King Jayavarman II, founder of the Khmer Empire in 802. It relates how Jayavarman arrived from Java, became king of Indrapura and later moved his capital to Hariharalaya, close to Angkor on northern shore of the Tonle Sap.

In addition it also provides information on subsequent Khmer history, the Khmer system of kingship, the various beliefs adhered to and details about the Brahmin family and their involvement with later Khmer kings.

11 Inscriptions in Phnom Rung

The inscriptions of Prasat Phnom Rung offer a unique insight into the nature of Khmer rule in Northern Thailand between the 10^th and 13th century CE. They record the family history of Narendra Adiytya and his son Hiranya. They were independent rulers and not the vassals of king at Angkor. Altogether 11 inscriptions were found at Phnom Rung. The name Phnom Rung itself occurs once on a stele inscribed with a Sanskrit eulogy and several times in Khmer inscriptions.

The earliest inscriptions found at Prasat Phnom Rung is in Sanskrit. It is only four lines, but has been dated to 7^th century CE. This inscription might have been shifted from another site, because other structures at the site are of later periods.

Of the other Sanskrit inscriptions, the most important bears the inventory no K.384. It is also the biggest measuring about 27X 53 centimetres. Another inscription is also in Sanskrit. Hiranya is talking about installing a golden image of his father. The inscription commemorates the new additions to Saivite monastery in Phnom Rung. Hymn to Shiva is in the beginning which praises Shiva as Maha Yogi.

Among other inscriptions, however are fascinating details of the religious practices of the monastery on Phnom Rung Hill. One inscription with an inventory no. BR 14 is carved on a round stone slab almost a metre high, a shape associated with sema stones of boundary markers. The 12^th century Inscription refers to a pool called Sri Surya as well as setting up the images of gods Shiva, Vishnu, Linga etc.

Sanskrit inscriptions in Thailand serve as a great source of history.

Source book Palace of the Gods, Smiththi Siribhadra and Elizabeth Moore; photography Michael Freeman Year 1992.

–subham–

1 Comment

by Tamil and Vedas on May 27, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in History, Sanskrit Literature

Tagged Medcaal information, Sanskrit, Stele, Thailand

Posted by Tamil and Vedas on May 27, 2018

https://tamilandvedas.com/2018/05/27/rare-sanskrit-inscriptions-with-medical-information-post-no-5052/

Hindu Sankaranti Festival in Thailand and Laos! (Post No.4990)

Kabilaprom and his seven daughters, issued by Thailand on April 7,2016

Hindu Sankaranti Festival in Thailand and Laos! (Post No.4990)

Research article Written by London Swaminathan

Date: 8 May 2018

Time uploaded in London – 18-24 (British Summer Time)

Post No. 4990

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks. Pictures may be subject to copyright laws.

WARNING: PLEASE SHARE MY ARTICLES; BUT DON’T SHARE IT WITHOUT AUTHOR’S NAME AND THE BLOG NAME. BE HONEST; OTHERS WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU

Two South East Asian countries celebrate Hindu festival Sankaranti with a Buddhist legend. Tamils in South India celebrate it as Pongal- Harvest Festival. Other parts of India celebrate it as a solar festival. All over India worship Sun God on that day.

Thailand and Laos have different stories associated with it.

In Thailand there lived a wise man who can speak with birds. His name was Dharmabarn (Dharma abarana- one who wears the jewel Dharma/Virtues). He was born in a wealthy family. He was wise even when he was seven years old.

The king was the other intelligent man in the country and his name was Kabila Brahmana. He had seven daughters. Kabila heard about Dharma and challenged him with three questions. That was a riddle. The loser in the competition should lose his head was the condition put forth by Kabila. Dharma agreed to it.

The riddle was: In the morning, at noon and in the evening, where is the human wheel of life?
Since Dharma could understand birds’ language, he heard two eagles talking about the wheel of human life.

The birds revealed to him that: In the morning, the wheel of life is on its face- that is why we wash our faces every morning.

At noon, the wheel of life is at its chest- that is why we wear perfume on our chests.

In the evening, the wheel of life is at its feet- that is why we wash our feet before going to bed.

Dharma gave these correct answers and hence Kabila cut off his own head. His seven daughters feared that if the head fell into the earth, a great fire will engulf the planet. If the head is hurled in the air, the planet will suffer a drought. If the head fell into the ocean, it would dry up. They decided to keep the head suspended in a cave of a mountain. Every year, one of the daughters would retrieve the head and parade around with it.

SANKARANTI (PONGAL) FESTIVAL

Evidently, the King had assigned his seven angel daughters to take turns carrying his head clockwise around Phra Sumane Mountain. And if Songkran Day (13 April) falls on any day of the following, that year would be honoured by that Nang Songkran. SONGRAN= SANKARANTI

In Madurai in South India there is a belief that depending upon the colour of god’s dress during Chitra festival the harvest would be predicted;they forecast if it is green colour that Lord Vishnu (Kalla Azakar is the local name of Vishnu) wears when he enters the River Vaigai, then the harvest would be good so on and so forth.

In the same way Thai people believed if the Sankranti falls on a particular day of the week certain things will happen. Those seven days are the seven daughters of Kabila.

Sunday: TungsateveeRed dress, preferred wild fruit, discus in the right hand, shell in the left hand, garuda as the vehicle.

Monday: Korakatevee Yellow dress with pearl ornaments, preferred butter oil, dagger in the right hand, walking cane in the left hand, tiger as the vehicle.

Tuesday: Ragsotevee Light red dress with agate ornaments, preferred blood, trident in the right hand, arrow in the left hand, pig as the vehicle.

Wednesday: Montatevee Emerald green dress with cats eye ornaments, preferred milk and butter, sharp iron in the right hand and walking cane in the left hand, donkey as the vehicle.

Thursday: Kirineetevee Greenish yellow dress with emerald ornaments, preferred nuts and sesame seeds, elephant hook in the right hand, gun in the left hand, elephant as the vehicle.

Friday: Kimitatevee White dress with topaz ornament, preferred banana, dagger in the right hand, Indian vina in the left hand, buffalo as the vehicle.

Saturday: Mahotorntevee Black dress with onyx ornaments, preferred hog deer, discus in the right hand, trident in the left hand, peacock as the vehicle.

Evidently, the prediction for the New Year will be made according to that particular day of the Nang Songkran. For example, if the preferred food of Miss Songkran is nuts and sesame seeds, it is predicted that the year will be productive, prosperous and healthy. And if the preferred food is blood, the prediction would go for a bloody year with quarrels. And if Miss Songkran prefers to carry a gun, it is predicted that the weather would be full of thunderstorms, etc. Also, at the venue where the grand Songkran Festival is organized, a procession of the Miss Songkran is indispensable for the people to appreciate the festival.

songran= Sankranti

Sankaranti is celebrated through out South East Asia. In Laos the people build Sand dunes. The sand dune symbolises the Hindu Holy Mountain Mount Meru. Kabila’s head was kept aloft on this mountain.. Since Buddhism celebrate yellow colour Laos people sprinkle scented water on the sand dune ,decorate it with festoons and flags and put yellow cloth on it. The offerings offered to the Stupas or sand dunes are distributed to Buddhis monks. It shows the mix up of several old customs. Hindu customs and Buddhist customs got mixed up with local beliefs.

Thailand and Laos released stamps to celebrate these festivals.

–Subham—

Hindu Eagle Mystery deepens

Picture shows Tiruk Kazuku Kundram eagles taking temple offering.

Hindu eagle mystery is deepening with more information coming from different sources.

1.Why do Hindus worship eagle (suparna=garuda) from Rig Vedic Days till today?

2.Why do Hindus including the greatest Tamil king Karikal Choza built their Yaga Kundas (Fire altars) in eagle shape?

3.How is that two eagles come to Tirukazuku kundram just to eat rice pudding everyday for over 1300 year period?

4.Why do Hindus call Emeralds as Garuda Ratna (eagle gem), which Sindbad story writer copied it from the Hindus?

5.Why a Saivaite saint sang 1300 years ago about an eagle bringing flowers to Shiva every day?

6.Why do Tamil children shout ‘Drop me a flower please’ when they see Garudas (falcon/eagle) in the sky? Why do Hindus recite a Sanskrit hymn when they see Garuda?

7.Why does Vishnu use Garuda as his Vahana (Mount of God)?

8.Why did Rama cremate an eagle Jatayu in Ramayana? Was it eagle totem people or real eagle? Why Tamils associate this with Vaitheeswarankoil (eagle town)?

9. Why did Eagle people and Snake people (Garudas and Nagas) fight all over the world? We have the story here in Puranas, but symbols are in Egypt and Maya civilization?

10. How come eagle brought Soma plant for the Yagas (Fire ceremonies of Hindus)?

Picture Shows Greek Ambassador Heliodorous’ Pillar at Vidhisha 150 BC

11. Why did a Greek build an eagle pillar with inscription calling himself as a great devotee of Vishnu?

12.Tamil Encyclopedia Abithana Chintamani ( year 1899) attributes sixteen acts to Garudas. Many of them actually belong to people with eagle totem. They were against people with snake totem (Nagas). It is the ancient history of India. One must go deeper in to it to reveal the secrets.

13. Why do women fast on Garuda Panchami day every year?

14. Why is Garuda Purana is associated with the departed souls? It is read in the 13 day mourning period.

15. Indus People painted eagle in (funeral ??) potteries, Why? Has it anything to do with Hindus reading Garuda Purana after the funeral?

16. Why is it that Amrita (ambrosia) is linked with Garuda/suparna?

17. In the Assyrian bas-relief in Khorsabad (885 BC) Eagle headed winged genie is carrying a vessel of lustral water and a pine cone sprinkler. It is one of the benevolent genies that protected men from diseases and evil forces. Is it Garuda with Amrita? (see the images)

18. Why does Jaiminiya Brahmana (Vedic literature) say that eagle separates water from milk like Krauncha (swan) bird?

19. Why does Romulus saw an eagle on the Aventine Hill and considered it as a good omen like Hindus and keep it in front of his army? Orthodox Hindus wait for Garuda Darsanam every day.

Picture shows white necked Brahminy Kite (Garuda)

20.Why do newspapers report sighting of Garuda as a good omen during Kumbhabishekam or any religious event?

21. Why does Krishna say that he is garuda/eagle among birds in Bhagavad Gita (10-30)(vainatheyascha pakshinam)? Western cultures also consider eagle as ‘King of Brids’.

If I write answers to all these questions it would become a big book. I am going to answer a few of these questions in this article.

I have already written about Vahanas, eagle shaped fire altars of Karikal Choza, Eagle Vs Naga clans enmity, Double headed Eagle, Garuda Sthamaba of Greek Ambassador etc. Please see the titles of the articles given at the bottom.

Eagle, falcon, kite, hawk, osprey and vulture are known as symbol of might and valour. Rig Veda, the oldest religious scripture in the world mentions Suparna and Syena. Later literature gives the story of Garuda (Haliastur Indus=Brahminy Kite), which is the Vahana and flag of Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi on Garuda Vahana

Oldest Eagle Miracle

Perhaps the oldest and strangest eagle miracle in the world is Tirukkazuku kundram eagle miracle. Two eagles have been visiting this hillock for at least 1300 years just to eat temple rice pudding. We have records from Thevaram and Tiruppukaz . Saivaite saint Sambandhar of seventh century has sung bout Vedagireeswarar temple in Tirukkazuku kundram. The name of the town means eagle hill. Arunagirainathar of 15^th century mentions very clearly that the eagles visit and worship god at Vedagiri. So we have records for at least 1300 years. Normally birds of prey like eagles gather in flocks and hunt for food. They are carnivorous and so prefer animals dead or alive. But in Tiruk kazuku kundram only two eagles come to the hill and wait outside for the temple prasad (offering) which is nothing but rice offering. Is it not strange for two birds of prey come just to eat rice that too every day at the appointed time? I heard that nowadays the eagle visit has become irregular. But my family members themselves have seen this wonder.

There is a story behind this eagle visit. Sambu Budhan and Ma Budhan were great devotees of Shiva and Shakti respectively. Now and then they had heated argument on this issue. They wanted to find out who was the greater of the two and went straight to Shiva for an answer. Shiva told them it was like two sides of a coin. No one is bigger than the other. Out they came and started arguing again on the same issue. Shiva cursed them to become eagles. When they begged him to take back the curse, Shiva told them to come to Tiruk kazuku kundram until the end of Kali yuga.

Hindus believe two different persons come as eagles in every yuga. The story has an underlying truth. That is, it has been going on for Yugas (epochs).

Tirukkazuku kundram is not far from Chennai in Tamil Nadu. It is easily accessible by bus from Chengalpattu.

Picture: Garuda in Bagkok, Thailand

Garuda brings flower

As children we used to shout “O Garuda, Drop me a flower”, whenever a Garuda flies just above our head in the sky. At the same time elderly people used to recite a Sanskrit sloka (hymn). Till a few days ago I did not know the meaning. When I read Thevaram hymn in Tamil, there was a reference about Garuda bringing flower to Shiva every day. Probably like Tiruk kaluku kundram there was another eagle mystery happening every day 1300 years ago. Sambandhar sang about another shrine in Vaitheeswarankoil near Mayuram in Tamil Nadu

He says that the eagle brought flower every day from Kaveri Poompattinam, which was a famous harbour 2000 years ago. Some of the Cholza kings ruled from this port city which was mentioned by Greek and Roman writers as Kaberis. Eagles brought flowers from this city to Vaitheeswaran koil every day! It is a small town with a very famous Shiva temple. The very name of the town is named after the bird PULLIRUKKUVELUR ( Pul=eagle, Irukku=Rig Veda, Vel= Lord Skanda, Ur= Sun; all the four worshipped here). Once again we get some new information which no Ramayana gives us. The two great two eagle men Jatayu and Sampathi (Jatayu fought with Ravana while he abducted Sita Devi to Sri Lanka) worshipped Shiva here according to Gnana Sambandhar.

When Jatayu died after giving the vital information about abduction to Rama, he cremated the bird. Birds are not cremated when they die. Even today tourist guides show you the Jatayu’s ash. So my guess is that Jatayu and Sampati were men with eagle symbol (totem). Whatever they may be, they brought flowers every day to Shiva thousands of years before our time. So this is what made Tamil children shout at eagles or Garudas, ‘Please drop me a flower’ (கருடா, கருடா பூப் போடு in Tamil).

Tamil references are given at the end.

Eagle with holy water, Norrthern Iraq 850 BC

Eagle and Ambrosia, eagle and Soma plant

Hindu epics and mythologies give us some information about Garuda getting Amrita from the heaven. Kadru and Vinata were daughters of Daksha Parajapati and wives of Kashyapa. Because of infighting, Vinata was enslaved by Kadru, mother of snakes (Naga clan). When Garuda came to know about his mum’s pathetic condition he tried to release her from this bondage. But Amrita was demanded for her release. Garuda went to heaven and stole Amrita (elixir of life). When Indra saw this, it ended in a big fight. Indra was worsted but allowed Garuda to take part of the Amrita. Once again this confirms my guess they were men with eagle tattoos or symbols and not birds.

Garuda was a sworn enemy of snakes (people of Naga Clan). Though we see here part of ancient history, we must remember both the clans were cousins. Garuda was considered an incarnation of Fire God Agni. Rig Veda praises him for bringing Soma plant. Probably people of Garuda clan were involved in this business.

Picture of Tiruk kazuku kundram: The eagles are said to sharpen their beaks here.

Emerald= Garuda Ratna= Eagle Gem

One of the Nine Gems, emerald is known as Garuda Ratna (Eagle Gem). The reason for this name is eagles brought this gem from the valleys and deep ravines. People who could not go deep down the ravines and valleys where emerald stones were in plenty threw lumps of meat. When the eagles brought those meat balls stuck with emerald, people shot the birds with arrows and got the emeralds. This story was copied in the Stories of Arabian Nights and later literature. The link between Garuda and Amrita- Gem stones- Soma plant throw lot of light on ancient history of India. Deeper research will explode the myth of Soma being an addictive drug producing hallucination. A Pandya copper plate inscription describes Soma plant as purifier of mind (Mano Sudhdha Soam yajee) . I will write a separate post about it.

Tamil References:

1).கழுகுதொழு வேத கிரிசிகரி வீறு

கதிருலவு வாசல் நிறைவானோர்

கடலொலிய தான மறைதமிழ்க ளோது

கதலிவன மேவு பெருமாளே

(திருக்கழுக்குன்றம் திருப்புகழ்)

2).யோசனை போய்ப் பூக்கொணர்ந்தங் கொருநாளு மொழியாமே

பூசனை செய்தினி திருந்தான் புள்ளிருக்கு வேளீரே (தேவாரம்)

3).தள்ளாய சம்பாதி சடாயு என்பார்தாம் இருவர்

புள்ளானார்க் கரையனிடம் புள்ளிருக்கு வேளூரே (சம்பந்தர் தேவாரம்)

Swami_48@yahoo.com (London Swaminathan)

Picture: Tiruk Kazuku kundram hill with 540 steps

Please read my earlier posts:

1.Vishnu Seal in Indus Valley Civilization 2.Double Headed Eagle: Sumerian- Indian Connection 3.Karikal Choza and Eagle Shaped Fire Altar 4. Bird Migration in Kalidasa and Tamil Lterature 5. Friends of Birds 6.Are Mayas, Hindu Nagas? 7. Four Birds in One Sloka 8. Cn Birds Predict Your Future? 9.Hindu Vahanas Around The World 10. Who Rides What Vahana? 11. Hindu Vahanas in Greece and Italy 12. Intersting Facts About Vahanas 13. Deer Chariot: Rig Veda to Santa Claus 14. Mystrous Fisg Gods 14. Why do Animals worship Gods? 15.Can Parrots recites Vedas16. Gods and Birds

Picture : Garuda emblem in Thailand. Pictures are taken from various websites. Thanks.

Tamil and Vedas

All posts tagged Thailand

RAMAYANA SCULPTURES IN THAILAND (Post No.5158)

RARE SANSKRIT INSCRIPTIONS WITH MEDICAL INFORMATION (Post No.5052)

Hindu Sankaranti Festival in Thailand and Laos! (Post No.4990)

Hindu Eagle Mystery deepens

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